Our media praising tendulkar sky high Put the things in right perspective

Tendulkar's 50 centuries in 175 tests at an average of 56 is a fantastic achievement by all standards but is not something exceptional. You can do it by closing your eyes to the things happening around. kallis when sked to comment was very much right in saying" it's a fantastic achievment, as there were many by other players too." How one can be obscure to the achievement of Kallis 38 centuries in 143 tests at an average of 58. Sangakara 25 centuries in 90 odd tests at the same average or for that matter even Ponting who after having performed very poorly in last two years has equally glorious record of 39 centuries in 150 tests and last our own Viru who not only has scored runs and centuries but dominated the bowling which no other batsman could do.

Today bowlers and captains all around the world work our plans for Viru and not Tendulkar and it is the true measure of the greatness of the batsman.

Nothing wrong if we are generous in showering praise on our own players but it looks a bit cheap if we are short of words for others with equally illustrious careers. It reminds me of Dronacharya's love for Arjun which prevented him from accepting the skills of Karna and Eklavya.

The fine art of giving

No words are enough to describe the rare act of Philanthropy of Wipro chairman Azim Prem who will give about Rs 8846 crore from his personal wealth to improve school education. This act is unique in the sense that most of the times our captains of industry donate money to Western universities or for raising such Public schools and Universities which are either money spinners or remain the preserve of elite class only.



But, here I will like to remind that while Mr. Azim Prem Ji has donated part of his huge wealth for this noble cause there have been such instances when people not only donated all their assets but all devoted their whole life for the cause of education and one such personality was Swami Shardhanand of Arya Samaj, an advocate by profession, who in the year 1901 sold off all his assets running in to lacs at that time to set up Gurukul Kangri Haridwa. This University was visited by Mahatma Gandhi also in the year-1915 and Mahatma had only adulations for the holistic approach to system of education followed there.But this is in no way to belittle the heroics of Azim Premji. May more and more emulate him.