A legend? An icon?
In India, he is God.
And on Friday, God made India very proud. Even the prime minister said so.
The nation of 1 billion-plus erupted in celebration as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar scored his 100th international century.
Never mind the unveiling of the budget Friday. It was all Sachin on Indian television.
Never mind it was a workday. Companies probably suffered huge losses.
Twitter exploded with kudos for the batsmen known as the little master. As did Facebook. And Bollywood.
In India, he is God.
And on Friday, God made India very proud. Even the prime minister said so.
The nation of 1 billion-plus erupted in celebration as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar scored his 100th international century.Never mind the unveiling of the budget Friday. It was all Sachin on Indian television.
Never mind it was a workday. Companies probably suffered huge losses.
Twitter exploded with kudos for the batsmen known as the little master. As did Facebook. And Bollywood.
“God’s special creation .. Sachin Tendulkar !!” tweeted megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
Journalist Barkha Dutt weighed in with this:
“Nice to see a nation steeped in negativity and self flagellation finally breaking free from it all and actually feeling good. Thanks #sachin“
Tendulkar reached the elusive 100th international century against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match in Dhaka.
“It hasn`t sunk in but I have definitely lost about 50kg,” he said afterward.
He began playing at the age of 16 and thrilled cricket fans for 23 years. That in itself was a feat. His first century was at Old Trafford in 1990. Last year he reached 99 and Indians watched each subsequent match with high hopes. They pinned everything on the man with the demure stature, mop of wavy hair and uncanny swing of the bat.
They waited and waited. There was even a joke about the a chunk of India’s car accidents happening because drivers were trying to catch a Tendulkar make his 100th on a roadside stall television.
But today, Tendulkar made history.
As my Facebook friend Rajiv Chatterjee said:
“I know his stats look great and I know he has achieved feats which will probably never be repeated again. But that is not the real reason. The real reason is that he has shouldered the dreams of a billion for 22 years which is more than what any mere mortal can. In a country where a lot of people cannot afford a square meal a day, he has represented hope of better times. Every time we had a lot of reasons to cry, he has given us something to smile about. Religion in India has more often than not divided people than unifying it. But one thing has always been common … both Ram’s mother as well as Rahim’s wanted their sons to be exactly like Sachin Tendulkar. Years later, I will really look forward to telling my grand children that yes, I have seen God with my own eyes…he used to bat at no. 4 for India!”
As my Facebook friend Rajiv Chatterjee said:
“I know his stats look great and I know he has achieved feats which will probably never be repeated again. But that is not the real reason. The real reason is that he has shouldered the dreams of a billion for 22 years which is more than what any mere mortal can. In a country where a lot of people cannot afford a square meal a day, he has represented hope of better times. Every time we had a lot of reasons to cry, he has given us something to smile about. Religion in India has more often than not divided people than unifying it. But one thing has always been common … both Ram’s mother as well as Rahim’s wanted their sons to be exactly like Sachin Tendulkar. Years later, I will really look forward to telling my grand children that yes, I have seen God with my own eyes…he used to bat at no. 4 for India!”
