By Jyoti Harsh
As I sit to pen my love and gratitude for the only person I have grown up admiring, I honestly do not know from where to begin.
Well, let me just begin by saying, ‘Thank You Sachin!’
For all the times you came out to bat for India,
For all the times you shouldered a billion dreams,
For all the times you kept hopes alive,
‘Thank You Sachin!’
When times were tough, as they sometimes are,
A source of strength, were you for your team mates.
A power, a force, a faith, a trust…
For all the times you taught me that success is not about ‘me’, it’s about ‘we’,
Thank You Sachin!
Along the years as I watched you carry your game,
My respect for you only grew.
On the field and off it, you conquered hearts,
Not just with your bat but also with your humility, sportsmanship and ethics.
For all the times you reminded me that one should face both success and failure with grace,
‘Thank You Sachin!’
From a young little ‘Sachin’, you became my hero.
Your bat made sure my heart kept beating…
I remember how your performance would affect my mood for the day.
I remember my brawls with anyone who would speak a word against you.
I remember my prayers for your tons and my fasts unto your hundredth…
For all the times you kept alive, the little child in me,
Who would jump with joy at your stellar performance on the field,
‘Thank You Sachin!’
Destiny had it that you mourn the sad demise of your father,
At a time when the nation needed you the most.
Torn between family and duty, how the braveheart in you must have controlled his tears?
For all the times you taught me that duty towards the country one ‘must’ perform,
‘Thank You Sachin!’
Life has its ups and downs. It has smiles, so does it have frowns.
If bad umpire-decisions and injuries were not enough,
The ‘tennis elbow’ and the shoulder injury came as major concerns!
You had asked your doctor to make sure you could bat for India as soon as possible, hadn’t you?
For all the times you taught me that ‘set-backs’ do not mean that my game is over,
For all the times that you taught me to fight,
‘Thank You Sachin!’
It never occurred to me that you would have to retire,
I had always thought, ‘Sachin will always be there for India…’
For the twenty four years of love that you gave to us,
For the void that you left unfilled,
For all the memories that we still live…
‘Thank You Sachin!’
I was right, wasn’t I? Sachin still bats for India…
In the village that he adopted,
Participating in the ‘Clean India Mission’,
On the streets urging people to follow the rules of the road,
With the underprivileged cheering their lives up, Sachin still bats for India…
For all the times that you inspire… for all the times that you paint smiles…
‘Thank You Sachin!’
For all the times a child says, “I want to grow up to become ‘Sachin Tendulkar’”,
For all the times you embraced your fans,
For all the times every Indian chanted “Sachin… Sachin…”
For the coveted ‘World Cup’!
For giving ‘Bharat’, the ‘Ratna’ of ‘You’!
For all the times you went through pain,
For all the times you made us proud!
‘Thank You Sachin!’
I too have been chasing a dream, ever since I was all of just ten. ‘Coz dreams do come true… I’m sure mine will too… when I will meet you in person and thank you Sachin!
As I sit to pen my love and gratitude for the only person I have grown up admiring, I honestly do not know where to stop.
For my heart that you went on to win,
‘Thank You Sachin!’