The Streets of Delhi

MS Dhoni's fans besiege his home

Fantasy Bob has returned from Delhi much chastened.

FB recalls that one of the factors that Raul Dravid says he particularly enjoyed during his time playing for Scotland was that he could walk down Scottish streets unrecognised and undisturbed.  He was a private citizen again.  FB understood from this that in the streets of India, major cricketing figures, such as he, are mobbed and adulated.  He was disappointed to find that this is not the case.  He stepped out from his hotel and conference suite on several occasions during his brief visit and no crowd gathered. No one paid him any attention at all.  Just like at home.  Only more so.  How could this be?  Did the Delhi masses not know that a cricketing superstar was among them?  Surely they were closely following the fortunes of FB's Carlton All Star Fourth XI now that the IPL had finished.

FB now understands from a comment on a recent posting on this blog that he is being deliberately ostracised by the otherwise adoring Indian crowd for failing to identify Sachin Tendulkar as one of his favourite five Indian cricketers.  The Little Master's many fans have decided in consequence to boycott FB - in particular they have decided to ignore him completely should he walk down the street and they will take no further interest in empire biscuits or other such trivia.  (FB doesn't have much by way of defence here but points out that Tendulkar has not listed FB in his 5 favourite bloggers).

Tendulkar
composing fan letter to FB
after being sworn in  to Indian Parliament

FB notes that on the day he arrived for his visit to India Tendulkar was sworn in as a member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament, the Rajya Sabha.  Of the 250 members in the Rajya Sabha, 12 are nominated by the President for 'special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service.'  Tendulkar is the first sportsperson to be nominated and in his acceptance speech spoke of wanting to create as positive sporting legacy for all sports in India. There is some concern that, in accepting the nomination, Tendulkar will be seen as aligned with the ruling Congress Party and there is a continuing campaign for him to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, the nation's highest civilian honour. Fans therefore had things to preoccupy them rather than mobbing FB.

FB was not asked his views on this issue by the Indian media during his visit.  Indeed the Indian media failed to seek his views about any issue.  But, for the record, FB would like to make clear that he is sure that Tendulkar well deserves India's highest honour.  And other honours should be available too - arise Sir Sachin has that ring about it...............