MP
Sachin sets a target for others to trail
Sachin Terndulkar is at the peak of his popularity. For
some he is the ‘god of cricket’. He is a master blaster for the media. In love
for him the media and his fans give him many names. Recently, he has risen on
the horizon of national scene as a nominated Member of Parliament in Rajya
Sabha. He took oath as MP on June 4.
As the government was looking for a safe and suitable
bungalow for him in New Delhi to suite his stature, and there were media
reports that he was being made Congress
General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s neighbour, the cricket maestro hit another
maiden century in the game of parliamentary sport by refusing a government bungalow in New Delhi. He found
it an unnecessary burden on the people’s exchequer.
“I am not keen on blocking a government bungalow “,
said Sachin, “because this would be a waste of taxpayer's money as I reside in
Mumbai. It would be better if the bungalow is allotted to someone else who
needs it more than me,” the cricketer said in a statement. “I would prefer to
stay in a hotel in Delhi at my own expense when I am on official work. For me
the honour of being nominated as a Rajya Sabha member matters most,” he said. (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3508634.ece}
This gentleman in cricket has hit another century of
sorts by setting an example for many to emulate and yearn for. It is true that
Sachin has during his long cricket career earned name, fame and riches. At the
same time he is a philanthropist extending financial help to many individuals
and institutions in many ways.
Sachin Tendulkar has certainly trailed a new path for
many of his fellow travellers to follow. He is not the only person in public
life rolling in riches. Out of about 800 MPs and more than 3000 MLAs in State
assemblies, there are many rich persons having their own commercial and
industrial houses which fetch them lakhs and crores monthly as income, In spite
of that, all of them continue to crave for more and more pay, perks and
privileges at public expense. None has set the example Sachin has done.
True, an overwhelming majority of our public
representatives were neither born with silver spoons in their mouth nor were
they lucky to earn fabulously rich incomes. Even if there are a hundred or more
(or less) such individuals, they need to ponder over the example set by Sachin.
The money thus saved could be utilised for projects that could wipe out hunger
and want from the less privileged sections of society.
