The Election Commission has conferred the status of “national icon” on former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. For the next three years, he is bound by a contract to spread awareness about the need for greater voter participation in the electoral process.
Though the intention is laudable, ironically it brings back memories of Tendulkar’s lacklustre stint in the Rajya Sabha. It particularly takes me back to the morning of March 15, 2013, in Delhi. It was my first week as a reporter of Parliament. The press gallery of the Upper House was mostly empty. Amidst the mundane announcements, Deputy Chairman P.J Kurien sought the “House’s permission to grant leave” to Tendulkar. Parliament rules stipulate that members’ leave applications are read out during a session and the House decides whether or not to grant permission. Just as the House was about to sing its customary “aye”, Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agarwal rose unexpectedly to lob a bouncer at the absentee cricketer. “He hardly comes to the House. Why not give him permanent leave?” he joked and the entire House broke into laughter. Leave was granted and Tendulkar went on to complete his unremarkable term without “permanent leave”.
By no means is this an unusual story. But for me, a news reporter, it provided direct evidence of popular anecdotes about him. In fact, a hard-working celebrity parliamentarian is the equivalent of “a man biting a dog”. A galaxy of film stars and cricketers have entered Parliament with very little to show for it.
