RNI NO. 7044/61

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April 29, 2013 April 29, THE WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE THE WEEKLY www.outlookindia.com In this issue...

Volume LIII, No. 16

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Krishna Prasad 40 ON FORTY EXECUTIVE EDITOR Bishwadeep Moitra BUSINESS EDITOR Sunit Arora SENIOR EDITOR Sunil Menon 20 50, 54 DEPUTY EDITORS Muttiah Uttam Sengupta, S.N.M. Abdi POLITICAL EDITOR Saba Naqvi brings some straight batting tales MURALITHARAN, BOOKS EDITOR Sheela Reddy FEATURES EDITOR Satish Padmanabhan Glen MCGRATH FOREIGN EDITOR Pranay Sharma 28 Shortened BOUNDARY ASSOCIATE EDITORS Friendly swipes from old foes S.B. Easwaran, Manisha Saroop, A hundred Sachin centuries, a Namrata Joshi, Anuradha Raman ASSISTANT EDITORS hundred reasons 56 Arindam Mukherjee, Lola Nayar, Sasi Nair, Brian STODDART Prachi Pinglay-Plumber () The sports scholar on how Sachin is SENIOR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS 32 Peter ENGLISH Arti Sharma & Prarthna Gahilote (Mumbai), bookended by Manmohan Singh Dola Mitra (Calcutta), The Australian sports journalist on Toral Varia Deshpande (Delhi) SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS the marquee man extraordinaire Pragya Singh, Chandrani Banerjee, 58 Amitabh BACHCHAN Amba Batra Bakshi PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENT: Panini Anand 34 One superstar on another SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Neha Bhatt Tom HEENAN, David CORRESPONDENTS Debarshi Dasgupta, Priyadarshini Sen DUNSTAN 62 CHENNAI Pushpa Iyengar Yohan BLAKE HYDERABAD Madhavi Tata The greater don? Two sports The ‘Beast’ on how he has always BHOPAL K.S. Shaini historians revisit the old debate COPY DESK Saikat Niyogi (Assistant Copy Editor), been a secret Sachin fan Siddharth Premkumar PHOTOGRAPHERS Narendra Bisht (Deputy Photo Editor) 40 Anthony BATEMAN 64 Jitender Gupta (Chief Photographer), Sania MIRZA Tribhuvan Tiwari (Deputy Chief Photographer), On the man who taught the English Sanjay Rawat, Sandipan Chatterjee, How he is the epitome of grace Apoorva Salkade, Amit Haralkar, that if you are good enough, you are S. Rakshit (Senior Coordinator), under pressure J.S. Adhikari (Photo Researcher) old enough DESIGN Deepak Sharma (Art Director), Ashish Bagchi, 68 Kadambari MURALI-WADE Leela, Kuldeep Bhardwaj (Chief Infographist), Devi Prasad, Padam Gupta 40, already? ILLUSTRATOR: Sorit EDITORIAL MANAGER: Sasidharan Kollery LIBRARIAN: Alka Gupta 78 , EDITORIAL CHAIRMAN: VINOD MEHTA

BUSINESS OFFICE Asha BHOSLE PRESIDENT: Indranil Roy CFO: Vinodkumar Panicker The nightingale sisters on how VICE PRESIDENTS Sachin’s bat sings Johnson D’Silva, Shishir Saxena SENIOR GENERAL MANAGERS Uma Srinivasan (Chennai), L. Arokia Raj (Circulation), 86 Fascinating 40 Satish Raghavan (F&A) GENERAL MANAGERS Check your SachinQ Kabir Khattar (Corp), Rashmi Lata Swarup, B.S. Johar (Subs) HEAD BRAND & MARKETING: Shrutika Dewan ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERS Amit Vaz (West), Anindya Banerjee (West), G. Ramesh (South), Rajendra Kurup CHIEF MANAGER: Shashank Dixit Issue editors SENIOR MANAGERS BORIA MAJUMDAR and Astha Sharma, Deshraj Jaswal, Neelkanth Sawant, Shekhar Kumar Pandey SATISH PADMANABHAN ZONAL SALES MANAGER Vinod Kumar (North) Research MANAGERS: Diwan Singh Bisht, Nevile D’souza, HARINI RANA, Times Now Rupali Biswas, Suneel Raju, Vinod Joshi

