It is pleasant weather of Nov. Festival season is at its peak. Despite having political turbulence, rising inflation, scams, economic slowdown etc. everyone in India is enjoying this season. Not only due to festivals but also due to sports. When sports in India is synonym to cricket (match means cricket match, bat means cricket bat, ball means cricket ball etc.), this Nov is witness to a fall of titan. Or should I say 'God'.
This Nov saw the God playing (playing cricket) for the last time. He completed his 200 tests on 14th Nov and decided to retire from all forms of cricket. There was only 1 news flashing on media again and again - Sachin Tendulkar announced his retirement.
Everyone was talking about him now. Despite his down-to-earth nature, his name was used time and again to gain focus. Spectators were holding his big posters just to attract the camera. 1 even painted his body with tri-colour and written Tendulkar on his belly. This figure was seen often on camera though not sure if the man behind that paint was same or different. Now after announcing his retirement, media was again busy in encashing his name. All news channels were showing this news only and following up not only him but his wife, son, friends, co-players and neighbours.
Last few years were good for Indian cricket however not personally for Him. He could make his inning big only on few occasions. Retirement was advised to him by almost everyone in cricket industry. But here he was there - undeterred. I am not a big fan of a figure as compared to the nation. A person should contribute till the time he/she is adding value. If it becomes a liability then the person should hang the boots. Now when He had world cup in his name, I thought that he will take retirement gracefully. But he continued. Then he took retirement from ODI and continued in T20 and Tests. Then came IPL 2013. His team won the IPL though he himself played very few matches. That was end for his T20 career. The longest form of cricket was still alive for him. Now, this time he was spoken again. The respect of people was returning to him again. Everyone wanted to see him playing more. But nothing is immortal - not even Gods.
The mortality stuck to 1 more titan this Nov. Less talked about but equally respected; Less rich but
equally skilled. The name is Grand master Viswanathan Anand. The titan in the field of chess. He was world champion when he was challenged by Magnus Carlsen of Norway. Where Anand was 40 years old, Carlsen was a young 22 years old champion who had defeated all but Anand. And it was obvious that Carlsen needed this win to claim his supremacy. He had to beat a person who not only had proven himself over years but also had chess in his genes. Anand belongs to India - the place where chess was invented. A game which was used not only to play but practiced to define war and political strategies by kings. This Nov saw the king of chess falling. Anand was defeated. It reminds me again that nothing is immortal. It was not a title (world champion) for us Indians but a proud which we do not own any more. But we still own Anand. We own a figure who is respected not only because of his chess playing skills but also due to his decency, his soft spoken nature, his attachment to the roots and that he is a complete Indian.
I respect Them for what They are and what They were. It was not easy to carry the burden of expectations of 1.2 billion Indians. They were our heroes and they are our heroes. May India produce many more Tendulkars and many more Anands who make presence of India felt globally in various fields. May minnows like me feel proud and get inspired.
