Tendulkar memorabilia going missing in Kochi is apathy towards sports

June 19, 2020

Value the gifts and words from Sachin Tendulkar; he is one of the greatest batsmen of the era

When a sportsman gifts his valuable possessions to inspire fans, it is the duty of the custodians to keep it safely. Negligence towards a pavilion named after a hero and his items in the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi reveals their irresponsibility and lack of respect towards a legendary sportsman.

By K.R. Nayar|

Sachin Tendulkar’s memorabilia is said to have gone missing from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. This is a clear instance of what can happen when people with no regard for great sportsmen or sports become guardians of a sporting arena. The missing items are from the pavilion named after Tendulkar, and there is also news that the pavilion, which was inaugurated by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2013, is in a bad condition.

Tendulkar had gifted his jersey, an autographed bat, and a ball with which he had played for display at the pavilion named after him. Tendulkar had produced five-wicket hauls twice on this ground. The walls of this 1000 square feet area pavilion had pictures of Tendulkar with Don Bradman and Brian Lara, as well as his childhood images. Following news of the missing items, a blame game is now on in full swing. Some have even remarked that these valuable items may have been stolen. If that were to be true, then it is truly an act of disrespect for Tendulkar and to sports as a whole. Cricketers gift their valuable possessions to an individual, institution, or stadium as a token of inspiration. To safeguard those gifts, whose value increases with every passing year, is the responsibility of the authorities.

The MIG Cricket Club in Bandra, Mumbai, has also a pavilion named after Tendulkar. While inaugurating this pavilion, Tendulkar gifted them the Indian team jersey that he'd worn for his 200^th Test match. It is displayed in this pavilion and youngsters who come to play matches on this ground admire this jersey with pride. They also proudly remember that the greatest batsman of the era grew up playing on this very ground.

Sachin Tendulkar autographs the group photo in which all of us journalists had posed with him for a picture on the day before he played his last Test match at the Wankhede Stadium

This is a good moment to reflect on why fans run after star cricketers to get their autograph. It is not to merely preserve the signature of that player with them forever but to also remind themselves that a small moment from the valuable life of that player was spent on the fan while signing it. Only a devoted fan can savor the value of an autograph and will never lose it. Similarly, only ardent sports lovers will preserve the memorabilia of a sportsman as an invaluable item.

Having travelled often with cricketers to report on matches, I've had many requests from friends for autographs from players, especially from great players like Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers, Kumar Sangakkara, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I am reminded of an instance when a friend’s daughter eagerly wanted an autograph from Rahul Dravid. I approached Dravid at the airport while waiting to board our flight. Instead of merely putting his signature without a thought, he asked me her name and added the words 'Best Wishes', wrote out her name, and then put his signature.
Sportsmen who respect fans deserve appreciation, their gesture of gifting their valuables should be admired, and their items must be treated with respect forever.