I am not here to comment on how good Sachin Tendulkar was as a player. He was the greatest. Period. What I would rather like to do is share two stories that will help us understand Sachin better. Each time Sachin came to Kolkata we would make it a point to go to the Kali temple together. One time it was on a Sunday afternoon when the roads were half empty with most taking their leisurely siesta. We were in South Kolkata on Hazra more, a kilometre away from the Kalighat Kali Temple. Accompanying us was Harbhajan Singh who was in the back seat of the car while I was driving with Sachin sitting next to me. Bhajji had his glass rolled down and a couple of young men on a motorbike recognised him. You know how it is like with Indian cricketers. When some of them started shouting Bhajji Bhajji and following us, Harbhajan quietly looked out of the window and said to them “Mera naam kyun kehe rehe ho Boss to samne baithe huwe hain.”
This was enough. By the time we reached Kalighat there was a cavalcade of motorbikes following us. And when we came out after the darshan I had more than a few people on the car’s bonnet and about 500 crowding my car. I was very concerned for my car because I knew Sachin and Bhajji would go away while my car would have permanent dents! It was only after Sachin came out and waved to the fans that they let us go and my car was saved.
Sudhir Gautam on Sachin Tendulkar
The second story was when Sachin had come to Kolkata in 1994 to play for East Bengal in the P Sen Trophy final against Mohun Bagan. We had lost a couple of finals to Mohun Bagan and had brought in the best of India including Sachin and Kapil Dev for the final. Sachin, 21, was captaining us and it was an experience to see him up close and follow his routine. All of a sudden he got out his eau de toilette from his black kit bag and started spraying it liberally on his helmet, pads and more. I had not seen anyone do this and asked him why he was doing so. He said he wanted to smell good when he was out there and these things were a part of him. And may I say he just said it with a degree of simplicity that you won’t see in many. Smell good! How good was that.
He is a very special man and all of India loved to go to bed knowing Sachin would bat the next day. This habit lasted 24 years. A habit we all loved. Wish you a happy 50th birthday Sachin.
Extracted with permission from Sachin @50 Celebrating A Maestro, Simon and Schuster. To be published on 24 April for Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th birthday.
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