Sachin Tendulkar and Indian culture
Sachin Tendulkar has time and again been elevated to a level of GOD and everyone knows how big it is. Yet the popular comment that “Cricket is my Religion and Tendulkar is my GOD” says it all. This is not yet another piece to celebrate Tendulkar which has been done by many including the very best in the past, present and hopefully in future too. This article is more an insight of Indian culture and the reasons behind Sachin being called “GOD of CRICKET”
This has been quite a strong point of discussion in online forums. Having been involved in a few such, I got to the reason why We Indians make him a Mortal into the Divine status and well the answer is not just love and adulation we have for our Hero but the very basis of Indian Culture and society.
It was in fact Australia’s Hayden first made this comment “I have seen GOD; He bats at No 4 for India” and Indian media known for all its undue adulations and unwanted criticism made this a big hit addressing Sachin as God of Cricket and most of the big celebrities and stars and Cricketers have cashed on it since then.
Traditional Indian culture or to be precise Hindu culture given that Hinduism is a majority in India gives an idea. Unlike every other major religion known from Islam to Christianity to Buddhism to Judaism, Hindu mythology and tradition is not about just a single GOD or Supreme ranging from Shiva to Vishnu and down to the Nandhi to Garuda and like. Hindus have an army of Gods in any known form and features apart from domestic deities in every corner of India.
There is also a tradition in India to elevate the Mortals to Divine status. Shankaracharya, Jeeyars, Sai Baba, Acharyas are quite a few such. And to add there are a slew of Godly or divine men proclaiming themselves as God which is another issue and another topic. Away of this spiritual world, leaders and Heroes are also elevated to Godly status here and given a special position above the Mortal Greats. Every village of India would have seen one such Head and every family has a Grandpa prayed to as God. No matter it is right or wrong, this has been the tradition here.
Sachin Tendulkar, a special one to Cricket is not a Demi God due to just his Cricketing Achievements. He is an ambassador of Goodness. His impeccable behavior, ability to remain calm despite lot of provocation from opposition, his maintaining his dignity despite being one of the most sought after man in India and all those make him a step above Normal heroes. His ability to remain humble despite so much adulation, carry on his duty while everyone is loathing on him all make him special. Despite being in limelight he has carried himself so well that it appears beyond usual prototype mortals.
This flattering praise has been unique to our tradition, justified or not. And compared to the others who are hailed similarly, Tendulkar is not a bad choice either. So rather than arguing the status he is elevated to, lets enjoy what is left in him still.
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