Indian cricketers and their humanitarian touch

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  • Indian cricketers have led the way with their kind efforts

    The celebrity life of cricketers has always been the kind of gossip that constitutes cover stories for the tabloids. While it’s mostly the extravagance that dominates the scene, a moving anecdote or two comes around every once in a while that reveals a different side to these idols of Indian cricket.

    Here, we take a look at five instances when Indian cricketers managed to touch people’s lives off the field.

    RAHUL DRAVID SPEAKS TO A FAN SUFFERING FROM CANCER

    Anecdotes on Rahul Dravid never cease to amaze. While many such stories have been shared in the past by people close to him, one particular tale posted on Quora, a question and answer social media site, remains the most poignant of all.

    Answering the question, “What is Rahul Dravid like in real life?”- one anonymous user went on to narrate how his/her friend, a fan of the Indian cricketer, had wanted to speak to Dravid while on his deathbed. Although the narrator and his/her friends attempted to reach Dravid through various sources, expectations of actually receiving a reply were low.

    However, one day, one of them received a call from Dravid’s wife, Vijeta who expressed the player’s desire to have a video chat over Skype. The former No. 3 then spoke with the blood cancer patient for nearly an hour, apologizing for not being able to meet him in person before going on to speak with his parents, doctors and other patients in the ward.

    The narrator’s friend ultimately lost the fight against cancer, but it was Dravid’s gesture that certainly helped him stay motivated during his final days.

    SACHIN TENDULKAR DONATES MONEY TO CONSTRUCT A SCHOOL BUILDING

    In 2014, Uttam Kumar Mohanti, the Head Master of Gobindapur Makrampur Swarnamoyee Sasmal Sikhsa Niketan found himself in a despondent situation when his repeated efforts at gathering funds for the renovation of the rural school went in vain. As a last resort, he addressed a letter to Sachin Tendulkar describing the condition of the school which was built in 1965.

    Being a keen follower of Tendulkar, Mohanti was well aware of the fact that the Rajya Sabha MP could use his Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund for the school’s construction.

    The former cricketer responded quickly assuring Mohanti of a donation amounting to a sum of Rs. 76 lakhs. By September, 2015, 75 per cent of the money was transferred to the school’s account, and reconstruction was duly started.

    ARUN LAL PLAYING FATHER TO A LAUNDRYMAN’S SON

    Around the time Arun Lal was settling down in Kolkata after having moved from Delhi, a young 12-year-old was growing up on the footpaths of the city’s Bhawanipore area. Bikash Chowdhury, now the associate vice president of treasury at JSW Steel, used to visit Lal’s house everyday where hi’s wife, Debjani, would tutor him in English.

    As a laundryman’s son, he was the first of his family to attend an English medium school. Hard work and perseverance saw him rise through the ranks, but Chowdhury continues to maintain that he is indebted to his ‘adopted parents’.

    Not only has Chowdhury helped the Lals finance a house they were buying, but even gifted them a Mercedes. He also named his daughter Arunima after his ‘second father’. As for Lal, he always speaks highly of his ‘son’: “We gained a son. He is a terrific human being and I am grateful to the Lord for Bikash.”

    VIRAT KOHLI FOUNDATION FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN

    While Virat Kohli remains one of the most popular cricketers in recent times, few are aware of his off-field venture aimed at helping underprivileged children.

    Started in 2013, the Virat Kohli Foundation (VFK) has been instrumental in supporting the needy by working with select NGOs, spreading awareness and raising funds for various philanthropic endeavors.

    In May 2014, online retailer eBay came together with VFK to conduct a charity auction; the funds generated being directed towards education and healthcare of the underprivileged kids. The much-popularized football match involving All Hearts FC and All Stars FC also turned out to be a successful fundraiser earlier this year.

    In Kohli’s words, “It has been in my mind since very long time. But I was going through a transition phase, so could not start off with the venture. Now, I feel it’s the right time to get on with it.”

    GAUTAM GAMBHIR ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR INDIAN ICE HOCKEY TEAM

    The fact that ice hockey is a little known sport in India is evident from the stories about perennial lack of funds and scarcity of sponsors.

    Last year, in a bid to participate in the Championship Cup of Asia in Kuwait from April 18 – 25, the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) were forced to resort to crowd funding via social media after all attempts to raise money produced little success.

    Coming to know about the federation’s plight, Gautam Gambhir took it upon himself to donate a significant amount of Rs. 4 lakhs to the cause.

    According to him, “It’s the last thing to happen for a sportsperson that he cannot represent his country for the lack of funds. It’s the worst thing. After all, they will be called Team India irrespective of the sport they represent.”

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