Yet again, let’s start the week with a new Monday Truclusions article, and a quote by Sir J M Barrie, a Scottish novelist and dramatist, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He said, “Life is a long lesson in humility.” Usually, when we succeed a little in life, we think we are invincible and behave very arrogantly.
But I have been blessed to be able to say that I know one person, who even after reaching the pinnacle of success, even after being hailed as god himself, continues to be as humble as one can be – Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Today, I want to tell you how I began to look up to him as my role model, and why I say he is as humble as grass roots.
Taking Inspiration From The Master
Let me start from the beginning, it was the winter of 1989 when my dad narrated to me the headlines of a newspaper about a heroic debut of a young 16-year-old on India’s cricket tour of Pakistan. The kid walked to the crease when the scoreboard showed that India was struggling. He carried on batting bravely, even after a brutal bouncer broke his nose.
Those were some of the first lessons in tolerance for me, the excruciating pain of my physiotherapy sessions went unnoticed when he played well. Years passed, and the kid grew up to become the ‘Master Blaster’, and then a role model of iconic stature.
His presence at the wicket was so impactful from beginning that in the early 90’s he actually, in his own way, unified a country filled with diversity.
He made Hindus, Muslims, and people following other religions, experience the feeling of nationalism, which had been dormant for some time. He inspired pride in being Indian, even among people who didn’t live in the motherland anymore.
Even after people elevated him to the heavens, the game remained his first priority.
This fact has been mentioned on multiple occasions, but it was most evident when he reverently touched the 22 yards at the Wankhede after his landmark retirement test match. It was as if he was thanking his mother for what she had made him and requesting her to bless him in his future endeavors. He was an individual who was blessed with an abundance of talent, and his dedication and discipline made him earn what he deserved.
But what made him stand out and shine, like the crown jewel of Indian cricket, was his character and humility. Having grown into his stature, not once in his long 25-year career did he exhibit incredulity like many of his peers and counterparts.
“You’re My Hero”: Meeting The Legend
Now, coming to my experience with him – it was so exciting that even now as I recall and write about it, I have goosebumps! While I was growing up, my dad had promised me that someday he would make sure I met my role model. I believe he kept his word by being with me in spirit when I actually met him!
It was November 2009 when Bharath and I were honored with Young Achiever awards. Robin Uthappa, along with Pankaj Advani, were the chief guests at the event. After the awards ceremony, the four of us (Bharath, Robin, Pankaj, and I) had dinner together and struck up a friendship very quickly. We stayed in touch and continued to catch up afterwards.
On one such occasion, Bharath and Robin had a secret conversation and planned to try and organize a meeting with Sachin for me. On April 17th, after team RCB played Mumbai Indians, at around midnight, Bharath’s phone rang. I was too sleepy to pay attention to it. In the morning when I woke up, I was told that Robin had called and asked to meet us. Bharath said that Robin wanted us to meet one of his special friends.
We went to the hotel where Robin was staying with the RCB team and asked for him at the reception. He had left a note for us asking us to come to his room. We went up and he asked us to come in, and after some casual conversation, he took a phone call and told someone on the other end, “We will be there in 5 minutes.”
He took us up to a room on the 10th floor. I was in my wheelchair and Robin was maneuvering it. They knocked on a door and what happened next is absolutely unforgettable. The door opened, and it was the Sachin behind it!
I couldn’t believe I was actually in front of Sachin, the man who had inspired me my whole life, the man I dreamed of meeting someday! I had the widest smile on my face and I felt like I was dreaming. He patted me on the back and said, “Let me take you in”.
Later, when we were seated in the room and I was sitting beside him,
Sachin said, “I have been looking forward to meeting you guys since Robin told me about you. Ashwin, you are an inspiration to all of us. You are my hero.”
Imagine what a humbling feeling it was for me to hear my role model, the legend, say that to me.
He then told Bharath that he was an example to society and that what he had given was something invaluable – his time. We spent a couple of hours with him before taking our leave, but before we departed, he readily shared his e-mail ID with us. He promised he would keep in touch and has kept his word since then.
Think about it, he didn’t need to keep in touch and be nice to a common fan like me. He has millions of them, but he does, and that is what sets him apart.
The next time I met him, a couple of years later, he was in news for declining a lucrative endorsement offer from an alcohol company. When I asked him about it, he said that he declined because of a promise that he had made to his father that he wouldn’t endorse anything unhealthy or against his principles and values. That showed me how high his moral standards were.
I am now signing off with a dedication to the Master in my words:
Tribute
You started with a blood stain
But you went beyond pain
Giving it your all, be it sun or rain
Your effort has not gone in vain
Scaling each and every height
There has been nothing beyond your sight
Going through intolerable plight
You are the master in the true right
A friend, an idol and a guide
With a heart that never lied
Making a billion forget every divide
Impossibility is something you have defied
Making a nation many a time proud
Each throat wants to speak your name aloud
As the best, you have been crowned
But you have your feet rooted to the ground
For all the selfless battles you have fought
And the billion smiles you have brought
For the lessons you have taught
All we can say is thanks a lot
Liked reading this? Then you might also like to read Monday Truclusions – Diwali With A Difference.
If there’s any story that needs to be told, we will tell it. Write to us at contact@knowyourstar.com with your story lead, or contact us on Facebook or Twitter.