Sachin Tendulkar Features in Maharashtra's School Textbooks

The Maharashtra government has added a chapter on Sachin Tendulkar in the school syllabus so that children are inspired by the iconic cricketer.

Class IV students in Maharashtra would now get to learn about the living 'God of cricket' as part their curriculum from this academic year, since a chapter on Sachin has been included in Marathi and English subject textbooks, Maharashtra School Education Minister Rajendra Darda told PTI.

"The government was considering adding Tendulkar in school syllabus so that children are inspired by him," he said.

This is not the first time that students in the state would have to study the life history of a cricketer as part of their syllabus. The likes of Chandrakant Gulabrao "Chandu" Borde and Sunil Gavaskar have found themselves in the pages of school syllabuses.

"The Balbharati subject committee discussed at which standards the chapter should be included. Sachin retired at the age of 40 after an illustrious career of 24 years. He will go down in cricketing history as the king of 22 yards," Darda said.

"Sachin stood out for his passion to play for the country and his humility. His farewell speech at Wankhede Stadium showed us that like a big cricketer, he is also a large- hearted human being," he said.

"The young generation could learn patriotism and commitment from him. The master blaster has never been involved in any controversy," the minister said.

Meanwhile, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena claimed credit for the development, saying that it was the party which had sought inclusion of a chapter on Tendulkar in school textbooks.