Sachin Mania

Sachin finally scaled the once-unassailable peak of 200. He thoroughly deserved to scale the peak just way he planned his innings that day, just the way he managed his stamina that day and just how everyone else played around him that day. More impressively, he was back on the field in the second innings right from the first over.


But, I am really amazed how everyone went crazy writing anything and everything about him that day and for the entire week. Some called him "God", some called him "Sun" and so on... 


There are no doubts that he is one of the best cricketers who have played the game. Sheer statistics prove it and the fact that he has been playing the game for 21 years without any major controversy seal the deal. But does that make him a god? He is a model player, probably the best India has ever produced and still so humble and down to earth. A thorough family man and an ideal citizen.


The Q is -- does this make him a god? If you ask me, plain No.


His achievements in the field of cricket are great and probably, no one might ever surpass him. But so are the achievements of Vishwanathan Anand in Chess, Leander in Tennis and probably Dhanraj Pillai in hockey. They have done so much to make India proud in their respective fields. They might not be the best in the world, but they are the best in India (or atleast "were the best"). Are Abhinav Bindra or the other Olympic Gold Medallists any less important?


Why do we make him a god? Because, he himself says it -- This is a game which I love to play. The day I think I am not enjoying it, I am going to stop playing it. -- So, are we going to make him a Mango Man (Aam Aadmi) once he retires?


Atleast he is enjoying what he is doing. And, even if he loses a match, a series or the World Cup Final, he is going to come back to his palace of comforts. If he does not earn even 1 penny more, his next 2-3 generations can live a life of luxury.


For me, the soldier who is facing crazy weather, deadly terrorists and weird international politics in Jammu Kashmir is more praiseworthy. He is doing something which he does not enjoy, would love to do something else any day, and still does it with utmost sincerity. He does not know if he is going to survive that day or if some bullet has his name written on it. If he dies, his immediate family gets 2 Lakh rupees (after paying half of it as a bribe) and then has to struggle for existence for ever.


What abt Sandeep Unnikrishnan who died in 26/11 Mumbai attacks? What abt so many soldiers who died in Kargil?


But still, I would not term the soldier as god. For all their great deeds, I would not call them a god. Because, the term GOD is too sacred.






So Sachin. Great? Oh, Yes. God? No way. And let him stay that way. Please!!!