Tendulkar - Why Silence Is Golden

One has to wonder: does it not hurt the man to have his name dragged into unwarranted territory? But Sachin Tendulkar has lived with criticism all his life.
Believe it or not, Tendulkar cops as much flak as he draws adulation. But in the midst of it all, he maintains a sage like stoic stature, never stooping to criticism but never riding on pride over the admiration.
He must feel a bit indignant, with his name being dragged into such unsavoury, vested controversies such as the recent one that raised a ruckus with the Shiv Sena. For a man who belongs to the land, he must feel he is being dealt a step motherly hand.
What he said did not go against the grain of the land. What he raised was a patriotic salute which even he acknowledged was higher than his individual achievements. For humility - despite his stature and his enormous wealth- Tendulkar has shown he has not lost the values on which he was raised and by which he leads his life. Instead of making him an example, political parties jumped on the bandwagon either to condemn him or salute him but all serving their own purpose- of showing themselves of nobler intentions and making pretentious issues of solidarity.
For a party like Shiv Sena, instead of goading on the success of one of their own, have used divisive ploys - playing Sunil Gavaskar against Tendulkar, used atrocity and violence - by lashing out against a susceptible media, and chose to rub filth in a time of celebration.
It would be fair to say that Tendulkar had the guiding hand of his father, brother and coach, Ramakant Achrekar, but unless Tendulkar showed his own determination in the pursuit of his dream, he could well be another spoilt adult whose talent went to dust.
To then say that Tendulkar would not help a fellow Marathi speaking individual smacks of favoritism which if he had indulged in, would still have come in for criticism, much in the way Sunil Gavaskar copped it a few years ago. Cricketers who do make it to the Indian team have a good word to say about Tendulkar playing the role of the mentor. But perhaps not everyone is open enough to use his presence to their good effect.
Should Tendulkar take responsibility and is he culpable for any man who does not value the Indian cap just as much to change his ways and remain in reverence of it?
Tendulkar stands tall despite twenty years in doing the same thing because he has wanted it more than others, has been disciplined enough to go after it, never tires of tasks knowing that the rewards are but a by product of his endeavour, never antagonises by responding to trivial criticism but rather remains silent in the belief that the truth shall reveal itself, and has not forgotten where and how he has come here and what it means - always staying clear of controversies or of misdemeanour, and his humbleness make him an extraordinary man unfazed by unprecedented success.
Tendulkar is showing the best way to fight criticism- shun it, move on with your life, make work your signature and even when others want to use your name to try and get ahead, keep your head and always remember - silence is golden.

(The author of this article is not one of those big Sachin Tendulkar fans. Having said that, having an enormous respect for the game also means respecting its custodians. This act by the Shiv Sena, sadly one of Tendulkar’s Marathi speaking own, has inadvertently given another opportunity to admire the greatness of this man, even more as an exemplary human being than as a mere cricketer.)