Would You Prostrate Before Kumble, Mr RCB Fanatic Fan?
This concluding post on my "Rendezvous with Rajdeep Sardesai" is about the heights to which Fan Fanaticism can reach and the lengths to which fans would go to worship their heroes, icons and cricketing Gods. The day the heroes achieve the ultimate, the day they etch their names permanently in the history of the game and in the minds of cricket lovers for generations to come, is the day the Fanatic Fans would deify them with a quote from the Bhagavad Gita: "Fire cannot burn you, Water cannot wet you, Wind canot dry you .."
Presenting to you, the ultimate Rajdeep has seen of a fanatic fan getting overawed by The God of Cricket, Don Bradman
Sometime during the day, while at Baroda I received a call from my wife and daughters saying they will let me into “my home” only if I carry with me a photo with Rajdeep and 2 autographs – one for each daughter! OK, I thought, and informed Rajdeep about it, while cricket talk continued.
Raghu: Did you ever play Ranji Trophy?
Rajdeep: No, it has never been easy for anyone to make it to Bombay team. But I played 1st Class matches for Combined Universities in English County.
Raghu: Who are your favorite cricketers?
Rajdeep: For some reason, Eknath Solkar was my favorite cricketer. My other favorite cricketer was Javed Miandad till a few years back.
Raghu: His last ball 6 is unforgettable. I couldn’t make out the result in the commotion that followed, I actually thought India had won!
Rajdeep: That was a great match. Can’t believe it happened that way.
Raghu: RCB has a fantastic website for its fans. Have you visited royalchallengers.com ?
Rajdeep: Oh is it? I haven’t been to the site. Maybe I should visit.
Raghu: I blog extensively on their site. I posted something about Bradman and I got an acknowledgement from Bradman Museum.
Rajdeep: Oh really! You must really be crazy about cricket to research on Bradman.
Raghu: Yes, sure. Why not? I sent you many tweets about this article.
Rajdeep: With 45K followers, my timeline goes crazy. Impossible to read and reply. If Bradman Museum replied back, it is really a credit to you. But you should hear my story on Bradman!
Fanatic Fans Meet Don Bradman (as told by Rajdeep Sardesai)
Many years ago, I had gone to Australia with 2 of my friends – a Bong and a Maharashtrian journalist. In Adelaide, the journo got an idea. He said “let’s go to Bradman’s house to meet him!”. We all agreed instantly, though it was crazy. No appointment, we just decided to give it a try. The journo wanted to give a gift to Bradman and decided on a medium sized idol of Lord Ganesh. Carrying this idol, we all went. Found his house, opened the gate and went in, pressed the bell several times. Bradman himself came and opened the door!
The journo, as soon as he saw Bradman, fell flat on the ground and prostrated at Bradman’s feet. Idol of Ganesh in one hand, he touched Bradman’s feet with the other. Don Bradman did not even know how to react. Then we told him we are from India, explained the gift and handed over the gift to him. He couldn’t believe what was going on and in few minutes, we were off.
A few minutes was all we got with the Don and the journo wrote a long, full page article on Don in his newspaper! That was fanaticism at its height!!
Respecting The Opponent
It was time for me to head back to the pavilion. This was when I saw the “gold standard” of playing cricket like a gentleman. 11.45 in the dimly lit restaurant and Rajdeep was game for a photosession. I got my time slice for a handshake to show my wife and daughters. And autographs for my daughters to show their friends! Gentlemen cricketers show humility by sending their opponent back to the pavilion with a sense of friendship and respect. Rajdeep made me feel like a winner!
As I headed back to the hotel room, Rajdeep said. You are a fanatic cricket fan, Raghu. But if you are truly an RCB Fanatic, you should prostrate before Kumble and touch his feet!
That then, is the acid test of fanaticism. Not sure how many RCB Fans will pass that test! I need to check myself first!
PostScript:
Tweet me the Bradman article link and I’ll tweet you back, he had told me. I tweeted him the link. Waiting, waiting and waiting for his “tweetback”
Rajdeep, if you happen to read this post, you owe a “tweetback” to @RagsTweets else I will email you the article :)
Concluded
The author expresses his sincere thanks to Rajdeep Sardesai for sharing his thoughts and experiences on cricket. Thanks to RCB for providing the platform to share my experience.
The information and opinions expressed in the entire series of articles are completely mine and I absolve Royal Challengers of any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or otherwise of the story.
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So guys n gals, if you have any hesitation to touch the feet of the less sung hero of the same mould, you have superior company!!
Nice to see someone coming half way at least. People like you should be given a complimentary entry into Mighty 14!
Every single 'unique/pioneering gesture' of "fan fanaticism" should be encouraged in building a strong "Fanatic Fans Club"
Just kidding...my personal opinion, don't take me seriously!
@Disha Yes, fan fanaticism is in nascent stage in India. I am a great example of "all words, no action!".
My earliest icon - G R Viswanath - lives about 500 meters from my house. The route on paper will be an 'L' shape diagram - walk 200 meters North, turn right and walk 300 meters! My morning 'brisk walk' is in a park less than 200 meters from his house!
I still feel he is the most "stylish" batsman India ever had (25 fours out of 137 in his debut test in one innings is unique)
Haven't seen him or anyone of his family even once in the last 11 years of living in "his" locality!
You think I should just "barge in" and "interview" him? ;)
and yes i agree with Kunal, a handshake with Dravid would be on my list too. Coz he guards his privacy as much as his wicket. :-)
Touching the feet of your idols? hmm.. I saw this show saturday evening,"Lift Kara De" on sony, hosted by Karan Johar. A show about honoring the most fanatic fans of the bollywood stars and in the process also help a needy family with a good sum of money from the city of the Bollywood star's choice. This episode was about Amitabh Bachan, and there was this fan who pledged to go bare feet until Amitabh visited him. 15 years before he finally got to meet him, and as soon as he met him he was at Amitabh's feet. So much passion for the man! I doubt if I have such for Dravid, I wouldn't touch his feet, but a long handshake is definitely on the cards!