NAKED EYE
A manic obsessive Sachin fan
When India plays at home and Sachin Tendulkar scores big, the tellycameras always zoom in on a spindly thin individual in the standswaving the tri colour proudly. Amazingly, this young man who paintshis body in the colours of the tricolour with the Ashoka Chakra in thecentre and Tendulkar 10 emblazoned on his rear is ubiquitous. He is atevery ground and that takes some dedication. It also costs money. ButSudhir Kumar Chaudhary also known as Sudhir Kumar Gautam is a die hardfan of Tendulkar. And he even has a wikipedia site named after him.When Tendulkar recently did the unthinkable of scoring a double ton,the omnipresent Chaudhary with his body art was once again in thefocus. Yes, there are fans and fans, but the Muzzafarpur (Bihar)native Chaudhary is something else. He lives, eats and breathesTendulkar. Many people around the world worship Tendulkar, but noneshows the fanaticism that Chaudhary displays. He is a one of a kindsavant. A case study for Tendulkarmania.
Sudhir Kumar gifts his idol 1000 litchis every year and Tendulkar inturn gives him passes to all international cricket matches featuringIndia at home. Sudhir is the very embodiment of a cricket mad fan inIndia. More than that his obsession with Tendulkar typifies thesentiment that exists in the hearts and minds of Indian cricketaddicts. An addiction incidentally for which there is no cure. ATendulkar junkie who is pretty much a symbol for cricket obsession inIndia. Sudhir has even cycled to Lahore and Dhaka to watch hisfavourite cricketer. In an interview to media a couple of years back,Sudhir had this to say about his maniacal zeal, "I first met him inMumbai in 2003 during an ODI. And, I have been there to cheer my heroand the team since then. I attend the practice sessions and thematches and wave the Indian flag. Tendulkar unfailingly gives me aticket before boarding the team bus. He likes me a lot."
The body art with the tricolour begins with his tonsured head andcovers his face and body completely. It is a unique attachment for oneof the game's greatest servants. He claims to have visited the battingmaestro’s home in Mumbai. He also boasts of knowing every team member.As he says, "I travel from one venue to another on my bicycle and usethe train only if necessary. I don’t spend much on transportation. Icycled my way even to Lahore in Pakistan in February 2006 to watch anODI. I had a tough time getting a visa but managed to convince thePakistan embassy. " A news agency story said that such is his love forcricket that he has chosen to remain a bachelor. While much has beenwritten about Tendulkar over these last 20 odd years, it is aninteresting aside to highlight the psyche of one of his greatestworshippers.
Sudhir Kumar cycled to Bangaldesh in 2007 with a placard draped aroundthe handlebars - Cycle yatra: Damodarpur, Muzzafarpur (Bihar) seBangaldesh cricket match dekhne chale Sudhir. He first watched Sachinin 2002 at the Keenan stadium in Jamshedpur and then cycled for 18days from Muzzafarpur to Mumbai the following year to make his trystwith Sachin. The dairy worker is like Abdul Chacha, the Pakistanisupporter seen at their games or Percy, the flag waving Sri Lankansupporter. Chaudhary Abdul Jalil has been a fanatic Pakistan supporterfor over 40 years now. The Pakistan Cricket Board now supports andsponsors him. The retired Municipal foreman says, "``I have taken upthis mission to support the Pakistan team and have earned a lot ofrespect from the people. But this is special, it is not importantwhich team wins, but it is the love between the two countries that isthe ultimate winner." So, this cricket crazy culture is clearlyrampant in south Asia.
Percy Abeysekera also known as Uncle Percy is cast in a similar mould,but what separates Sudhir from Abdul Chacha and Uncle Percy is thatwhile his Pakistani and Sri Lankan equivalents are much older, theyare also supporters of their nations and not merely individuals.Sudhir is focused on Sachin unlike the other two. That is what makeshim even more special. But it is now up to the cash rich Indiancricket board to support and sponsor this cricket mad Sachin junkie.Often enough one has seen placards bearing the legend around cricketgrounds- Cricket is my religion and Sachin is my God. They are so apt.But Sudhir has taken his obsession for Sachin and his art ofbatsmanship to a distinctly new level.
It is reported that Sudhir even stripped himself once showing hispainted body to former BCCI president Sharad Pawar to grant himlifetime guarantee of ticketsfor all Indian home games. The media story went on to say that whilehis request was denied by Pawar, yet it was approved by Sachinhimself. As Sachin runs the last lap of his glittering career, let thecricket board come forward and give Sudhir also his due. Make him themascot of the Indian team just as Abdul Chacha and Uncle Percy are fortheir respective nations. Ensure that Sudhir is present not just atall domestic venues which he has managed by sheer dint of perseveranceon his bicycle till date, but that he is present at all internationalvenues where India and Sachin are playing. Let Pawar or ShashankManohar take up this initiative or maybe Mukesh Ambani can be roped infor this venture. With Sachin captain of Mumbai Indians in the IPL,let Nita Ambani come forward and turn Sudhir into a semi official MImascot and allow the young man to travel with the team to all the MImatches. Let the board follow up on this and turn Sudhir into theofficial Indian cricket side mascot and give this die hard hisrightful place and recognition.
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