No More an “Unfitting Cap”

As reassuring as his mere presence in the field are his words off the field for millions of Indian cricket fans and his followers. Man of few words as Sachin has been through out, always speaks with lot of conviction and great mellowness. “I am not a politician. I am a sportsperson and will always remain one” said the maestro during a felicitation function by a private firm in Pune which was also his first public appearance after Rajya Sabha nomination, putting rest to all the speculations about his joining politics after being nominated by the President of India. Sachin expressed his heartfelt gratitude and acknowledged the honor bestowed on him for his contribution in the field of Cricket. He also said that many eminent persons from our society have been nominated by the President earlier, including melody queen Lata Mangeshkar and actor Prithviraj Kapoor too, for their contribution in their respective fields.

Last week Sachin’s RS nomination and his subsequent acceptance invited deluge of mix reactions from his aficionados across the world and also among the political circle of the country. During the past few days so much as been written and discussed on this matter in the print media, electronic media and social networking platforms leave apart the nooks and corners of the country. Well, that is what Sachin is to Indians and cricket. His popularity in this nation is magnanimous and there is absolutely nothing which he does goes unnoticed.

The speculation of him joining politics was taken as intense as dropping of bombshell by his fans and cricketing fraternity. Sanjay Manjrekar (Former Indian Cricketer) was shocked at Sachin accepting his RS nomination. He said “It has taken me completely by surprise. I had known him as a certain kind of person. I don’t know he had this kind of inclination that would make him accept this offer” whereas Harsha Bhogle (Cricket Expert / Commentator) welcomed his nomination but also mentioned that “Lots of people are now trying to get mileage out of Tendulkar. I am not sure if it is the greatest idea. If the idea is to honour Tendulkar by giving him a seat in Rajya Sabha that’s OK, but if you want to see Tendulkar as an active Parliamentarian, looking after social causes, having a say in the future of this country he does not have the experience.”

Shiv Sena Chief Shri Bal Thackeray said “Congress is playing a dirty game” with Sachin’s nomination. Likewise, where on the various social networking platforms millions of his fans were found fretting over this matter there were very few who actually were glad and believed that Sachin can do lot of good for sports in the country. Well, about that only time will tell.

When it is about our political matter, controversies are always around the corner. Former Lok Sabha Secretary and Constitutional Expert General Subhash Kashyap had beefed up the matter by saying that under Article 80 of the constitution sports is not mentioned as a category under which a person can be nominated as Rajya Sabha member. He further said 12 persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: Literature, science, art and social service can only be nominated by the government. Home Minister P Chidambaram had to come to congress’s rescue. He said “Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s nomination to Rajya Sabha is perfectly valid under the provisions of the Constitution. That is not our reading of the Constitution provision. I think the Constitution provision is very clear and I urge all of you to read it once again.”

This was totally uncalled for from General Kashyap because if Sachin doesn’t qualify as a sportsman he certainly does for his selfless service to the society. His long association with “Apanalaya” is well known which is promoted by his mother-in-law Mrs. Annabel Mehta and Sachin sponsors 200 underprivileged children every year.

With so much already been written and discussed on this matter, I am sure Sachin took note of it and was eager to put to rest all the speculations, grapevines and stories brewing up about him bidding adieu to the game he loves and joining active politics. He said “I won’t quit cricket for politics, Cricket is my life and whatever I am today is because of this game which I will continue to play…”

Trust me this is exactly what his restless aficionados were eagerly waiting to hear from the master himself which came as sigh of relief for them and the maestro also mentioned that he is not a politician and won’t be donning the “Unfitting Cap” in the context that he will only represent as sportsperson as he has the requisite expertise and will work towards welfare of it, cleared the air for certain politician who were looking forward to befriend him. It is believed that with Sachin’s incredible dedication and commitment as a sportsperson can bring revolutionary changes to the meager condition of other sports in the country. It remains to be seen in the future and only time will be the judge of it.