THE TENDLYA FROM BANDRA

Well 1989 was an eventful year both in indian & world politics.Just a week before 15th November,1989 Berlin Wall was demolished and Germany reunited, Rajiv Gandhi lost his first ever parliament election, V. P. Singh emerged as the hero of the Indian middle class, Nelson Mandela was still behind the bars in Robben Island, Harsha Bhogle didn't have hair;The world saw glimpses of a curly haired 16 year old genius at National Stadium , Karachi.

For the past twenty years that curly haired genius is still giving hope and joy to the 1 billion Indians and people from other countries too. He may not possess his trademark curly hair these days but the child- like enthusiasm, passion for cricket and foremost the hunger of getting runs is still there which is the most admirable thing. With 88 international hundreds, 30065 international runs, highest run getter and century maker in both form of the game and many more records, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar's feats have been remarkable to say the least. But there is more into it when someone speaks or writes about Sachin Tendulkar.

If somebody analyses the journey of this genius, it is nothing short of romanticism. From the days of Sivaji Park to Mumbai Ranji Nets to Playing for India at the age of 16 to the man completing his 20th year at the highest level, one would get the feeling that it is not only about a romantic journey that is typically associated with poetry rather with the romantic part, there is the grit, fight, discipline which is the essence of a blockbuster bollywood movie and indeed Sachin's journey is quite at par with box office hits made at the tinsel town.

The most amazing part of his personality is his grit, determination, discipline, work ethic. Other than cricket he teaches everybody these things that is ought to be learnt in practical life if someone wants to prosper . It is always fantastic to hear him saying how he prepares for a game, his focus & concentration while facing bowlers. There is a marathi word "Kharoos" often said in maidans of Mumbai which means mental toughness . Sachin Tendulkar is the prime example of that "Kharoos" mentality.One such incident was when Sachin was hit on his nose by a Waqer Younis bouncer in his 4th test at Sialkot. He was bleeding and Navjyot Sidhu who was batting at the other end came up to him and the little kid said to him"Main khelega".That shows his mental toughness,courage and love for the country as India was struggling at 35 for 4 to save that test.That day itself promised that this kid was there to stay and serve Indian cricket for a long long time. If we research about world of sports there has always been numerous number of young prodigies hogging the limelight in the newspapers , TV channels and everywhere but very few make the cut because it is very easy to get distracted at that age but Sachin Tendulkar didn't and that sets him apart from the others. Other than the liitle master- blaster credit must be given to his coach Ramakant Achrekar and his family specially his elder brother Ajit Tendulkar without whose influence we may not have got the genius.

On the personal front, I started following him in 1991 India's tour to Australia where he scored that mindboggling 114 at WACA, Perth which is still according to me his best ever test knock, closely behind is the hundred he got in Chennai last year against England. With so many runs, hundreds it is hard to pick my favourite Sachin Tendulkar moment but if at all I have to pick one that should be the innings of the desert storm in Sharjah. This is the journey of the little Tendlya of Sahitya Sahabas,Bandra East to the man of good hopes for India Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. As for me I will see God when I die but till then I will see Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.