By Sevanand Gaddala
It's interesting how certain icons of a particular field are most unlike their contemporaries. Bob Dylan was a folk singer but offended fans when he went electric, Eminem is a white rapper who isn’t much of a gangster, Tiger Woods is multi racial in a sport played overwhelmingly by whites, heck, even Barack Obama is a black man who won the most powerful position in the world, not by embracing but transcending race.
Another aspect of great men is that they transcend. The world takes more interest in their field or profession only because it has been brought to their notice through the great man’s feats. You may not care about painting but you know Picasso, classical music may not be your type of music at all but you’ve heard of Mozart, and scientists may seem like the most boring profession but you wouldn’t mind being as smart as Einstein. For me the thing that allures me most about Sachin Tendulkar is that he is a transcendent figure.
He is a shy, short, stocky man from a third world country that dominated a sport taught to us by colonial powers. The rest of the world may still think it is silly that men wearing whites play a game for five days with lunch and tea breaks all after which a draw is a probable result, but they want to hear more about this man who maintained such level of excellence for 24 freakin’ years.
I don’t like cricket that much. I cringe when I read some of those banners and posters held up by spectators in the stadiums. I roll my eyes every time I hear the phrase “In India, Cricket is more than a sport, it is a religion” and I want to scream “blasphemy” when Tendulkar is called a god. But I like Sachin Tendulkar and I don’t mind that he plays cricket.
As with the other greats, observing and thinking about Tendulkar is both exhilarating and frustrating. It’s exhilarating because you know that humans are capable of such excellence, but frustrating because It comes with the realisation I would never be able to command my body and mind to perform so.
Since I’m not an aficionado, I don’t care about his technique or his skill set, but I’m intrigued by the inner workings of his mind, psyche, and will. But because he reveals so little in news conferences and interviews, Tendulkar remains a mystery. Even his wife Anjali recently confessed, “There's a lot that goes on in his mind. He doesn't let us know, maybe one day he will tell.”
Watching him, the spinning top comes to mind – at optimum speed it looks still, almost motionless, but we know that there some laws of physics that are frenetically at play. I want to know if it’s pure instinct, or if he’s relying just on the conditioning of practice. Just how closely do his mind and body work together? I wonder what it must feel like for him to experience the thrill of imagining doing something a certain way and then physically doing it exactly that way – again and again. Those times he is in the zone (heck, when is he not in the zone) does he feel he is in control or is it some kind of a possession? Is he ever afraid he will lose that or can he will himself into the zone?
I’m in awe of the way what for his peers is a mountain top to him is a plateau, a table land. There are other batsmen who found themselves in such good form, a purple patch, but just as they reached the mountain top they invariably had to descend. There are no mountain tops for Tendulkar. He is such a force of nature he has blasted and hammered the mountain top to create a plateau – for himself.
So, Tendulkar has finally walked away from the game and I need to get back to my life. And I will ever so often, look for inspiration and pointers from the greats of my profession, but I know I will not be able to resist looking for clues, any bits of crumb, from any talk about Tendulkar, that can unlock at least some quality of performance in me. I might even think of him when I’m doing the not so complex or great tasks of everyday life. Isn’t this how the rest of the country thinks of him? And now maybe even the rest of the world?
Who else but a transcendent can creep in and burnish himself in the flesh and grey matter of our brains? We all have a little part of our brains that Tendulkar owns. Maybe that’s a much bigger accomplishment than owning the 22 yards of the cricket pitch.
Raised in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Sevanand Gaddala is a writer, journalist and theologian. He is based in Bangalore and one of a few Indians who doesn't care about cricket all that much.
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Suarez 27', Vidal 32', Dembele 35', Messi 78')
Sevilla 0
Red cards: Ronald Araujo, Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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