Sachin Tendulkar, the great Indian Cricket player unites India, again. The ageing 82 years old Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray animated himself from millions of Indians on Monday, the 15th November 2009 when he attacked the country's icon  for saying that "Mumbai belonged to all Indians". In an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece, Saamna, Thackeray, warned Sachin to "keep off the political pitch" for his own well-being. Or else, he would have "run out" from Marathi minds.   While 82-year-old Thackeray's attack appears to have been motivated  by competitive politics with his nephew, Raj, to appear as a bigger champion of Marathi interests, it appears to have backfired. Parties cutting across political lines and Marathi intellectuals and civil society leaders expressed their disgust at Thackeray's editorial which, they said, was "worthy of the dustbin".     In that sense, the attack on Sachin Tendulkar -- as Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan said -- has united India. Thackeray's editorial addressed the legendary cricketer to say: "What was the need to say this? Your remark has cut through every Marathi heart... Mumbai may be India's commercial capital. But don't ever forget that it is Maharashtra's capital."

'Padma Vibhushan’        Sachin  Tendulkar

'Padma Vibhushan’  Sachin  Tendulkar   On January 25, 2008 the 34 years old Sachin Tendulkar India's  sporting icon  selected for the prestigious Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award. He is our Superman. A man who can do no wrong. Nice and unassuming off the field and our saviour on it. A fierce competitor, yet always a gracious winner.    At a tender age of 16,  Sachin was padding up to face the mighty Pakistan trio of Imran Khan, Waqar  Younis and Abdul Qadir, in their own den. As a 19 year old, he smashed a brilliant counter- attacking century in Perth, world’s fastest wicket and announced his arrival at the international stage. By the time he got over his teens, he had the world at his feet. Proclaimed the world’s best batsman ever, who even reminded the great Sir Don Bradman of himself, Sachin represents the new vibrant India. Bold, yet humble, fearless yet modest, successful yet grounded to the roots.    A once in a generation batsman with 25000+ runs, studded with 80 priceless centuries, Sachin has left a legacy that has few parallels in modern cricket. Sachin’s tremendous record attains even more magnanimous proportions, considering the fact that for close to a decade he almost single handedly carried the burden of expectations of a cricket fanatic country. Sachin Tendulkar deserves a Padma Vibhushan for the sheer undiluted joy he has provided to the followers of the game.