Sachin8217;s bid decision today

The procession left for the Shivaji Park Electric crematorioum minutes after Sachin8217;s eldest brother Nitin arrived from Chicago. The three brothers, Nitin, Ajit and Sachin, were remarkably composed, though there were traces of surging grief on Sachin8217;s face when casting a final glance at his father.

Nitin performed the last rites and the well-wishers were personally thanked by Sachin who stood at the exit of the crematorium alongwith brother Ajit.

Prominent among the mourners were Ajit Wadekar, former India skipper and selection committee chairman, MCA secretary Ratnakar Shetty andformer Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and Board of Control for Cricket in India executive secretary, Sharad Diwadkar. Sachin8217;s school day buddies, Vinod Kambli and Amol Muzumdar, were also among the mourners.

Back at Sahitya Sahawas, the scene was not much different from what it has been since Wednesday morning. The cars carrying the Tendulkars zipped into the complex with the gates closing behind them in double quick time. A police van continued to stand guard outside the society gates and 8220;will continue to stay there for some more time8221; said a policeman.

Though there was a general feeling of sorrow for Sachin in his moment of grief, one could here people talking in hushed tones about his probable return to England, more so after India8217;s dismal loss to Zimbabwe yesterday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI has left the decision of rejoining the Indian team in England to Sachin himself. But MCA secretary Ratnakar Shetty told Express Newsline: 8220;Lele BCCI secretary rang me today upand it has been decided that he Shetty would be talking to Sachin on Friday to know his decision.8221; The general expectations are that Sachin will be in time for India8217;s penultimate league match against Sri Lanka on May 26.

In his own write

To remember Prof Tendulkar merely as a cricketing superstar8217;s father would be an insult to his contribution to Marathi literature.

The senior Tendulkar, who did his schooling in Alibag in Raigad district, had endured protracted economic hardships as a student. He was forced to take up a job in the police department as well as study. He joined his alma mater, Siddharth College, as a professor before shifting to Kirti College.

An academician to the core, his interests in cricket was very limited. Dr Vijaya Rajadakshya, Sahitya Academy Award winner and a close family friend and literary associate of Prof Tendulkar, threw light on the man few knew: 8220;He was very much an academic person, devoted to his teaching and commanded respect from his students. He wasvery cultured, unassuming and affectionate who was always willing to help the needy without expecting anything in return. He never spoke about his achievements, though he had a lot to boast about. Well after his retirement, he was still associated with literary work.8221;

Prof Tendulkar8217;s book on literary criticism, Geetbhan, had won a state government award. One of his recent literary occupations was editing a dictionary of literary and critical terminology in Marathi to be soon published by the state board of literature and culture. Among the editors of the project are such noted names in Marathi literture as M P Rege and Rajeev Naik.

Unfortunately, the senior Tendulkar8217;s talents were not widely known outside Marathi circles because of his publicity-shy nature. 8220;The Tendulkars are very low-key people. I remember at the book release function of Ajit Tendulkar8217;s biography on Sachin, both Ramesh Tendulkar and his wife inconspicuously stationed themselves at long-on8217;. Away from the limelight. Theirlifestyle did not change at all despite all the trappings Sachin8217;s success brought,8221; opined writer Dr Vijaya Rajadhyaksha.

Sanjay Karhade, who translated the English version of Ajit Tendulkar8217;s biography on Sachin 8212; The Makings of a Cricketer 8212; recalls his meetings with Prof Tendulkar: 8220;I realised the difference between a journalist and literary person in my fleeting meetings with him. He could make a slight change, but pack punch in the sentence by saying with one word what I had to say in three words.8221;