I will start with a disclaimer -- I am not a BENGALI, neither am blessed like Sourav to born rich. while writing this piece, I promise you I was not influenced by anyone, I have not researched anything into what is happening, I have not at least visited any statistical website .. which is why-- the instances, whatever I quote in this piece are truly my OWN feelings, experiences, and reminiscences
..and everything is TRUE ..by heart

That was early 1990s, I was in my secondary schooling. I hail from a tiny Andhra village called Diwancheruvu, 4 Kms away from a tier-3 city called Rajahmundry. A village that is truly rich for its culture, tradition, fertile land and lush greenery that is inhibited from the patently picturesque Konaseema but sorely poor in terms of the infrastructure, connectivity, indigence and literacy. My dad is a true personification of the character "poor dad" as explained by Robert Kiyosaki in his famous book "Rich Dad and Poor Dad", one who does everything possible to make his son get more marks amongst his peers. Getting a daily news paper and making sure that I read everything that is in between the top most corner of the left hand side of the first page to bottom most corner of the right-hand side of the last page- is one such meticulous activity that he never used to miss in Kith and Kin.

While I do this, sometimes- cursing mostly crying I never used to really miss the last page of the news paper which always used to be the sports page and particularly, anything related to cricket. At the age when nothing really understood more than the number of runs scored by a batsman, scoreboard used to be the perfect hangout place for me to get all the excitement . While I do this, one name repeatedly used to grab my attention in the scoreboard with tons of runs in front of it -- called "Sourav Ganguly". As the time progress, my eyes queerly used to search his name in the sports page everyday.
It was winter 1992, India is combating the whole cricket playing nations to win the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Srikkanth as the opener, Azhar at No-3, Manjrekar and Tendulkar in the middle order and Kapil Dev to start the lower middle we always used to play the copybook cricket, start slowly, get steady in the middle over’s and accelerate in the slog overs. It was a chillingly cool early morning, when India was up against West Indies-and batting first. My mom was busy making a morning coffee in the kitchen, I was comfortably packed into a blanket that exposes only my eyes and some part of my face pointed at the TV. A middle order wicket goes, a young man steadily walks into the crease, the name of the lad displayed on the screen, I tried to read it with a drowsy pair of eyes.. to my surprise .. it was "Sourav Ganguly", I was shocked for a moment, excited for the next moment, elated at the end. He came, he looked around, for a moment my heart in the mouth, I wanted to see how he bats. He took stance, I understood he is a left hander, he was all set to face the ball ........the TV gone blank………power cut, in a poor Andhra village power cut was an everyday reality.

I read in the news paper, he got out for three and the next day he made some 20+ runs. But I never saw him again in the TV, frankly, I never thought why. Maybe, I was too young to get such a thought. Tendulkar stole all our attention as he started making waves across the cricket world., I honestly forgot about Sourav Ganguly, but the rigor and focus I saw in his eyes was still at the back of my mind.

As Tendulkar grown, and Kumble came-in, I too grown and so was my interest in cricket. We lost the 1996 world cup semis. A day when I cried out of frustration. And cursed everyone, Azhar, Sachin, Jadeja, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad. I decided I will never watch these folks play again. Honestly, I goofed-up my engineering entrance which was JUST indeed few days away..

As my dad wanted (and I unsuccessfully protested) I took-up my Engineering in Mechanical. It was a truly scorching afternoon, also a tiresome posture in the bus returning from the college. I just overheard a lazy talk.."Yesterday at Lords, it seems our guys have done a great job- there were a couple of Young lads called Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly have taken the English bowling for a toss". What?? did I hear something interesting?? Sourav Ganguly??

I went back to home, picked-up the news paper, reconfirmed .. Yes --

Next day, I watched cricket match ..after quite a long time…
Yes again.. it was the same guy .. Sourav Ganguly . This time he is looking more in desperation, hunger and composure. I don’t know why, I like this guy, I want him to stay on for sometime. I love watching him bat....

Starting that day--I never missed a game, never missed his single innings. I did everything possible to make it happen- Hijacking my Neighbor’s TV to Stand next to a TV shop on single leg. I was into my second year, this month's issue on Sports Star Magazine was with Sourav Ganguly on title page -- "Tons of Runs". I tore that cover from the magazine of our college library and pasted it right on top of my wardrobe. I was now into my third year, it became a regular practice for my best friend Vasu to proxy my name in the college attendance register as long as Sourav Ganguly was at the batting crease.

