EXCLUSIVE

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Sachin Tendulkar bats for Sri Lanka’s children – and stresses the importance of nutrition and education in the context of national development

Allaam Ousman reports on the cricketing legend’s recent visit to Sri Lanka in his role as UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia

India’s cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has had the world at his feet not only during his illustrious career but long after he laid down his bat. Hero worshipped by more than a billion compatriots and adored by millions more around the world, he could have become a coach or commentator, or entered politics.

He served as a member of India’s parliament between 2012 and 2018. And in 2014, Tendulkar was recognised for his contribution to Indian cricket, being bestowed the Bharat Ratna – the country’s highest civilian award.

His unwavering commitment to cricket is also reflected in his concern in bringing happiness to children.

Tendulkar made an impassioned plea to those who have to “care, give and share” with the have-nots while underscoring the importance of focussing on the “early moments, nutrition and education” of children during a recent visit to Sri Lanka in his role as UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia, which he has served in since 2013.

“I truly believe children are the future and if we support them today, they will make us proud tomorrow. For every nation to prosper, the children in those countries need to grow up happy and healthy,” Tendulkar said at an event in Colombo.

After addressing the media, he went on to play a game of mini-cricket on the tennis court of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo with children from the UNICEF supported Children’s Club network of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.

A father of two, Tendulkar seemed happiest playing with children, patiently offering tips after recollecting how he transformed himself from a “naughty kid” to achieve his dream of playing for India.

“My journey has been beautiful for me. I started concentrating, [being] more disciplined, more structured. This was because I wanted to play for India,” he said. In fact, Tendulkar retired as the leading scorer in both test and one-day international (ODI) cricket.

He recalled his last visit to Sri Lanka as part of his engagements with UNICEF in 2015: “It was to create awareness on handwashing and hygiene with my dear friend Muttiah Muralitharan. We played against each other on a number of occasions on the field – but we were batting for one cause.”

As part of the recent engagement, Tendulkar visited a preschool that is supported by UNICEF’s ongoing midday school meal programme and helped serve nutrient rich food to children.

He was particularly touched by his visit to Ruwanwella, when during mealtime all the kids gave food from their plates to serve birds sitting outside. “That’s a beautiful thought because it is about caring, sharing and giving. I think these are important qualities. If they’re inculcated at the right time, they stay with you forever,” he said.

Along with nutrition and education, Tendulkar stressed that the early moments in a child’s development needed special attention.

He pointed out: “Eighty percent of brain development happens in the first thousand days. In fact, the first two years after a baby is conceived…those are the most important years.”

“The natural tendency is to focus on nutrition but something that parents unknowingly ignore is spending time with the child,” the 50-year-old – who still looks like a schoolboy – said.

Emphasising the impact of nutrition, Tendulkar recollected the times he would forgo meals during cricket matches: “I would not have anything to eat at lunch time and continue batting. When I got out after lunch, the first thing I wanted to do was eat something.”

“There was a lesson in that: that was by choice but there are many families who have no choice, which really hurts,” he said, expressing concern at UNICEF Sri Lanka’s revelation that among many children, there is a prevalence of waste with many also suffering from stunting.

On a positive note, he explained that people learnt to innovate during the pandemic: “I feel in today’s world, we are capable of addressing this issue as well.”

Tendulkar urged youth to work with the government and social sector to provide low-cost education. “It has the power to change the world. This is one step where Sri Lankan youth can take the initiative and bring in change,” he said.

Pointing out that education cannot be restricted to the classroom, Tendulkar recalled how cricket taught him to take both the good and bad days in his stride.

“My parents never questioned my failures. They always wanted to find solutions. Whenever I failed, I got back on my feet again,” he reminisced. And he recalled that “all these things were not learnt in my school. There was another classroom called the dressing room.”

The cricket legend urged Sri Lankan children to go out and play sports to build a healthy nation.

“That is going to directly impact their health and whatever they choose to be in life. You can only become better if you’re a fitter person,” he said.