ANTIDOTE FOR A BRUISED NATION

Even Bollywood's best script writers couldn't have conjured a better one. In a packed stadium of more than 40000, India's best son Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, entered into the 90s which had caused him some grief of late. The bedlam and pandemonium was deafening and it was pointless to talk to anybody more than one metre away from you. As the whole mass reverberated with cries of "Sachin, Sachin...", a ruckus created by thousands of plastic bottles banging in unison against the seats- you could sense the enormity of the occasion. Something had to be preordained here, and you could just sense it in the air.

The weather was pleasant and the evening was beginning to stretch its shadows at Chepauk, and here was at the centre, a man whose beloved Mumbai had been badly bruised and his dear country shaken by the events of 26/11. The crescendo mounted with every passing second, and then the climax... a gentle tap beyond the reach of deep fine leg, a script executed to such precision that it was too much for anybody at the stadium to contain themselves: A century for Sachin and an improbable Indian victory at the same time. The junta erupted in one thunderous roar which sustained itself for several minutes... Any clause with any adjective to describe this feeling would eventually be an understatement, for one thing: You never know how much this meant for so many people, Sachin included.






















Sachin ran with his hands up in the air; a delighted jump and a punch in the air followed suit; a million-watt grin which can light up the entire nation- extremely rare scenes with Sachin, who never displays such emotions. Sachin was still at it while Yuvraj embraced him with a bear hug and a lift up in the air. Perhaps the best scenes were witnessed when ground staff- simple souls with khaki work clothes sans footwear came out to congratulate Sachin. Even before KP and co. could finish offering their congratulations, these labourers came on and had their moment with the little master. A lady with a blood red sari was literally over the moon after she shook hands with Sachin. What a dozen groundstaff did would be the envy of a whole nation- they were the fortunate people, the first ones to thank Sachin for his service to the country in the aftermath of 26/11. The humble man that Sachin was, he obliged to each one of them with a broad smile.

Those scenes were the perfect antidote for a bruised nation. A reason to smile and cheer once again; it was pure joy personified at Chepauk. Cutting across boundaries of caste, colour, religion or nationality, everybody felt genuine joy- Sachin Tendulkar had brought about a relief change. "This one is for Mumbai, I play for India now more than ever", asserted Tendulkar while acknowledging the heroics of all the policemen, Navy, Hotel staff, NSG, firemen, army and everybody for their role in dealing with the terrorists.

It had to be preordained for events to unfold in such dramatic circumstances. In the end, it was Mumbai's very own Tendulkar, who gave the best boost to a scarred city. In Sachin's own words,

"Cricket is a lesser thing compared to what has happened... all this would give a certain amount of happiness to people... I feel whatever we can contribute, we've been able to do that; we are right with those people who lost their dear ones."

True, Sachin. Your contribution has greatly assuaged our anguish and brought back smiles to a billion. It has been a privilege.

Photo credit: GETTY Images, AP and Cricinfo