MENTOR: MAHESHWER PERI

HEAD OFFICE AB-10, S.J. Enclave, New Delhi - 110 029 Tel: 011-33505500; Fax: 26191420 Customer care helpline: 011-33505653 e-mail: [email protected] For editorial queries: [email protected] For subscription helpline: [email protected] For other queries: [email protected] OTHER OFFICES MUMBAI Tel: 022-33545000; Fax: 33545100 CALCUTTA Tel: 33545400; Fax: 22823593 CHENNAI Tel: 33506300; Fax: 28582250 BANGALORE Tel: 33236100; Fax: 25582810 HYDERABAD Tel: 2337 1144; Fax: 23375676 Printed and published by Maheshwer Peri on behalf of Outlook Publishing (India) Pvt. Ltd. Editor: Krishna Prasad. Printed at IPP Limited, C 4-C 11, Phase-II, Noida and published from AB-10, S.J. Enclave, New Delhi-110 029 Cover Design: Bishwadeep Moitra; Photograph: Narendra Bisht Published for the week of April 23-29, 2013 Released on April 22, 2013 Total no. of pages 90 + Covers OUTLOOK 29 April 2013 3 APOORVA SALKADE Last hurdle The World Cup won: one of Sachin’s finest hours SACHINXL

Keeper Of Our Hopes

MITABH Bachchan summed it up nicely. “I’d be embarrassed if you com- pare Sachin with me for I have not achieved half of what he has.” Yes, he was being modest. No question about it. But there aren’t many in India about whom India’s greatest living icon can say such a thing. AThere isn’t anyone else for whom Lata Mangeshkar will, unasked, sing a couple of lines of Mera saaya. As Lataji told me with a smile, “He loves this song.” And there is no one else for whom Asha Bhosle will frame the words of her favourite song in her own handwriting and send it across, hoping he’d put it up in his music room. is a pan-Indian love affair. Rather, he is trans-national. He is the only cricketer to get a standing ovation in every cricket-playing country in the world. For us Indians, he is a national obsession and has been so for the past 24 years. Despite a billion people living his life for him, he has performed at his best for two decades and more. He has given Indian cricket a voice that reverberates around the world and has single-handedly given our cricket a kind of reverence seldom rivalled in the annals of the sport. For no other person could we have assembled the line-up we have in this very special effort. The best of India and the world loves Sachin. And the best of the best, across professions and disciplines, would want to wish him a very happy 40th birthday. His continuing passion and enthusiasm imbues the cliche, ‘Forty is the new twenty’, with a new meaning. That’s what we call the issue. Happy birthday, Sachin.

Boria Majumdar Guest Editor

18 29 April 2013 OUTLOOK Saurav GANGULY

Straight Batting Tales He saw the artistry closer than the rest—a tribute to warm, humane Sachin

ACHIN and I go back a real long way. The first all that he was blessed with special talent. He would hold time I met Sachin was at an under-14 camp at the bat lower than the norm; this would mean that he’d not . Both of us were 13, Sachin eight months feel the pressure of his heavy bat. He already had all the younger, and we were there at the camp con- shots in the book and timed the ball beautifully. Sducted by Vasu Paranjpe under the aegis of the Madhya After that first meeting, Sachin had catapulted himself into Pradesh Cricket Association. Sanjay Jagdale, the current national reckoning within a couple of years and had already bcci secretary, was instrumental in putting the camp scored hundreds at the Ranji and Irani trophies before he was together. The first thing I noticed was that the curly- 17. It wasn’t a surprise that at 16 he was picked for the Indian haired boy from Bombay just loved to bat. He was the first tour to Pakistan in 1989. I did not watch many of his knocks in at the nets and just kept batting. Such was his passion and Pakistan as I was touring with the Bengal team. However, the intensity that Vasu had to eventually pull him out on occa- one match I watched was the one in which he took apart sions. Sachin would just bat, bat and bat. At the camp itself, Abdul Qadir. It was a rain-curtailed odi reduced to a 20 over everyone was talking about him and it was apparent to us a side exhibition contest. However, when it is an India versus

Photograph: GETTY IMAGES SACHIN XL Peter ENGLISH

Marquee Man Extraordinaire Awe, fear, respect...he inspires it all among us Australians

