Why Does India need Sachin Tendulkar?

Which Indian does not know this man who turns 38 on 24^th April, 2011? This little master who made his test debut at a ripe age of 16 in 1989 when he toured Pakistan with the Indian team captained by Kris Srikkanth. With surprise did I realize that it took the Master Blaster 79 ODI’s to score his first One Day century but he really made up for this delay…and continues to do so. His records and exploits in the cricket field continue to be discussed across the world and have become part of the cricket folklore. My mentioning them in any number of words here will not do any credit to this great cricketer since my vocabulary is not vast enough to encompass the number of adjectives that I will need.

Then why am I talking about this great man? This post is my humble way to show gratitude to this great man who through his well-earned popularity in the cricket field helped a huge country stay united. Cricket happ

ens to be the only game which has a huge and ardent fan following in this country of a billion. Post our famous world cup win in 1983, Indians became even more attracted towards

cricket while blowing the death knell for hockey which was also as famous (if not more) till then. Unfortunately, our great country through the 80’s, 90’s & 2000’s have been torn by numerous internal strives each of which was worse than the previous one. The 1984 riots followed by the murder of Rajeev Gandhi and then the Babri Masjid related riots in 1992. While numerous local riots either political or regional or religion related have not done anything good for this country. Shouts of “Jai Hind” have more often than not been replaced by screams of “Jai Punjab” or “Jai Maratha” for just about every single state. Local political parties have tried (and succeeded) in dividing the states further depending on their vote banks which have further aggravated the entire balance. Telegu statesmen’s statues were broken down in Hyderabad which is supposed to be the home to the Telegu’s just because Hyderabad physically comes in a part of Andhra Pradesh called Telangana which wants itself to become a separate state to feed the coffers of some more politicians.

India takes pride in being not just a country but being an amalgamation of so many different cultures that you will see a different India almost every 100 kms that you go. This change is not just in the way people live or dress but also in social hierarchies, languages spoken, entertainment channels used…in fact the very thread of the way civilization works changes. In this origami of thought that is India, a single thread is required that will bind everyone together into a fantastic nation which is India. That essential thread has been cricket. When India plays, Indians are one. It does not matter if I am from UP or Bihar or West Bengal or Maharashtra or Jharkhand or Kashmir or Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh or Assam or Mizoram or Arunachal or any other state of this huge country. I AM AN INDIAN.

And what happens when I become a cog in the wheel of this country instead of just representing a single state / religion / political party? A hint for the answer: since the world cup 2011 started, the number of riots in the country has been reduced. Check your local newspaper if you don’t believe me and you are from India. And who made India survive the bad days of cricket when match fixing had been busted and defamed the gentleman’s game? Who else but our very own Sachin Tendulkar who not only stood his ground in the courts but also ensured that an average Indians faith in the game was not shattered by performing when it really mattered. What would have happened if in the 90’s and 2000’s when the Indian cricket team was relying only on the great 5”5’ man to provide them with a win, Sachin Tendulkar was not there? For almost 2 decades, he was holding the thread of the Indian nation on his shoulders and carrying it with some help from some other greats of course.

And when it came to a personal attack, he did not mind telling the (oh so powerful) Shiv Sena chief that he was an Indian first and then anything else. The statement took the steam out of the entire “Jai Maratha” campaign within seconds and I have not heard Mr.Thakarey Sr. giving any further anti-India remarks of this kind.

So why does India need Sachin Tendulkar? Indians needs Sachin Tendulkar to stay united. India needs Sachin Tendulkar to show to others that when time needs, we can be one.