Tendulkar to double educational charity

Mumbai:

Having taken inspiration from his late father on social responsibilities, Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday said he will sponsor the education of 200 children, who are part of a Non-Governmental Organisation.

The batting maestro, who is already looking after welfare of 200 children from the same NGO Apnalaya, said he always looked up to his father in trying to understand his social responsibilities. "There is no better source of inspiration for me than my father. Growing up as a child, I saw my father, a professor, pay for the education of our 'paperwala', who could not afford it. This is in a family where every penny mattered," the master batsman said at a press conference here.

"Whoever turned up at our house, be it the watchman or the postman, would not be allowed to leave without having a cup of tea, which my father served," he said, adding "These incidents taught me all about caring for others. I have learnt from my father and I'm proud of it".

"I'm trying to double my givings and contributing in whatever way I can. I will pay for the education of 200 children as a part of the 'Joy of Giving Week' campaign," he said in support of the programme conceptualised by another NGO, GiveIndia, to promote charity.

Asked whether the 'Joy of Giving Week' campaign that aims to induce people from all walks of life to donate money, time or simple acts of kindness would be a success, Tendulkar said only heartless people would fail to support the campaign.

"This is such a cause that a person should be heartless not to support it. But every Indian has a heart and I have no doubts that every Indian, be it a cricketer, filmstar or a businessman, will support it."

He also handed over a cheque of Rs 70,700 on behalf of GiveIndia towards the mid-day meal scheme run by Bangalore-based NGO Marya Sewa Sangh, to feed 14,000 meals to underprivileged children.

Tendulkar said he was immensely satisfied when he made people smile.

"I started playing cricket because it made me feel happy. But over a period of time I realised that it started making people happy, which satisfied me. If something I do brings a smile on people's faces, I'm happy," he said.

He recalled how, four years ago in Chennai, a physically challenged person unable to get up from a wheel chair, managed to stand with the help of his cricket bat and played a couple of deliveries.

"The boy was dying to touch my cricket bat. It gave me immense satisfaction when he stood up," he said.