MP Sachin Tendulkar off to an excellent start

This is not about a great innings played by Tendulkar, or a man of the match award bagged or for that matter a record breaking feat; it’s about something else, his new innings as an MP of the Country.

Naysayers, as Indians generally are, criticized the move of including Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha, raising questions on his potential role as a MP; what time he could give it or given his nature, how vocal he would be to raise an issue or his point, but as they say, actions speak louder than words and Sachin has given a cracking answer to all those questioning his credentials with his first proposal as an MP to the government.

In India, it’s difficult to pursue your passion, especially sports, which requires a lot of struggle. This is expected when there is this saying in our country for ages now, “Padhoge Likhoge to banoge Nawab, Kheloge Kudoge to ho jaoge Kharab”, meaning if you study hard, you’ll be a big man one day, but if you play games, you’ll become useless.

For potential sportsmen, India is a tough place with the limited infrastructure, opportunities and encouragement to do something big in sports, unless its cricket.

As things have unfolded, there is good news for young India, the voices will change now; their own hero has come to their rescue. After his on-field heroics, it’s time for the legend (Tendulkar), to be a hero off the field.

Tendulkar has written a proposal to the Indian Government which has the road map for Indian Sports. It has been basically addressed to the Union Human Resource Development and IT Minister, Kapil Sibal and the Sports Minister, Ajay Maken to look upon, having 4 proposals:

1. Tap into Grass Root levels and try identifying and nurturing the young talent.
2. Promote School and University/College level Sports by conducting tournaments for various Sports.
3. Make Sport a part of the Curriculum.
4. Initiate and restructure the infrastructure for Sports in the Country.

In a country like ours, where there is complete absence of sports culture and absolutely no incentive or encouragement to take up sports, these measures will eventually help in changing the face of Indian sports.

Sports has always been seen as an extra-curricular activity in our country, but with Kapil Sibal suggesting to take the noble man’s proposals seriously and asking the man himself to present the ideas and ways to implement it, things might be turning soon, and turning for the good. Kapil Sibal also announced the possibility of College leagues for cricket and hockey, where top 8 teams from the country will participate.

We have seen the western countries doing ever so well in sports at the international stage and of late even Asian countries, like China and Japan, have taken their sports seriously and by indicting professionalism into it, have done wonders. Having a sports culture and a strong grassroots structure only helps.

Unlike cricket, where he started slow, the MP Sachin has made a very good start to this innings and it has given the country a glimmer of hope to raise the level of sports. It seems all positive from here on as far as the future of Indian sports is concerned, with the man’s active participation.

It might have taken time for people to become fans of the player, but it’s going to be love at first sight for MP Sachin who looks to bring about the much needed changes.

The Indians, especially sports fanatics like me would be really thankful to the man.

The voice from all over India is- “We are proud of you Sachin.”

As a player what he has done is known to all and no sets of words can describe his contribution and now as an MP, the start he has taken is commendable.

We all hope Sachin has as illustrious and shining a career being an MP as he has had as a player.

Great start Sir! Hope you get a number of big ones here too!