Sachin Mania

We, Indians have a great fetish - of going over the top. We've done it on numerous occasions and we continue to do it. And sometimes the effects are of staggering proportions. Latest victim of this syndrome is -
Sachin Tendulkar

He's one of the finest players to have played the game. Sachin has been on Indian cricket turf for more than 20 years now. He entered as a wonder-boy, steered our Cricket team's ship as the ever bankable batsman and evolved into a mature batsman.
But off late, he's been given an entirely new status - The so called "GOD" of cricket. It's an interesting phenomenon, the root of which is based on absolutely little truth. I have nothing against Sachin, I love to see him bat. But this "God" phenomenon has alienated me -and other cricket lovers from the batsman we love to watch.
Sachin is no more a batsman. He's been turned into a messiah. He is the God of cricket. He's the best of the best of the best. Indian cricket is incomplete without him. He deserves Bharat Ratn. Everywhere in media, you see unanimous statements glorifying Sachin. It's almost a competition out there- who can glorify Sachin more.
Lets get some facts straight -

1. Sachin Tendulkar is a batsman who plays a game called cricket.
2. He is ranked amongst the best batsmen of all times.

If we analyze him thru the cricketing perspective, that's awesome. Let's talk about why is that so. I'm all ears for this sort of conversation and coverage. But we've reached to the other end already. We've declared him to be the pinnacle of sportsmen in India, and anything spoken about him other than praise is considered blasphemy. Why has this happened?

The reasons can vary, but some of the main reasons for this outrageous bombardment of Sachin mania could be

• Bite Hungry Media - Sachin is an everlasting golden egg for Media. They can never ever run out of Sachin news. Whether he's on the field of off the field. They'll always make money by using him.
• Corporate houses - Associating yourself with India's leading cricket player has its perks. But associating yourself with Nation's most beloved personality who happens to be the God of cricket has immense profits. Sachin is a gold mine  for advertising.
• Gaining Popularity- Mention his name in your book, review, interview - and you're ensured of instant publicity. This can be tied to point1- media picks up anything and everything that is Sachinified.

As a result, the cricket fans & more importantly Sachin fans and fanatics have been thriving on this media mantra of Godhood. They have been fed a falsified statement from all sorts of media outlets - TV, newspapers, magazines. It has built this tremendous larger than life image of Sachin, which is hard to deny. It's almost as if people eager to embrace this glorified image rather than the actual man himself.
Hence we no more talk about how beautifully he played, how his straight drives were thrilling and how the leg glance was mesmerizing. We constantly chirp about his 100th 100, how he's become leading run scorer, how is it impossible for anyone to break his records and so on. The man whom we all love, is now slowly vanishing and a bloated media created image is taking its place.

I'm fed up with this Johnson & Johnson Sachin. I want my Sachin back.

Thank you Sachin !!

Not many days ago, I was feeling down and out.
No particular reason- (NO, It's got nothing to do with me scoring zero in a test. Neither with my jeans getting eaten by a mushroom size cockroach in our backyard.)

So here I was, feeling lonesome and isolated. These days it is barely 5pm , and darkness falls. That gives creepy feeling, and one feels even more distant from dear ones. Evening - not a good time to call home, or friends back home or anyone in India. Damn !

Whoa - I opened the regular-feel-good- pass-time youtube. (I think youtube should be part of anti-depressant or anti-boredom kit. Seriously.) the site recommended me all sort of nonsense including a "OMG !alien attack on Obama" video.

I glanced across and found Sachin smiling in a corner. I clicked on the link reluctantly.
It started with World cup 03 against Pakistan. Then moved on to Sharja 98. Then he was murdering Aussies down under. Some time more, and Warne was sent for a glorious boundary with a mere push of the bat.
Interview moved on, Tendlya started talking about cricket, practice, family, late night long drives and many more.

It was so good to see him talk - Not as a star batsman, but as a veteran in his field and yet so down to earth. I felt proud, happy and bang - better !

Thanks Sachin! You rock!