Felt a certain peace in crying after final Test: Tendulkar pens heartfelt open letter to men, says no shame in tears
The god of cricket has an important message for 'the men of today, and tomorrow'
By ET Online | Updated:
BCCL
In an open letter posted on Instagram, the master blaster said there's no shame in tears.
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, on Wednesday, penned a heartfelt open letter addressed to 'the men of today, and tomorrow'.
The letter, on the occasion of International Men's week, coincides with the week in which Tendulkar retired from cricket six years ago. The personal and emotional note, rewinds to 16th November 2013 when the God of cricket let his tears flow in front of the world, as he walked off the pitch after his final Test match.
Saying that's it's okay for men to cry, and wishing them the courage to break the stereotypes that say otherwise, the 46-year-old wrote, "There's no shame in showing your tears. So why hide a part of you that actually makes you stronger? Why hide your tears? It takes a lot of courage to show your pain and your vulnerability. But just as sure as the morning, you'll emerge from it tougher and better. So I encourage you to move past these stereotypes and notions of what men can or cannot do. Whoever you are, wherever you are, I wish you this courage."
An emotional Sachin Tendulkar walks off the pitch after he bid adieu to cricket on the 3rd day of the Test against West Indies, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 16, 2013. Sachin played his 200th and last Test match against West Indies in Mumbai. He opened the letter, posted on his Instagram handle, saying, "You'll soon be fathers and husbands. Brothers and friends. Mentors and teachers. You're going to lead by example. You're going to be courageous and strong. Brave and resilient.And you will also face fear, doubts and experience great tribulations. Undoubtedly, there will be times when you fail, and you will feel like crying and letting it all out."
He then address the stereotype and pressure that society puts on men, saying, "But sure enough, you'll hold back the tears and pretend to be tough. Because that's what men do. Because that's what we are brought up to believe - that men are not supposed to cry. That crying makes a man weak.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I grew up believing this. And the reason I'm writing to you today, is because I realized that I was wrong. My struggles and my pain made me who I am, shaping me into a better man."
He goes on to write about his own experience, and the emotions that he felt when he retired, writing, "16/11/2013. I still remember that day on the field. I had thought about it for a long time but nothing could prepare me for that last walk back to the pavilion. With each step it started sinking in. I felt a lump in my throat, the fear of it all ending.
"There was so much going through my head in that moment. I just couldn't keep it in. And I didn't fight it. I let go in front of the world, and surprisingly, I felt a certain peace. I felt stronger for putting myself out there and grateful for everything that I had received. I realized I was man enough," he added.
Concluding, the legend said, "There's no shame in showing your tears. So why hide a part of you that actually makes you stronger? Why hide your tears? It takes a lot of courage to show your pain and your vulnerability. But just as sure as the morning, you'll emerge from it tougher and better. So I encourage you to move past these stereotypes and notions of what men can or cannot do. Whoever you are, wherever you are, I wish you this courage."
Beyond Cricket: Meet Sachin Tendulkar, The Entrepreneur
1/9
The God of cricket, Master Blaster for millions of people worldwide, Sachin Tendulkar is an icon. He has to his credit 18,426 runs in One-Day Inetrnational cricket and 15,921 runs in Test cricket. There is so much more to the legend other than just his fantastic on-field performance. Never one to lose sight of his goal, Tendulkar has been able to establish himself as a coveted brand and an entrepreneur. Considering Tendulkar’s illustrious career and multiple endorsements, his estimated net worth is around Rs 118 crores.
As the sporting legend turns a year older, here's a look at his entrepreneurial achievements.
The God of cricket, Master Blaster for millions of people worldwide, Sachin Tendulkar is an icon. He has to his credit 18,426 runs in One-Day Inetrnational cricket and 15,921 runs in Test cricket. Th..
Read More
Sachin Tendulkar began his journey as an entrepreneur by opening a restaurant in Mumbai in 2002. He partnered with celebrity hotelier Sanjay Narang, and his first eatery was named 'Tendulkar's'. Soon after, he opened another one, 'Sachin's', in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Although, the cricketing star took keen interest in setting up the ventures, he did not taste success and had to eventually shut down both by 2007. However, never one to give up, Tendulkar followed through with other business ventures.
(In Pic: Sachin and wife Dr. Anjali Tendulkar are seen together at an event.)
