A Star Is Born - From Chase Your Dreams

SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR, BORN INTO A HARD-WORKING, MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY, WENT ON TO BECOME A CRICKETING LEGEND. HERE, VIGNETTES FROM HIS BOYHOOD AND WHAT INSPIRED HIM

- Sachin Tendulkar

Son, life is like a book. It has many chapters. It also has several lessons in it. It is made up of a wide variety of experiences and is like a pendulum where success and failure, joy and sorrow, are only two ends of reality …

Often, failure and sorrow are bigger teachers than success and happiness. You are a cricketer and sportsman. You are fortunate to represent your country. But never forget that this, too, is just another chapter. Let’s say a person lives for 70 years. How many years will you play sport? Twenty years; if you are good, maybe 25. Even by that yardstick, you will live the larger part of your life outside of professional sport. This clearly means that there is more to life than cricket. I am asking you, son, to be pleasant and maintain a balanced nature. Do not allow success to breed arrogance in you … As a parent, I would be happier hearing people say, ‘Sachin is a good human being’ than ‘Sachin is a great cricketer’ any day.

My father’s words, which I often heard growing up, sum up my life’s philosophy.

I was born to a close - knit Maharashtrian family in Mumbai’s Bandra East and lived in Sahitya Sahawas, a cooperative housing society for writers. I am one of four children, with two brothers and a sister. Not only am I the youngest in the family but I was also the worst behaved.

My father, Ramesh Tendulkar, was an acclaimed Marathi poet, critic and professor, while my mother, Rajani, worked for an insurance company. Humility and modesty were their qualities and I owe a lot of my personality to my upbringing. Despite the trouble I often caused them, my parents never gave up on me.