Father’s Day special: Sachin and Arjun — The difficulty of being a Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar along with son Arjun (Instagram/sachintendulkar)

On father’s day it is pertinent we look at Sachin and Arjun Tendulkar and understand what it takes to be a father and son in the same sport. It was the same in the case of Sunil and Rohan Gavaskar as well.

While writing Playing it My Way, Sachin had spoken to me a lot about Sara and Arjun and the difficulties of being a Tendulkar. Sample this: “There is a common misconception that our children have it really smooth all the time. Rather, it has never been easy on them. They are not able to do the things which normal kids indulge in and often times it is really hard on them. Here is an instance, which adequately explains my point.

"The incident relates to our media. It took place in Mumbai soon after Arjun had turned 12 and had just about started playing competitive cricket. And since then it has become routine. He hadn’t done anything to deserve regular media coverage then. Yet, there were four or more OB vans outside every match that he played. Unfortunately, the boy has little choice and has to bear a high level of intrusion into his young life. I regret what was being done to him. He once told me that when he was going out to bat someone had almost forced a microphone in front of his face and asked him to comment on something completely unrelated to his game. I really don’t know why this was done and can only say that it was utterly wrong and unfortunate.”

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More recently, the moment Arjun was included in the first eleven by the Mumbai Indians a year earlier, social media was on overdrive. Arjun was trolled as is the norm these days and some people went on to accuse him of nepotism. Frankly, Arjun wasn’t involved in the decision making. Yes he is a Tendulkar but that is not something he can do anything about. He is a normal hard working cricketer like many others who played domestic cricket and made the IPL cut. If a franchise picked him, it is his good fortune. But no way was he involved in the decision making. By saying he was, we were actually demeaning the likes of Rohit Sharma, Mahela, Hardik and others who make the cricketing decisions at MI. And if MI has picked him for brand building, I think it is a very prudent call, for the IPL is a business and every brand is entitled to leverage opportunities that come their way. To have Sachin and Arjun in a hoarding is a fantastic outreach, which can only help the brand.

Arjun, needless to say, will forever have to carry the burden of his surname. He will forever be compared with his legendary father and be accused of nepotism. Such is the viciousness and negativity around that he will not even be allowed the freedom to do what he wants. All I say is let him fail. Like each one of us Arjun should be entitled to fail and not be hounded and harassed for doing something he loves doing. More, Arjun shouldn’t have to pay a price because he was born to Sachin and Anjali and growing up in the Tendulkar household.

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It is a misconception that star kids have it easy. Many feel things come easy to them and that breeds a sense of hostility and frustration. Arjun, for whatever he achieves on the cricket field, will never be allowed to enjoy his achievement. Frankly, he is damned either way. If he did not play cricket and tried doing something else people would say he is a good for nothing and despite being Sachin Tendulkar’s son he decided not to pursue the sport. And now that he has opted to play the sport knowing that his surname will haunt him, he is trolled and abused.

It is important that all of us try and be in his shoes for a while. Imagine training for hours and hours for days on end and then be told all this hard work is for nothing and all you have today is because your father is Sachin Tendulkar. Yes he might not be the most talented cricketer around. He might only achieve modest success in his career. He might never play for India and create records like his father did. But why can’t he be a domestic cricketer who is left alone to do what he wants to do?

We have the example of Sir Donald Bradman’s son before us. Unable to carry the Bradman burden, John had changed his surname to Bredson. And he grew up at a time when social media hadn’t taken over our lives. At a time when there is increased awareness on issues of mental health, we need to sit back and ask what trolls can do to Arjun Tendulkar’s mind? Can it create a sense of helplessness and depression? Will it breed negativity and frustration and push him to leave his passion and try something else?

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As I have narrated above, Sachin was speaking from a deep sense of conviction. It can’t be easy for him to digest the fact that his son is regularly trolled and abused just for being his son. There are many uncapped players who have been picked up by franchises at their base price of 20 lakhs. But it is Arjun Tendulkar who has been singled out by the trolls. Each are competing for their few seconds of glory by dragging Sachin into the mix and targeting Arjun in the process. Trying to demonstrate how morally upright they are.

Sachin isn’t alone. Gopichand was accused of nepotism when his daughter was selected for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. And this despite Gopi recusing himself from the selection meeting the moment Gayatri’s name had come up for discussion.

Does a doctors’ son or daughter not become a doctor? Do academics not encourage their children to become teachers and professors? There are many musicians in India whose parents are in the same profession.

So why is it that star kids are singled out for this kind of treatment? Why is it that we feel entitled to abuse them and attack their dignity? Frankly, such trolls are cowards for they hide behind a veil of anonymity and take barbs knowing their identity will never be disclosed. These very people queue up to pose for a photograph when Sachin is in front of them. And that’s why it is important to speak up on day’s like father’s day. To debate their opinions and state what we believe is right.