Footprints in the sands of time...and in the hearts of the multitude

I don’t know how to write this, without feeling out of my depth here. Primarily because sports has never intrigued me to the point of penning down my thoughts around the subject. But I will give it my best shot, anyway.

I do not feel I am in my element when I discuss sports. Never have been, and I don’t think I ever will be. Even back when I was in school, I would consciously steer clear of questions revolving around sports in quiz programmes. I would ignore the section comprising sports questions in competitive exams. But this time around, I think I am willing to make an exception. Why? Only because it involves Sachin.

When we say Sachin – at least in India – We mean only one Sachin. Tendulkar. There might be a number of people around who share his name (hoping to share some of his charisma too!). But like I said, Sachin is an adjective, a verb, a brand in himself. People use a number of superlatives – all in the positive light – when it comes to describing Sachin. I am sure he has made a special niche in the hearts of not just Indians, but perhaps every person who has known him directly or indirectly over the years. And the impact he has had in our lives is profound, at the very least.

So Saturday, November 16, 2013 will be forever etched in every Indian’s mind, as the day the ‘God of Cricket’ stepped down from his throne. It was the hardest day not just for Sachin, for bidding farewell to his life’s passion, Cricket, but even more so for his horde of fans across the world, who are still reeling from the fact that Sachin will never play cricket again for them. It is still sinking in slowly. For a long time afterward, my husband kept ‘tsk-tsk’ing to himself, sadness writ large on his face.

I am not a cricket buff. Honestly. And I say this with utter fear of collective ridicule from perhaps every Indian, friends and strangers alike! I thought through thoroughly before admitting the fact. But well, there it is. So even as a cricket agnostic, it is impossible not to be affected by Sachin’s farewell. For me, whatever little cricket meant, was synonymous with the great man. I can be persuaded to watch the game only if Sachin is on the crease. Sachin has touched so many lives with his game. He has managed to unite an entire nation of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists – literally obliterating differences between man and his neighbor. Cricket can stop the business world in its tracks with half of India on tenterhooks whenever Sachin is on the field. President Obama was rightfully concerned when he mentioned America’s production goes down by 5% whenever Sachin comes to bat.

His farewell speech, the longest by his standards so far and most revealing about his life, moved the nation to tears. It held the audience glued to every visible television set and by the end of what was a life’s tale spoken straight from the heart; left viewers with the thought that people like Sachin are extremely rare. No matter how much they achieve in life, they are never tainted by fame or power or wealth or controversy. He has bowed out of the game with grace, his humility, simplicity and honesty intact. These have been the most endearing things about him, worth idolizing. He has left in footprints in the sands of time and in the hearts of the multitude.

Tomorrow, the nation can go back to its differences of religion, caste, gender, creed and all possible self-made barriers. Tomorrow, they can live their mundane lives and look for different pastimes. Tomorrow, people may continue to watch cricket or choose to stay away from the cricket mania. But today, we will glory in the fact that we were fortunate enough to witness a star perform during our lifetime. And now, without any qualms, I can go back to my cricket-free world.