Before
comparing the two Masters, let’s first compare the two games. In India, the
game of cricket has huge mass appeal, flamboyancy, media coverage whereas
chess is considered to be less glamorous and subdued in nature. Similar are its
heroes and the way they are greeted by the masses also finds difference, even
though their achievements run parallel.
Both
are exceptional talents and one of the best in their fields, honored with the
nation’s second highest civilian award, PadmaVibhushan and anytime in future
can be graced with Bharat Ratna, one being the King of sixty-four squares and
other the Master of twenty-two yards. Uh, no points for guessing please, I am
talking about Viswanathan Anand and Sachin Tendulkar, the two iconic sportsmen
of India.
The
universe of both these gentlemen is very different but their journey has been very
much similar. The year 1983 is considered to be most memorable for every
Indian, yes, we won our first Cricket World cup, but very few may know that in
the same year, the Legend of Chess entered the arena of black and white
squares. He was sixteen, then, when he won the national senior title. At the
same age, Sachin marked his beginning on the big stage, playing for Team India.
Even
from his early days, Sachin was considered to be a rapid stroke-maker, bringing
in swiftness to the game of Cricket similar to Sir Vivian Richards of West
Indies. Likewise, Anand is called the Lightning kid of chess fraternity and the
king of rapid format of chess. They have a strong hold on their game, courtesy
flawless technicality and calmness. With growing years, both of them went
through various ups and downs in their career, but still made their way through all odds
and became the Master of their game. But there is an irony to it, as the famous Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle says, “They look upon their game as vehicle of
fulfillment, as a servant rather than Master. The most humble devotees of the
game are themselves an idol to so many, finds irony within ironical statement.”
Continuing
with more similarities, the two are known to be honest, humble, well-mannered
human beings. Anand has always been away from all the fuss about controversies
and disputes happening in the world of chess, so is the Master Blaster keeping
himself clean in the era of match-fixing, drugs and other non-sense
controversies in cricket. Truly, they can be termed as great ambassadors of the
sports they play, carrying the national pride on their shoulders for last two
decades successfully.
Now
talking about the popularity of two games in India, no second thought to it,
Cricket is followed like religion in India which brings in the pressure of
unreal and wild expectations of billion people. When Tendulkar goes out to bat,
he carries billion plus hopes on his shoulders along with national pride, such
is the mass appeal for the man. Whereas Anand, playing much docile game,
carries the nation’s pride up his sleeves if not immense hope from countrymen.
Even if that’s not the case, he always makes sure that the billion back home
does have a smile and proud feeling when he accomplishes the job. As true battalions,
without eyeing for any recognition, these guys keep performing out of their
skin so that we can keep our heads high as Indians!
The
two Indians have always done remarkably well against the best opponents like
Tendulkar against the mighty Aussies and the West Indies bowling attack,
whereas Anand has always been in the top form against the Russian greats like
Kasparov, Kramnik (Russia is considered to be a country where chess rules). So
no question can be raised against their ability to perform. But to every
positive deed is attached negativity in some form and it tries to knock out the
best within you. Similar thing happened with both the genius, Anand was not in
his best of form in the year 2006-07 where he was losing many of the games. It
was seen as an end of his era considering the new generation of players coming
up and taking over him. Likewise, in the same period, Tendulkar was going
through a bad patch and the exit of Team India from 2007 world cup at an
early stage added more woes to his downfall. Critics started writing off
Sachin, ‘No more class persists’ headlines bubbled.
But
real champions are those who rise from the ashes, they never give up!!
And
the rest is history.
These
two stalwarts of the game would be remembered for generations to come and would
keep inspiring millions of people, definitely not only Indians, but people all
around the world who have witnessed them and heard about their brilliance and
achievements. In India, it is said ‘Cricket is a religion and Tendulkar is God’;
courtesy the popularity of the game but if Chess would have been the premier
sport here, it would be like ‘Chess is a religion, Viswanathan Anand is God.’
I Salute..nothing more!!
