Sachin Tendulkar draws inspiration from visually impaired children

Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar

Retired Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar recently spoke about how he was inspired and moved while watching blind children play cricket when he visited Snehajyoti Nivasi Andha Vidhyalaya, a residential school for children who are visually impaired.

“I inaugurated the blind cricket tournament about 14-15 years ago in Mumbai and I was fascinated by the way they play cricket, because you just hear and react to that,” Tendulkar said. “And you score runs and get wickets and you feel all those kinds of things. They are unbelievable and I was fascinated to see all that.”

“It was a new experience for me and I learnt a few things from them. I was glad to be there and this was immediately after we had won the Ranji Trophy and the next day it was a different form of cricket. Two different things but the crux of the whole thing is that they are as passionate about cricket as we are and that is what matters.”

“My mother told me more about this place. It is quite a drive from Mumbai and it was remarkable to spend time with visually challenged children, who actually are so talented. My mother introduced this place to me.”

Tendulkar’s maternal aunt is one of the operators in this school.

“In fact it’s my aunt who has been involved with this school for the last ten years from Mumbai. My mother used to keep talking about her commitment. She has left Mumbai for the last ten years and she spends all her time over here with children, teaching them how to live life, how to improve their future and give some direction. And that is really important. Also to make them realise the things they are capable of doing,” he concluded.