Why does the author sound like a pro Shiv Sainik?
What Sachin has said is not wrong!!!

on first note the quetion itself is stupid ,media sudn’t ask these kind of question to anyone, but if such question is asked to anyone then obviously one who thinks that a place or a state belongs to everyone will say like that, which is very true in every sense.
common what do u expect , that sachin sud have said that maharastra only belongs to maharatrian?/
do u think that wud have been a good answer????
any knowledgeable and responsible man wud have said same what sachin said. and we all know that.

It’s commendable that Sachin has declared that he’s an Indian first. I only wish he had declared that he’s a human first, and not toured the Sri Lankan nation, when civilian people were being shelled and massacred by the thousands.

If every state starts thiking like that, I cant visualise India as a country but a aggregation of regions…and regionalism is the worst enemy of “unity in diversity”…Put in a situation like Sachin , I think personally every Indian should say exactly what Sachin did

Sachin should have said he is a Marati and Indian equally. There is a notion among Indian youth that India comes before their state. Actually its the other way round. If I say, I am a Keralite/Punjabi/Hindi/Tamil first, it is equal to saying I am a true Indian. Only a true Keralite/Andhrite/Punjabi/Marati/Tamil can be a true Indian. Those who say they are Indian first are insulting the regional identities and that is exactly what Sachin has been led to say by the Indian English media.

Strong and wealthy states make a stronger India.

Forcing one’s identity on another or expecting another to take same identity as “myself”, is an expression of violence on another. An individual is the only absolute atomic unit of identity. Countries and ethnicities are created based on convenience and habits. Neither Tendulkar or Raj have absolute power to dictate who bombay belongs to..But it is indeed fair for Raj to complain that as a man living in the soil for generations to complain his lifestyle is threatened…As a civil society we are bound to respect the lifestyles of those living in those cities..unless we are invaders/barbarians..

Country as a social unit is setup to help the people. If this objective is achieved, people will give their best for their country.
The moment it becomes a necessity to impose a rule saying that people have to be loyal to their country at all times, it clearly indicated that the country’s usefulness to its citizens is no more valid.
The major question for sachin is “Does he ever want to be a human”?. Does that mean pakistani’s should be more loyal to pakistan and not to India (though they were part of India once). Does it also mean that other than Indians, none can belong to Bombay. The moment you start demarking a boundary, then why stop at the country level?
A typical example of a failed state is East Germany. People did anything (and even the impossible) to get out of East Germany. Why did they do it? Currently are people escaping out of Germany?
Also, I am prompted to ask, to whom will Ms. Sonia Gandhi be loyal to? Italy or India?

I salute to the author for his expository dissertation on Marathi sentiments and his responses to the readers comments (on various other subjects as well) which he has designed elaborately to convey the in-depth message that is very difficult to understand by an average Indian - how educated one may be! Thank you Mr. Malarthamil, for your effort to alert and enlighten the ignorant people about what is in the store.
Also, I am highly captivated by the Mr. Arun’s observation on the article and his momentous commentary and quiz.

Well written, Malar. Sachin should restrain himself from being drawn into unnecessary controversies by the notorious media scoundrels. These crooks are trying to pit the Thackerays against Tendulkar to divert attention from the ground issues.

What Balasaheb Thackeray said was correct. Sachin does not seem to understand the problems that ordinary Maharashtrians are facing, like the collapsing infrastructure of Maharashtrian cities and the huge influx of outsiders to already overcrowded cities like Mumbai and Pune.

Mumbai certainly belongs to India and Sachin is a proud Maharashtrian and Indian, there is no doubt in anyone’s minds about this.

That’s not the problem here. The Senas are trying to deal with a political issue that’s affecting the people of Maharashtra who elected them. Being a Mumbaikar, perhaps Sachin should know better than others that the city is collapsing due to an unlimited influx of people. Let the Thackerays deal with this political and administrative issue since their partymen were elected for the job. Sachin needs to be careful not to hurt his own people by speaking about irrelevant things when the issues are completely different.

Since when did being a truthful Maharashtrian become anti Indian? Why should a proud Maharashtrian be expected to list in order of preference his loyalty to Maharashtra and India? Isn’t this a stupid topic? - malar

It is. As Sunderapandyan says “Sachin should have said he is a Marati and Indian equally.” More fitting.

Wat is the fuss about?? why should sachin say he is a marati and indian equally…..any indian from any part of the country is indian first and then from a particular state……..Sachin plays for India…..Do the soldiers protecting us every second try to protect their state first…..get some life people……We are indians, that is how we are looked as when we step out of the country

Deepika

Let me clarify: If every state takes good care of its interest, it will lead to a stronger India. When the interest of the states merge with the interests of the nation, we have a strong united nation. Your commitment starts from your home and then expands outward. You make a good home and the rest will fall in place.

Aren’t Marati’s very much Indians like any other Indians. Why are Marati’s asked to say they are Indian first ? If Marati’s interest is counter to India’s interest, dont you think that there is something wrong with the framework of India. Indian youth need to have some clarity of thoughts. Celebrities like Sachin - who are loved by all and respected by our youth need to pay more attention while talking politics. He cannot let himself be tricked by some journalists. Statements such as “I am Indian first” may sound patriotic, but they are hollow statements. Expecting Indians to give up their other identities (ethnic or religious) will only result in a “weak” India. But an inclusive identity that allows all Indians to feel proud of their other identities can create a stronger and united India.

Whether you are in India or abroad, you should feel proud about all of your identity - if you believe that one of your identity supersedes the other, then you are either chauvinist or a slave.

It’s an excellent timely response to a fouling question, Mr. Pandyan. There always have been people, throughout the history of mankind, who like to eat in hotels – not at home because its boredom to them. They never have any respect or concern to their mother – even if she gang-raped but always exalt the surrogate.

The worthless “mainstream media” scoundrels, in order to earn a few more rupees by grabbing eyeballs, are simply bent on causing more and more trouble between Sachin and the Shiv Sena. It’s time Sachin understands what the media scoundrels are upto and desists from playing into their hands. He should tell these useless media scoundrels to leave him alone.

People manning IB are going not leave anything for chance. I am sure they would have given detailed instructions to national heros about what to say and how to behave in public (especially from states which displayed some independent thinking). In this case, Congress through IB would have pushed Sachin to comment on Mumbai so as to make Sainiks sound hollow in marathi minds. Same is case with AR Rahman. Before he left for LA, he would have been given minute details by IB, RAW, Foreign ministry on what not to say during his whole journey. So when tens of thousands of Tamils were being killed, instead of even mentioning about it in Oscar ceremony, AR Rahman betrayed his original benefactors (Tamils) by keeping total silent on it and later mouthing some inconsequential statements. Tamils would good if they completely shun both Indian cricket, bollywood and AR Rahman and his music.