There will never be another Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

So, it has been the end of an era and all that.
It has taken me a few weeks (and I am still not done) just soaking up all I the good articles I could get to read, about a certain gentleman with Tendulkar as his surname.

Sure, there was this huge build-up to Sachin's final test series, right from October 10, when he announced his retirement, all building up to an incredible crescendo by the time he actually walked out in pads for the last time for India.

Followed by, yes you guessed it, his unanimously-loved farewell speech.

I am happy to share, before anything else, some wonderful articles that are truly worth reading, in understanding what people think and feel about Sachin:

Two of the best pieces I read, are here: one, by the wonderful Siddharth Vaidyanathan, and this is the very talented Ashish Shakya, entering tributes online.

And then, of course, there's Cricinfo - providing the most exhaustive coverage they'd ever have done on one man: brilliant, fascinating, engaging, excellent.
 
For me, there are quite a few abiding memories and lessons with which I shall remember Sachin:
Dignity, Humility and Impeccable Conduct

All these are qualities that have been oft-spoken and are so true that howsoever many times you hear them from anyone, they never seem cliched just because you know they are being spoken from the heart from each and every person who says so.

But apart from these, there is another thing that I would like to add:
There are many people who are talented and precocious.
There are many who will plunder runs and ravage the best of bowling attacks consistently.

However, the reason why there will never be another Sachin Tendulkar, is because:

Sachin never knew which 16 year-old to look up to, when he played for India at 16.

Sachin never knew who could understand exactly what it felt to be the pulse of a billion people each and every time he walked out onto the ground (or, better still, just walked out, anywhere!)

Sachin never knew who to be like, when he was adored and worshipped like crazy for 24+ years

Many people can bat and play well amazingly.
Who knows, there will be someone who will bat like Sachin, but they will have a shining example right in front of them - not only on how to play well, not only on how to react to adoring fans and overnight success, superstardom, the constant weight of expectations.
For every such thing, they will have a Sachin Tendulkar's life and conduct to look up to.

Thanks you Sachin, for all the memories, all the lessons.
Fare thee well, Little Master - you are truly Bharat's Ratna!

A void called 2-down

November 15, 1989 : For the uninitiated, here are the oft-shared stats on the 'where-were-you-when-Sachin-made-his debut' question:

When 16-year old Sachin Tendulkar faced his first ball in Test cricket from Pakistan's Waqar Younis: 

• The Berlin Wall was still standing
• Saddam and Osama were still US allies 
• Oil was $19 per barrel 
• The Sensex was under 750 points
• Maruti 800 was a bold young challenger to the Ambassador and Fiat
• The internet and mobile phones hadn't come to India, and 
• Doordarshan was the only TV channel.

Eight Indian Prime Ministers and a mountain of mind-boggling statistics later, he will retire as arguably the greatest batsman and unarguably one of the finest gentlemen to ever grace a cricket field.

Yes, there have been people who have thought he left it for too late, but then, let's just say, for once, he showed he too was human, and must have had a goal in his mind which made him play on.
We have also heard him speak of playing as long as he was still enjoying the game.

Late or not, the fact is, that there will be a void in the Indian Test team at the #4 position. Two down, in comes Sachin - this has been the standard template since the last 24 years.
To not see Sachin very soon at all in any form of cricket, is without doubt, going to be tough.

An immortal, by the name of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Dear Sachin, we can only wish you the very best and thank you for all the wonderful memories you have bestowed us with, thanks to your craft, impeccable conduct, genuine humility, and unflinching commitment towards the game.

You will be missed, big time.

Thank you for letting us see you live, exhibiting your skills and your conduct.

Thank you for making us forget all our troubles by the sheer enjoyment and delight you provided with your uninhibited strokeplay.

Thank you for teaching us that good guys can also finish first!

Thanks a lot, and God bless!!!

Does 'Papa' know everything?

'My Papa knows everything'.

This is generally what most kids generally tend to believe (well, atleast in their formative years), before they are 9-10.

Before I proceed any further, I'd like you to go through this wonderful, insightful post by the extremely readable Prem Panicker.

Many a time, when we think of a more gender-equitable society, we think of simply ensuring that our women are not raped, looted or abused.
Well, it's like, if I am not a thief, it means I am a good man.
Sorry. Not necessarily.

If I am not a thief, all it means is that I am not a thief. Period.
To be a good man, I need to do many other things that a good person should do.

On the same lines, if we'd like to see a more equitable society that's respectful to our womenfolk (and that too, is also a critical benchmark that any truly 'developed' society/country must pass), even stopping all physical assaults against them does not suffice.

It means only physical assaults have stopped (though that too, seems a far cry away, as of now).
To be truly developed, sane and caring towards the respect and care our women need, they should also be cared for, and respected accordingly.

No demeaning language, no condescending attitude, no trivialisation - that's as important as anything else.
Let's strive to achieve this too, apart from just the physical security.

Till the time we make our women secure, confident and honored (both physically as well as emotionally), Papa will not know everything.

Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobara

No, this post is not a film review, (lest you get deluded by this post's headline) about the movie that goes by the same name.
Actually, this is not just for the second time ('Dobara'), but for the umpteenth time that such a terrible incident has happened in Mumbai.

Not just in Mumbai, but also in Mumbai, apart from every other major or minor city that you can think of.

Incidents like these bring to the fore, the sad and chilling reality that for all the howling, protests, legislation after the December 16 case, nothing, absolutely nothing has changed.

I had written earlier in the year, when the Nirbhaya case had seemed to be a watershed moment in generating mass indignation and mobilizing a public movement - not just in Delhi, but throughout the country and even overseas.

I wrote last month about the trials, tribulations and trauma that rape victims (and even her family) go through, that might not be possible for anyone else to completely comprehend.

And I write today again, on much the same topic, with much the same sadness, wrench, angst, and anguish.

What then, is it that you and me - the proverbial and much-abused (pun intended) mango people - can do, in such times?

Only one thing, in my humble opinion: Let's simply take care of our conduct towards anyone we meet (and women in particular).

Let's just ensure that the conduct of anyone too that we see - in our family, among our relatives, in our offices, on the roads, in the metros - in short, anywhere and everywhere we are, watching/witnessing people interacting with each other, remains above-board and impeccable.

If each one of us is respectful towards our womenfolk, and vigilant against any miscreants, our society shall be a better place to live in.

That's my only appeal/request/wish - manliness is not in dishonoring a lady by force, deceit and physical power.

Manliness is in making sure our women look up to the men around them, and walk/talk freely, secure in the knowledge that they are comfortable and respected in the midst of real (gentle)men.