NTIL Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Australia, being “a great bond between Australia and India”. Again, India’s touring sides were viewed by the Tendulkar’s role in this link cannot be understated. locals more as a group of men from an exotic Even though he has been in the international game for land than an outfit to be treated seriously. Of almost 25 years, few cricketers have risen so high so qui- Ucourse, the generalisation was grossly unfair towards a ckly. With curls hiding behind his oversized helmet and proud nation with a diverse and inspiring history—as pads rising almost to his hips, Tendulkar was just 18 when well as being a production line for artistic cricketers. But he first played Down Under. His sleeves were rolled neatly it is all the more reason to praise Tendulkar. Not only did to the forearm, and as he waved his broad wand in the sum- he create wide-eyed spectators with on-field deeds, but mer of 1991-92, he quickly established himself as a fear- he opened minds away from the ground. ful-yet-fascinating threat. At the scg, his unbeaten 148 was Instead of Test series with India being viewed as part of described by Richie Benaud, in awe in the commentary the interval between Australia’s major battles against box, as “one of the best innings I’ve ever seen”. Shane England, South Africa and the West Indies, the engage- Warne was on debut, looking more like a surfer than a spin- ments were quickly upgraded to marquee status from the ner, and spent the first of many demoralising days wonder- middle of Tendulkar’s career. In the 44 years before his ing whether any type of deception was possible. The soon- first Test against Australia, in Brisbane in 1991, the sides to-be-greatest spinner was rarely lethal to the best batsman had contested 11 Test series. The recently completed of the era. He would go on to dismiss Tendulkar only three campaign was the 12th in which Tendulkar had appeared times in 12 Tests. Anyone who could make Warne’s bowling against opponents wearing the baggy green. impotent gained instant respect in Australia. Those dramatic schedule changes weren’t solely the doing At the end of Tendulkar’s scg innings, Dean Jones spri- of one man, but they wouldn’t have happened without him. nted to shake Tendulkar’s hand. He had just become the And given the often patronising glances—or worse—at the youngest Test centurion on Australian soil, an innings Indians before the Tendulkar era, it was even more remark- definitely worth running to see. The following month, he able that he had swayed and besotted Australians of all beli- finished the series with 114 at the waca. This time, efs. From those who guzzled on the Adelaide hill, to the bla- Benaud called it “the type of hundred that deserves a zer-wearing folk at the mcg, all the way to the nation’s top crowd of 100,000”. Tellingly, Tendulkar hit his pad in office. Last year, Julia Gillard, Australia’s prime minister, anger as he walked off, signalling to the world he would announced that Tendulkar would be presented with the never be satisfied. A boy in body, he was already a super- Order of Australia, a rare civic accolade for a non-Australian man in the mind. Merv Hughes teased Allan Border that citizen. The honour, she said, was a “very special recogni- his Test run-scoring world record was already in danger. tion of such a great batsman”. It was also a tribute to cricket On India’s next visit, Tendulkar lured me to Adelaide for my first holiday as a full-time worker. It was a trip made with urgency, both in case his aching back forced an early retirement, and because of the uncertainty over when India When a sandstorm interrupted proceedings would next return. It wasn’t his best series, but my trip was at the Sharjah stadium in 1998 in what came not wasted. Over the next couple of years, Australia would to be called the “desert storm innings”, set a 16-match winning streak, but the instant memories Sachin went and hid behind the Australian players. “I knew they’d take the brunt and I from that Adelaide Test do not come from the deeds of wouldn’t be blown away.” Steve Waugh’s men. It’s Sachin—so small, so assured—diss-