Sachin Tendulkar began his journey as an entrepreneur by opening a restaurant in Mumbai in 2002. He partnered with celebrity hotelier Sanjay Narang, and his first eatery was named 'Tendulkar's'. Soon..
Read More
The Future Group's Big Bazaar launched a range of personal care products named 'Sach', inspired by Sachin Tendulkar. The cricketer is also a stakeholder in the joint venture between Future Group and the Manipal Group, which has under its aegis a variety of products in the health supplement, sports goods, fitness equipment and lifestyle accessories categories.
(In Pic: Sachin Tendulkar with Mukesh Ambani and his son Akash during the Mumbai Indians practice match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.)
The Future Group's Big Bazaar launched a range of personal care products named 'Sach', inspired by Sachin Tendulkar. The cricketer is also a stakeholder in the joint venture between Future Group and ..
Read More
The cricketer had 7.5 per cent stake in this UAE-based travel portal, apart from also being its brand ambassador. Despite being associated with such a big brand, the portal failed to deliver and eventually Tendulkar decided to exit from the partnership. After 5 years of being associated with the brand, he retired with Rs 25 crore, one crore for being the brand ambassador for each year and Rs 20 crore at the time of exit.
(In Pic: Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli during the prize distribution of the 1st T20 Mumbai League final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.)
The cricketer had 7.5 per cent stake in this UAE-based travel portal, apart from also being its brand ambassador. Despite being associated with such a big brand, the portal failed to deliver and even..
Read More
Like we said, you can't take sports away from the God of cricket. Tendulkar may have stopped playing, but he is now the co-owner of the Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Kerala Blasters FC, Badminton Premier League team Bengaluru Blasters, and Master Blaster's magic in Kabaddi. As a co-owner of ISL, the former Indian cricket team captain had been associated with the club since its inception in 2014. However, in September 2018, Tendulkar sold off his stake in ISL after an association of 4 years.
Like we said, you can't take sports away from the God of cricket. Tendulkar may have stopped playing, but he is now the co-owner of the Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Kerala Blasters FC, Badmint..
Read More
Getting into the business of sports stimulation was a natural choice for the master blaster. Smaaash Entertainment, founded in 2009, provides sports simulation tech based on cricket, football, racing, and leisure activities, like that of a lounge, spa, arcade gaming. Tendulkar is one of the biggest shareholders of the company which was founded by Shripal Morakhia, the man behind Sharekhan. Last year, the company managed to raise Rs 25 crore from US investments.
Getting into the business of sports stimulation was a natural choice for the master blaster. Smaaash Entertainment, founded in 2009, provides sports simulation tech based on cricket, football, racing..
Read More
This apparel brand for men is a joint venture between Tendulkar and Arvind Fashion Brands Limited and was launched in May, 2016. The legend who admits to take fashion tips from his son Arjun, who is a budding cricketer, wanted to bring something for his fans which was stylish. Last year he expanded his brand's presence globally, by foraying into the US and UK markets. He plans to make headway into women's wear as well, however he hasn't set a timeline for it yet.
This apparel brand for men is a joint venture between Tendulkar and Arvind Fashion Brands Limited and was launched in May, 2016. The legend who admits to take fashion tips from his son Arjun, who is ..
Read More
SRT Sports Management Pvt. Ltd, a sports management company is managed by the cricketer and his wife, Dr. Anjali Tendulkar. The cricketer himself manages all commercial engagements and social initiatives. The company was launched in 2016.
(In Pic: Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar meets with students of a slum school in Sewari, Mumbai.)
SRT Sports Management Pvt. Ltd, a sports management company is managed by the cricketer and his wife, Dr. Anjali Tendulkar. The cricketer himself manages all commercial engagements and social initiat..
Read More
Tendulkar and Smartron joined hands to bring together the srt.phone. The phone represents Tendulkar's dependability and is exclusively available on Flipkart. Available in two storage variants, the Smartron Sachin Tendulkar phone comes in Titanium Grey colour. The 32GB variant priced at Rs. 12,999, and the 64GB variant priced at Rs. 13,999.
Tendulkar and Smartron joined hands to bring together the srt.phone. The phone represents Tendulkar's dependability and is exclusively available on Flipkart. Available in two storage variants, the Sm..
Business News › Magazines › Panache › Felt a certain peace in crying after final Test: Tendulkar pens heartfelt open letter to men, says no shame in tearsText Size:AAA
