Did Sachin Deserve the Bharat Ratna?   by sumit singh

in Sports / Extreme Sports    (submitted 2014-02-06)

4th February 2014 will always be remembered in the Indian history. It was this day when our very own Indian hero Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honor of the country. The date doesn't become special because of the little master but it was for the first time that a sportsperson was rewarded with this honor. Pranab Mukherjee, the 13th President of the Independent India, handed over the scroll of honor to Sachin Tendulkar at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. For record, Bharat Ratna is the highest honor while Padma Vibhushan stands at second. Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri are ranked third and fourth in the list. C.N.R. Rao and Sachin Tendulkar became the 42nd and 43rd persons respectively to receive Bharat Ratna; following in the footsteps of 42 other renowned personalities that include Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa (the award is not restricted to Indian citizens alone). For years to come, when there would be discussion about the person who broke the jinx in the sports category, Sachin Tendulkar's name is going to stand tall. The picture looks perfect for a man, who holds all the records and milestones in the world of cricket. He has been a loyal servant to the game for long 24 years and has received numerous awards in his glittering career. There haven't been any controversies attached with his previous trophies but as soon he was declared and awarded Bharat Ratna, the voices gained momentum about the inclusion of his name in the very first instance. Many felt that hockey wizard Dhyan Chand deserved the award ahead of Sachin Tendulkar. It's a valid point and let's take a closer look at the points which made things easy for the Master Blaster. It is no more a hidden fact that his name started doing the rounds after he announced his retirement date from the international arena. The Indian government cashed on the opportunity to raise their stock in the minds of the millions by declaring Sachin's name. However, we look at the broader prospect, there are other cricketers as well, who deserved Bharat Ratna more than Sachin Tendulkar. How could we forget the legendary Kapil Dev? Is there any great batsman than Sunil Gavaskar? These two greats had done phenomenal acts, which Sachin can't even think in his dreams. Kapil Dev helped India in winning its first World Cup that too despite leading the side in tense moments. Sunil Gavaskar had to face giant looking West Indies fast bowlers and that didn't stopped him from scoring ten thousand runs in the longest version of the game. Coming back to our main discussion, Dhyan Chand led India to three successive gold medals (1928, 1932 & 1936) at the Olympics. The sensational and the best hockey player of all time scored over 400 international goals and 1000 overall. This is enough to prove the amount of damage he caused to rival teams. He was among the rarest of the personalities, who made controversial German ruler Adolf Hitler his fan. Dhyan Chand was requested to take German citizenship and play for the country and in return will lead the German army. He was promised cash rewards beyond imagination. However, he refused stating that playing for India was his sole purpose. The Indian hockey couldn't stand on his feet's from the day he bid adieu to the game. Contrary to what may people think the real question still remains about the greatness of the two? Who is the most deserving? I know cricket is the most followed game in the country then hockey at the moment but this is not Dhyan

Chand's fault by any means. The Indian governments of the previous decades should have woken up before about the importance of sportspersons contribution in the growth of the country. What is important to realize that Sachin Tendulkar has no role to play in his selection. He was mere a cricketer who played his part perfectly in the game of cricket. It was his duty to score runs for the country as he was employed to do that. He has been used by the government but this didn't away his achievements which he gathered over the course of two decades. He is the deserving candidate without any doubt but it doesn't seem right that he got it first. "There's no point now. There is no hope of my father getting the Bharat Ratna. Even if he had to get it, he should have been the first sportsman to get it. He is in no way second to any sportsman in India. My father helped India reign in the world of hockey at a time when the country was still bound by slavery. India was hockey Olympic champions six times on the trot between 1928 and 1956 and thrice therein (Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932 and Berlin 1936) my father was the architect of this glory. Yet, the current government continues to undermine his achievements. I am very angry and sad," Dhyan Chand's son Ashok Kumar said. Mr. Chand would have been the best candidate for the award at the first case rather than Sachin Tendulkar. There can't be two parameters for judging one thing as it has been in the case of Sachin Tendulkar and Dhyan Chand. It is not Dhyan Chand's fault that he was born in an era where media was not prevalent. Justice delayed is justice denied and the fact that Dhyan Chand was not conferred the award, is a fine example of the saying.

About the Author

sumit singh is a Expert Writer Of Cricket Match, cricket news and also write Present Running series india versus new zealand series future match in Asia Cup india pakistan super fight 2 march at banladesh and more about cricket new,update,records etc.