Every field has a person , who inspite of not being in prime limelight
influences the result and the future direction of that field.
I would
say what Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was to Indian freedom struggle,
Bhishma Pitamah to Mahabharta , A.P.J Abdul Kalam to science and
Technology, Rahul Dravid is to Indian Cricket and sports. All of these
are not the main character in their respective plays but ones to whom
you would respect long after they are gone not only for their skills but
for their attitude in handling the tasks at hand.
I remember my Professor at Indian Institute of Science comparing
Database subject with Rahul Dravid innings . Truly, it seems boring to
trespassers but an example of concrete building foundation without which
no institution/team can stand. When Cricket was changing its gears from
its bastion Mumbai to all corners of the country, these guys emerged in
90's who worked day and night and proved that success is 99%
perspiration , nothing else. From his Ranji days to his epitome in
International Cricket, this guy stick to ethics and putting his head
down. Above all, his attitude to concentrate on his game and working for
the team be it wicket keeping, fielding or any position to bat on, he
kept team above himself in all situations. I remember him being dropped
from ODI team, instead of making any hue and cry in media for the same,
this guy kept himself with cricket playing in domestic matches. Every
body knows Rahul's cricketing heroics and how he has earned the
sobriquets of WALL, Sankat Mochan or Mr. Dependable in team but he is
the one who is admired not only for his cricketing skills but how he has
build and sustained all that.
A small peep into his personal life came from the article from his
wife Vijeeta soon after his retirement. It was not a word of praise but a
look from the eyes of soulmate. Be it separating his field affairs from
his family life, or his discipline in meditating (which is essential in
today's distracting world), he is a paragon of perfection in
professionalism and an example to look at, for the corporate world.
C.L.R James once mentioned " What do they know of cricket, who only
cricket knows". Truly, this St. Joseph commerce graduate is the one who is
known beyond cricketing circles for his speech and ethics. I sometimes
wonder, would Rahul have earned same accolades if he had chosen some other field , but i believe the
answer to that lies in great teacher S.Radhakrishnan' saying ," Light is
good in whatever lamp it may burn , even as a rose is beautiful in whatever
garden it may bloom".
