Outlook’s special issue, honouring Sachin Tendulkar on his 40th year Marathon Maestro, Apr 29), was disappointing. Couldn’t you find a better topic than Sachin and cricket? In the early ’50s in Kerala, when I was a schoolboy, hardly anyone, except a few unhealthy Brahmin boys, played cricket. Now, it’s all the rage, though the state has produced only a few players, that too not of the first rank. This is only on account of media hype, which has stifled and pushed all other games out. Why, even in Outlook, I haven’t seen any articles on Dhyan Chand, or, say, I.M. Vijayan.
C.V. Francis, New Delhi
Sachin is a gift to India from the heavens.
M.Y. Shariff, Chennai
Sachin may be a great batsman, but that greatness hardly extends beyond cricket. He is not a great human being either—he plays mostly for himself. I fail to appreciate the whole panegyric laid on thick in this issue. K. Anil,
Shirali, Karnataka
Everything about Sachin is a delight and a comfort.
Haritha Shaganti, on e-mail
It’s time Sachin found out the meaning of the word ‘altruism’. The master-blaster should realise he is depriving quite a few youngsters of a chance to play for the country.
K. Chidanand Kumar, Bangalore
What a paid-up issue meant to lap up measly advertising revenues. Look at how gracefully, and yes, quietly, Rahul Dravid retired, and how classy he has been at ipl. Conversely, Tendulkar is largely a flop in T20.
Harjit Singh, Ludhiana
Why, we seem to have in our midst another W.G. Grace (1848-1915). His last Test match was at the age of 50. What’s another decade for our sprightly Sachin?
Soli Canteenwala, Mumbai
In this nation of wily netas and perennial scams, Tendulkar is faith personified. A symbol of indomitable spirit and dogged determination.
S. Chakradhara Raju, Hyderabad
I would like Tendulkar to remain what he has always been to people like me—a radiant symbol of better times to come. That is why he must retire from the pitch now, and pursue bigger things in life.
Ganesh Natrajan, Isere, France
The Sachin issue well illustrates the single biggest pitfall of subscribing—that one cannot opt out of single-themed ‘special’ issues that do not interest you. Great as Sachin is, is it justified to devote a whole issue to him? What else is happening in the universe? I think you should give me one extra magazine at the end of my subscription.
Deepak Singh, on e-mail
The cover story was repetitive, and yet refreshing—a bit like its subject! May Sachin’s career continue to flourish.
Amrita Muttoo, Mumbai
This is one issue I want to show to my grandchildren (whenever that happens).
Lakshmy Iyer, on e-mail
What a colossal waste of newsprint! Just a directionless extravaganza!
S. Letchoumanane, Coimbatore
While Sachin’s 40th birthday does call for a celebration and recounting of his numerous achievements, it certainly does not merit the nth Outlook ‘special’. An impartial take would also have visited his controversial tax evasion (where he declared himself an ‘actor’, a rich man trying to get the import duty on his Ferrari waived), his poor record as captain, as well as a proper evaluation of his skills besides other great batsmen, most notably Brian Lara.
Rumin Shah, Baroda
Sachin’s picture on the cover; so many gushing articles on him too! At first, I thought this was a commemorative edition and that the man had passed away or something! Idolatry at its best—or is it worst.
P.B. Joshipura, Virginia
He’s surely one of the best batsmen in cricket, but he and his achievements have also been inflated out of all proportion by a slavish media slavering for a bona fide, risk-free national hero and youth icon. All the records that set him apart from other batsmen are only the result of his prolonged career, which would hardly be possible in other cricketing countries (think Lara and the Windies, or Flower and Zimbabwe). In batting average, he is well behind other great batsmen over the ages. And he’s too greedy to be called great. Outlook itself has done stories detailing his effort to get tax breaks by claiming to be an ‘actor’.
Saroja B., Ahmedabad
A whole issue (but for a few pages) dedicated to a fading hero who insists on continuing to give deplorable performances. Smacks of sycophancy of a high order. However great his career might have been, Sachin is just belittling himself by hanging on and refusing to go gracefully. He gives the impression of continuing just so he can cream off the lucrative endorsements year after year.
V.R. Damerla, on e-mail
I’ve been a great Sachin fan, but lately, articles on him have made me groan. A tell-tale write-up appears on the page, and ‘Oh no, not again’ escapes my lips. He’s perhaps the most deified man on the planet! As Sachin mania still results in an effusive flood (as in Outlook), the run drought from his once prolific bat gets drier. So, I skipped an issue and didn’t buy Outlook. The one article that would make sense today should be tips to him on how to retire with dignity intact.
S.R. Madhu, Chennai
Agreed, Sachin is great. But what’s so great about him turning 40? Anyone can be 40! Would we forget him at 50 that you’ve to feature him so lavishly when he’s turned 40? Many others have achieved great things before they turned 40.
S. Raghunatha Prabhu, Alappuzha
The cover story was not interesting. We’ve been celebrating every birthday of his ever since he was 16. When is he going to deliver us from this torture? I think he should now focus as an MP and try and contribute to society.
Col R.D. Singh (retd), Ambala
Devoting an entire issue to Sachin is just a moronic idea.
M.K. Bajaj, Zirakpur, Punjab
Happy birthday Sachin! But isn’t such lavish hero worship overdoing it a bit? Do we set up our heroes so high on the pedestal that when they fall it’s a mighty crash?
Arun Maheshwari, Bangalore
Though I read Outlook and like it for its varied articles, your Sachin issue has indirectly declared him the greatest Indian irrespective of any field, which is incorrect. There really have been others who have given more to society. Sachin has neither the capacity, nor the intent to do so. It appears Sachin’s PR team had a hand in this issue.
Biswanath Roy, Jabalpur
