Sachin Tendulkar- Does he deserve a Bharat Ratna

The following is a response to an online debate regarding Sachin Tendulkar’s Bharat Ratna:- “While I do agree with your points, there is great Joy this man has brought to the nation by being a shining example of modesty and maintaining a squeaky clean image for the youth for almost a generation’s time. He is a poor leader but he’s a superb sportsman. While he is far from perfect like most human beings, he does have a balanced head over his shoulders. Unlike most award winners who make appearance once in a while, this man’s life is under intense scrutiny and one wrong step of his can bring him under the wrath of a billion Indians. So while he surely doesn’t qualify as an achiever for the humanity, he has been a source of pride and joy for a nation of billion for several years. What qualifies as ‘Achievement’ in advanced nations such as US where you are likely to bump into a Olympic medal winner in your day to day life, might not qualify for us, a nation of under achievers. Having poor genes is intrinsic to us and when one of us rules any arena in the world, however tiny and skewed the world view of Cricket might be, it does bring immense joy to the people. And it’s people who make up a nation. So Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar is well, a debatable issue at worst.”