MONDAY MUSINGS - Concluding Part

MONDAY MUSINGS 25

5th November 2018

In the last episode of MONDAY MUSINGS, I would like to share two incidents from two great Indian heroes both of whom I respect. Touching, Inspirational, Absorbing and Lot of Learning.

My Khelega

First heroic is from a 16 year old boy, yes we are talking about the wonder boy, Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar made his debut against Pakistan on November 15, 1989. Tendulkar was all of 16 years and 205 days when he was brought in to play against ferocious fast bowling trio of Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram & Imran Khan. In the first Test match, Tendulkar got out early, clean bowled by Younis for 15 runs. In the second match, however, he slammed 59 runs and hit every Pakistan bowler for fours. However, the main showdown was reserved for the fourth Test match. India was in disadvantageous position in all the  3 tests and managed to salvage draws in all the three matches.

Pitch at Sialkot for the fourth and final test was prepared conducive for the fast bowlers. Pakistani fans had huge expectations. Waqar did not disappoint the fans. In the first innings Tendulkar made a well composed 35 batting with his two fingers strapped after being hit by the bouncer. India were four down for 38 runs in the second innings. Navjot Singh Sidhu was at the crease when Tendulkar walked in to bat. Looking at the obnoxiously rising balls, Sidhu was worried about the fate of the 16 year old kid. Sidhu explains the scenario in his own gregarious style. Don’t miss Sidhu’s speech and Tendulkar’s batting in that test at https://www.inuth.com/sports/sachin-tendulkar-won-the-fight-against-waqar-when-he-said-main-khelega-with-a-bloodied-nose/ (there are few factual erorrs in Sidhu’s speech. Sidhu mentions it was 22 for 4 whereas the official scorecard was 38 for 4 when Sachin walked in to bat. Sidhu mentions that Sachin was knocked down by the ball whereas the videos show Sachin scratching his nose after the hit. These are trivial. The spirit of Sidhu’s speech and the entire episode cannot be faulted).

Waqar Younis came in to bowl and slammed the ball in the middle of the wicket. The ball hit squarely on Tendulkar’s nose. He was bleeding profusely. Blood came gushing down on his gears. Indian physio, Ali Irani, ran towards him for help. Non-striker Navjot Singh Sidhu also ran for his rescue. When everybody was waiting for Sachin Tendulkar to be carried out on a stretcher, he spoke those two words in his quirky voice and broken Hindi, that defined his character ‘main khelega’. Sidhu was flabbergasted. Tendulkar continued to bat with his badgered nose. Sidhu comments in his speech “If I would have got hurt like that, I would have gone to sleep until the end of the match, leave alone playing” and continues “Looking at the grit of the 16 year old boy, I got motivated to fight and managed to score 97 and drew the match”. Gritty Tendulkar got up and hit the next ball by Waqar Younis for 4 runs. As Waqar looked at Tendulkar with fire in the eyes, exchanging few choice of words, Sachin looked at him and told him ‘Tuzya Aaicha Gho!’ Sachin went on to score 57 valuable runs in that innings. And after that Sachin did exactly what he said. He played for the next 23 years and made every record possible in world cricket for a batsman. He has 100 centuries in international cricket. He is the leading run scorer in both Test matches and ODI matches. He became the God of cricket. But it all started with those two words. ‘Main Khelega’.  

“He's 40 but there hasn't been a single day when he has not given it his all, be it in the nets or during a match." his teammates remembered during his retirement.

You have to be a believer first and you will become an achiever. Sachin Tendulkar laid an example not only for the sportsmen but also for all of us. There will be times when problems will be thrown at you making your life difficult. There will be times when obstacles will knock you down on your face. Stand up and say `I will play’, stare at the obstacle and say `I will not get cowed down’.

When one door closes another door will open

People’s president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was a very successful man in his life and made India proud with successes in ISRO and DRDO. Do you know that Kalam failed in his maiden attempt, failed to achieve his dream, but he overcame and left an inspirational message for all. He showed everyone how to learn from failures.

Dr.Kalam’s `dearest dream’ was  to become a fighter pilot. He attended interview for fighter pilot at IAF, Dehradun and missed it by a whisker. Dr. Kalam bagged the ninth position out of 25 candidates and was not recruited as only eight slots were available.

Kalam was deeply disappointed. Such was the disappointment that he trekked from Dehra Dun to Rishikesh, a distance of 50 kilometres. He was wandering around the hills at Rishikesh. Happened to meet Swami Shivanand, a Muslim boy meeting a Hindu seer. Swami Shivanand comforted him, "Accept your destiny and go ahead with your life. You are not destined to serve in the air force. What you are destined to become is not revealed now, but it is predetermined. Forget this failure, as it was essential to lead you to your destined path,". Kalam respected the advice and joined Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTD&P-Air) of the Defence Ministry at Delhi, went on to steer rockets, missiles and nuclear bomb.

Dr.Kalam mentions in his book "I hope these stories will help all my readers understand their dreams and compel them to work on these dreams that keep them awake." We will have to add “ Don’t get deterred by the failures when pursuing your dream, probably they are the indications that you are destined to do something better”.

Dr.Kalam’s very interesting quotes on Failures

If you FAIL, it is First Attempt In Learning

There is no END to sincere efforts, Effort Never Dies

If you encounter NO as an answer, Don’t worry, There is always Next Opportunity

MONDAY MUSINGS PHASE 1 ENDS HERE. Look for my book `Classical Management’ in January-2019. that is the goal..

Take this opportunity to wish all of you a VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI. Let this DEEPAVALI remove all negative vibes and bring in lots of Knowledge, Bliss, Prosperity and Happiness.