Sachin Tendulkar and Retirement - In Indian Perspective
The prospect of withdrawing oneself from what one has been doing for days,years and decades could be scary for the majority of the masses and which can be termed as 'retirement blues'. The natural tendency amongst us to hang around for as long as we can. The topic acquires special relevance in the way the media has focused its attention on the possible retirement of the great Indian cricket icon Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Some quarters frown upon his continuing presence in the field while some feel he is too great to be asked to call it quits! The great little master carries the additional burden of fulfilling his ambition to get his 100th 100! The argument of those who favor retirement of the little master does not lack in substance. The "Tendulkar Phenomenon' which has captivated millions of the country for more than two decades seems to be a never-ending fairytale and his hard-core admirers continue to remonstrate at any talk of retirement of their cricket "God"! Now what about Tendulkar's own line of thinking on this issue? There is very little to know as to what exactly is going on in his mind at the moment when BCCI has drafted him into the India squad for Asia Cup which is in progress in Bangladesh. Going by his reaction to a clean catch taken by Mahela Jaywaredene which ended his uncomfortable stay at the crease in the very first match against Sri Lanka, the visible pressures on the visage of the master might not have been missed by discerning eyes!
Things are as they should not have been! A master who did wonders for his country beginning from an age when some youngsters spend their youth in all care-free activities, he started carrying on his broad shoulders the expectations of such a big as India which is so poorly starved of icons. He proved himself by extraordinary cricketing exploits and earned the admiration from all - high or low - to be described as one of the greatests, if not the greatest of all times! Now the question which is fit to be asked by any rational mind is if Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar would be any less than a wonder without his 100th international century? Surely not! Then why do we subject ourselves to mad exercises of keeping him in a Bangladesh-bound squad for achieving his feat which is being so illogically hyped to throw the great master in an inglorious scenario. The entire world is laughing at us and this something no other cricket nation does. How many times he has failed in the quest for his elusive hundred? Clearly nerves are failing him in his bid to fulfill his ambition which our cricket-loving countrymen are waiting with bated breath. It seems that we have got priorities wrong after the most humiliating overseas debacles first in England and thereafter in Australia. Our cricket administrators have no interest in grooming up young talents and replacing our old and aging stars.
In this context, the conduct of Aussie cricketers is exemplary and could be a good precedent to be emulated by others. Both Australian Cricket Board as well as the players seems work in complete harmony with the philosophy that the interest of the nation is first and paramount before personal achievements and attainments. The names of players swell up in my mind who would be remebered for ever for bidding adieu in a very graceful manner. The list is headed by no other than immortal Sir Don Bradman whose career batting average would have been a perfect 100 had he not stuck to his original decision of playing Test cricket after announcing his retirement in the series against England. Nobody thinks less of his greatness for not touching this magical figure!
Even in an incident happening as recently as against the series against the Aussie captain Michael Calrke could have easily overtaken the record of another great West Indian Brain Lara of hitting up the highest Test score. Clark's decision should be lauded more warmly because he is so young. Steve Waugh is another such cricket who exemplifies it. He could have easily carried on for a few more years. There are so many names like Mathew Hayden, the effervescent and mercurial 'keeper and fabulous batsman Adam Gilchrist . After announcing his retirement which surprised many, Gilchrist frankly admitted that his decision was based at a particular moment of one of his last few Test matches that while negotiating a fast one from one of Aussie pacers that he realized his reflexes are not as quick as before as 'keeper and he decided right there to retire from international cricket. How honest of him. What about our own another little master Sunil Gavaskar? When he decided to call it a day, he had quite a few years of cricket left in him. Given to the solidity of his techniques which saw him the fearsome pace battery of West Indies without a helmet , he could have done so but once again his profound mind directed him to bid adieu and the decision has never cast even a dot on his halo as one the greatest openers of the game. Ravi Shastri - the smart all-rounder too had some years of cricket in him but he wisely moved into another pastures to thrive.
Now coming to the question of retirement and Indian view of it. In older times the concept of 'Banapashthya' was there to lead a life of renouncement of material desires and propensities and it was that phase of life one would seek spiritual salvation which looks so outmoded these days. All we have now are active phases of life. There is absolutely no need to argue if any 'Banapashthya' is desirable or not. But the spectre of retirement drives many people to do things which is nothing but perpetuation of a monotonous drudgery. Very few retirees choose to carve out a meaningful life which is very different from the one he or she retired from! How many remember the memorable lines of Charles Lamb in his one of his ever known best essays 'The Superannuated Man': “It is now six and thirty years since I took my seat at the desk in Mincing-lane. For the first day or two I felt stunned, overwhelmed. I could only apprehend my felicity; I was too confused to taste it sincerely. I wandered about, thinking I was happy, and knowing that I was not.”
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.