32 29 April 2013 OUTLOOK SACHINXL

You are Sixteen, We are Se

The insuperable singing sisters of Bollywood sustain the high notes for their fa

Lata MANGESHKAR Playback singer

ACHIN calls me Ma, and may I say I am indeed delighted he does so. He is a gem of a person and what I like about him the most is that he is Ssoft-spoken, humble and dignified at all times. Never have I seen him raise his voice or lose his cool—and that in itself, I believe, is a great quality to have in a human being. My cric ket- watching—I must confess I understand very little of the game—is largely guided by whether Sachin is playing or not. I often switch off the television when Sachin gets out. He is for me the embodiment of all that is good about the game of cricket and its spirit—disci- pline, morality and gentlemanliness. Sachin has often told me he likes listening to my songs during tours and that they inspire him on occasion. I am absolutely delighted he FOTOCORP feels that way. If my music can inspire him to achieve Let him be Lata with Sachin at a function to felicitate him further greatness for India, I’d only feel privileged. I often feel Sachin was born to play sport. He has played cricket at the very highest level with distinction for close much else than play sport with complete commitment, so to 24 years. I did not like it when he quit one-day cricket. he shouldn’t give up what he loves so much. I still think he should have continued, for he has lots of As an artiste, I find it greatly satisfying that I have been cricket left in him. There’s no doubt his passion for the able to give Sachin some joy with my music. I recall this game is undiminished and I feel he should continue to recent event at the house of Nita Ambani at which both play Test cricket as long as he loves the game the way he of us were present at her invitation. We were meeting to does. In fact, even after he leaves cricket (and this is very celebrate Sachin’s 100th international century and I was much my personal opinion), he should continue to play asked to speak a few words on the occasion. Soon after I sport. Perhaps he can start playing golf seriously, maybe finished speaking, Sachin asked me to sing a couple of some other sport, but I firmly believe he should play lines from the song ‘Tu jahan jahan chalega, mera saaya some sport as long as he lives. All his life, he hasn’t done saath hoga...’, from the film Mera Saya, which he said was one of his all-time favourites. I did sing a few lines from the song for him and was happy to be able to do so. As Sachin turns 40, all I want to tell him is that he The match being shown in Slumdog should never lose his balance. He has a lot to offer to Millionaire character Javed’s house is the first India and to his fans. And life has just begun for him. In ODI of the Future Cup between India and fact, he is half my age! He shouldn’t think of giving up South Africa at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast, on June 26, 2007. Sachin cricket for anyone and should continue to play as long as was run out on 99 and SA went on to win. his body and mind want to. Happy birthday, Sachin! 4

78 29 April 2013 OUTLOOK venteen vourite cricketer and fellow Mumbaikar

I first heard about Sachin Tendulkar when he was 15. Raj Singh Dungarpur mentioned him to me and sug- gested that here was a Bombay kid who was special. Thereafter, my son-in-law kept on raving about him and even told me about presenting this kid with a pair of his pads. Needless to say, I was curious to see him bat. And when I did—at the first opportunity, during his debut series in Pakistan in 1989 against the likes of Wasim Akram and Imran Khan—I realised that all that was said about him was justified. He was simply exceptional. A man who was simply too good. His batting is like Lata Mangeshkar’s melodies, timeless and immor- tal. You can keep on seeing the videos and yet you will want to see more. Just as you like listening to Lata Mangeshkar songs at any time of the day, you’d like to watch Sachin Tendulkar play for India wherever you are. That’s why I call him cricket’s supreme artiste. I am currently 80 years and seven months old. Yet I am on my feet at least 12 hours a day. I keep myself busy with my performances, my boutique and my recordings. For me, there’s retirement only in death. We have been born to work hard and that’s what I have always done. I wish AP Sachin keeps on doing the same. He should continue to Charmed! Asha with Sachin at the music launch of her film play for as long as he wants and then should continue to give back to the game in any way possible for the rest of his life. Cricket is his arena and there’s no way he should Asha ever leave his arena and walk away. BHOSLE I’d be failing in my duty if I don’t mention my personal Playback singer gratitude to him. In this day and age when achievers of his stature charge a hefty appearance fee for anything they do, have been watching cricket from 1956 onwards. In he has never asked me for a single penny ever. He has come fact, I vividly remember watching Subhash Gupte to inaugurate my albums on more than one occasion and bowl at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta, picking up a has even modelled for my boutique but never has he lot of wickets against the West Indies in 1958. I also charged a fee for doing so. Such generosity is unheard of in Iremember enjoying Vijay Manjrekar and Polly Umrigar bat today’s age. In fact, whenever I have asked what I should for India in the 1950s and ’60s. Thereafter, I have seen and give him to compensate for his time and efforts, he has enjoyed Vivian Richards for the sheer aggression that he laughed it off and suggested that I should give him some- brought to the game. If Richards was aggression personi- thing very personal of my own. Accordingly, I have given fied, our very own Sunil Gavaskar was all class and ele- him the paper in which I had written out the song In aank- gance. And it wouldn’t be wrong to suggest that Sachin hon ki masti at the time of my recording. I had it framed Tendulkar is a combination of both these legends. He is and presented it to him and he tells me that he will soon equally good in attack and in holding on to his wicket—a put it up in his music room in his house in Mumbai. rare quality in any batsman. He has dominated world cri- He is a real gem of a man in every sense of the word and cket for more than two decades and has allowed us to speak I take great pride in knowing him well. Here’s hoping he of an Indian in the same breath as Sir Donald Bradman. has a great 40th birthday. 4

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