When Heroes become human
We all have our own - Our Heroes, idols, icons ... Our parents are usually our first idols - I remember trying to imitate my dad - he was my first hero. My elder brothers were my heroes too - they always seemed to do everything easier. When my brother taught me to play chess, I enjoyed learning the game, but hated loosing the game to him. He was just too good. He seemed to find his way out of any position and win the game.
What makes them our heroes ? It is different traits with different that attracts us to our heroes - In my younger days, Sunil Gavaskar was one of my heroes. So was Rajnikanth [ he is still someone I admire and respect - my hero]. My Mom, of course was my icon - there was nothing she could not do for me.
What is the common trait that made them all my heroes ? They all did things that I could not - and they did it so well and so easily that thy occupied a special admiration in my heart, whatever may be the situation. I have fought with my brother many times, but deep down, he was, to me always invincible.
With time, age and wisdom, some of our heroes change. Kamalahaasan took over from Rajni as my hero, but Sunil Gavaskar managed to retain my imagination. New heroes arrived - Ravi Shastri was one, David Gower was another. Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi became my heroes in my high school days. Rajiv Gandhi won my admiration too, though I was too naive to evaluate policies and Politics. But, the handsome margin by which he swept to power fascinated me.
Somewhere along, we learn to accept that our heroes are not 'invincibles' but give their best when the chips are down. We know deep down that they do make mistakes and they loose many of their own battles , but we identify some part of their personality which we admire and emulate.
No other hero had the influence that Rahul Dravid had on me. He was my hero the day I watched him script 95 marvellous runs at Lords in 1996 in his first game. His mate Ganguly went on to score a hundred and picked two wickets to make it a fairytale debut. But, it was Dravid who captured my heart - I fell for the intensity in his eyes. He had a lot limitations and was no way a 'gifted' cricketer like VVS Laxman or Yuvraj Singh is. But, he was intense !! He was not afraid to work hard, did not try to be someone he was not and was focussed like a laser beam. Importantly, he brought with him a grace and dignity that was a rare find in these of intense competetion and money. Instantly, he was my hero - and would stay so for many many years.
He took his time, but blossommed into a fine cricketer and won the respect of his teammates and more importantly - his opponents and critics. He sculpted many wins for India and mentored the team through a critical phase .
And then, things started to go wrong for him. Runs dried up, swords were sharpened and the axe landed on him. He was no longer the 'Mr.Reliable' he once was. He failed and like all champions, looked out of place in failure. It made him human but the grace, dignity and the intensity never left him.
As I watched him fight his way out of his lean phase, it stuck me that as a human, he is more evolved, wiser and polished than he was a year ago when his troubles began. Success looked graceful when it adorned him, but his failures stripped out the excess recognition for him and brought out the true character within him . It was this intensity, grace and dignity that made him my hero. Runs, form, captaincy and wicketkeeping were all decorations that took centrestage for some time and then left away - they are truly the transient ones.
When heroes turn human, they may loose the aura of invincibility, but never loose their character and identity. It is this wonderful lesson that life tries to teach us through our heroes. Failures will come and go like success, but stay true to yourself, stay close and connected to yourself. It is this self of yours that is the truth, that will stay with you through the thick and thin. And when failure strips our heroes off those unnecessary fame, recognition, assets and relationships, their true self and character shines out - very much like what happens in our own life.
What makes them our heroes ? It is different traits with different that attracts us to our heroes - In my younger days, Sunil Gavaskar was one of my heroes. So was Rajnikanth [ he is still someone I admire and respect - my hero]. My Mom, of course was my icon - there was nothing she could not do for me.
What is the common trait that made them all my heroes ? They all did things that I could not - and they did it so well and so easily that thy occupied a special admiration in my heart, whatever may be the situation. I have fought with my brother many times, but deep down, he was, to me always invincible.
With time, age and wisdom, some of our heroes change. Kamalahaasan took over from Rajni as my hero, but Sunil Gavaskar managed to retain my imagination. New heroes arrived - Ravi Shastri was one, David Gower was another. Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi became my heroes in my high school days. Rajiv Gandhi won my admiration too, though I was too naive to evaluate policies and Politics. But, the handsome margin by which he swept to power fascinated me.
Somewhere along, we learn to accept that our heroes are not 'invincibles' but give their best when the chips are down. We know deep down that they do make mistakes and they loose many of their own battles , but we identify some part of their personality which we admire and emulate.
No other hero had the influence that Rahul Dravid had on me. He was my hero the day I watched him script 95 marvellous runs at Lords in 1996 in his first game. His mate Ganguly went on to score a hundred and picked two wickets to make it a fairytale debut. But, it was Dravid who captured my heart - I fell for the intensity in his eyes. He had a lot limitations and was no way a 'gifted' cricketer like VVS Laxman or Yuvraj Singh is. But, he was intense !! He was not afraid to work hard, did not try to be someone he was not and was focussed like a laser beam. Importantly, he brought with him a grace and dignity that was a rare find in these of intense competetion and money. Instantly, he was my hero - and would stay so for many many years.
He took his time, but blossommed into a fine cricketer and won the respect of his teammates and more importantly - his opponents and critics. He sculpted many wins for India and mentored the team through a critical phase .
And then, things started to go wrong for him. Runs dried up, swords were sharpened and the axe landed on him. He was no longer the 'Mr.Reliable' he once was. He failed and like all champions, looked out of place in failure. It made him human but the grace, dignity and the intensity never left him.
As I watched him fight his way out of his lean phase, it stuck me that as a human, he is more evolved, wiser and polished than he was a year ago when his troubles began. Success looked graceful when it adorned him, but his failures stripped out the excess recognition for him and brought out the true character within him . It was this intensity, grace and dignity that made him my hero. Runs, form, captaincy and wicketkeeping were all decorations that took centrestage for some time and then left away - they are truly the transient ones.
When heroes turn human, they may loose the aura of invincibility, but never loose their character and identity. It is this wonderful lesson that life tries to teach us through our heroes. Failures will come and go like success, but stay true to yourself, stay close and connected to yourself. It is this self of yours that is the truth, that will stay with you through the thick and thin. And when failure strips our heroes off those unnecessary fame, recognition, assets and relationships, their true self and character shines out - very much like what happens in our own life.
Comments
Go ahead and post anything you liked in your blog - That is the best recognition anyone can get, right ? :)