I was in my final year of engineering, this time, our boys in blue were at England for the world cup. Again, as a poor boy with rich interest over the game- I got into a deal with the Innovision TV Dealer at Sankunthala Complex Vijayawada, for the entire world cup. I bet all my money on Sourav, to my satisfaction, he made 97 in the game against South Africa, A couple of days later, a match against Srilanka in Taunton. We started batting first, we lost the first wicket, Rahul Dravid Sourav Ganguly at the crease, Rahul started firing first, and the score board tickled over and over. 318 runs partnership till Muralidharan got Rahul run out for a generally nothing throw!. Sourav continued, Sachin gone, Azhar joined, he crossed 175 and I released my crossed fingers. A NEW WORLD RECORD. Now my hero will be there in the history forever, I JUST can't express my jubilance. He ended at 183, as true team man--although, he can easily go on to score 200 ..We finished at 373 and I started my marathon walk back to my room to share the excitement with my friends, I met my friend Imran(I don’t know where are you my friend, but I remembered you today) in the midway. He just came in, came closer, put his hands on my shoulders, he hugged me, he hugged me so close to his heart, he was exuberated so was I. He shouted on top of his voice in the middle of Besant Road Vijayawada -- "Boy.. I want to be in Calcutta(Kolkata) now I want to take part in the celebrations". Hearing this, few more joined us, lets do it ..we are no less either. We celebrated, we shouted ...... truly reflecting the spirit of India, at its peak, no contamination, Sourav belongs to India as much as he belongs to Kolkata. He is our man, he is our hero ..we don’t care where was he from, - today he empowered the game, empowered the nation, empowered the country, entertained the world, shown the world what an Indian is capable of -------- A personification of Power

I finished my engineering, got into my Masters in Business Administration. Sourav ODI run count goes 4,5,6,7,8 thousands and the number of cribbers about his attitude, temperament, politics increases ex,, e2x, e3x, . I made it a practice, to debate with the cribbers. I loved watching him play, the 100s he made against Pakistan, South Africa, Sri lanka and England. And the youngsters he discovered, Sehwag, Bhajji, Yuvi, Kaif, Pathan, Zaheer, Gambhir, Dhoni...

It was early 2003, I was into profssionl career, and our boys lead by Sourav were at South Africa for the world cup chase. Sourav at No-3, against Netherlands--a fantastic century that rekindled the spirits in the team mates. Sourav Negotiates Thomas Oboyo to get us into the finals.. Rest ……..Lost …

And there comes Sourav's Downfall, as a batsman-- he lost his sheen, he started succumbing to the pressure, till the time he discovered a new master called Greg Chappell and made an exceptional 144 at Gabba, Brisbane. When I heard Greg was the new Indian coach I frankly thought " Perhaps!Sourav still has a say in the selection"

Well ---- We all know what happened later. The most awful episode in the Indian cricket to the best of my knowledge. All Complaints, Conspiracies and Camarillas.. Sourav was dropped unjustifiably from the team that’s playing against Sri Lanka … And all of a sudden all his cribbers raised their voices.. I was Deprived, Demoralized and Humiliated .. This is, incidentally-a very interesting turn in my life .. I decided .. NOT TO BE A FENCE SITTER .. And allow everyone to take a ride on Sourav .. I sharpened my pen .. I networked with like minded folks, I took advice from the game veterans .. I started Writing .. I started researching .. I started using Stats to bring out the facts .. I even started spying ….. And I quickly recall & thank all my fiends who helped me collect 1000 signatures from Bangalore technocrats in support of Sourav to come back into the team .. Prashanth, Kalyan, Kishore and Madhavi ..

But all in vain, Sourav was made to sit 18 Months out of the game .. Meanwhile, Rahul completes 10000 runs ..

It was December 16th 2006, a big annual event at my workplace, while Sourav playing his comeback innings at Wanderers South Africa. I was training the Anchor of event and rehearsing the key corporate messages we want to enunciate in the evening, in between switching over to Radiomirchi-98.3 FM for score updates. I heard, Sourav completed 50 .. I don’t know what I did .. But rest of the evening, everyone around me were energized and so was the event …

It was a fantastic feeling watching him score 98 in the first ODI after comeback. I still remember Ravishastri-- while presenting the man of the series “ this award means a lot to you, Sourav” ….. Yes it is .. A True warrior never gives up ..
9th December 2007, Incidentally .. Another event at workplace .. Sourav at Bangalore, when he came in yesterday, it was 69/4 or something .. Then Yuvi and Sourav took Pakistan to task .. I was in the middle of the crowd .. Sitting normally with headphones but doing abnormal things .. everyone started aking me .. Sri! Kuch problem hein kya ?…My friend, went one step ahead .. Dactor ko bulavoon? ......30 mins later .. I shouted, I screeched .. Wow .. Man .. Sourav completed 200 …….

Within few weeks, I heard that he was dropped from the ODI side ….. I wanted to protest again .. But honestly, this time, I was tired. And so was Kolkata, no more effigies, no more protests, Bengal was silent and so the Nation …. I confirmed .. NOW WE HAVE GIVEN UP!

Exactly, a month ago, on a quite evening at the office canteen. I saw a news clip scrolling, “This is My Last Series- Sourav”. I understood, it’s the moment. Its all over, ALL OVER ..

18 long years in life and cricket, I bear these memories right across the timeline, at “EACH STAGE OF MY LIFE”. Honestly, I don’t expect more. As a small kid who know nothing more than scorecards and runs to a TRUE CRICKET AFICIANADO today-- It was a truly exciting journey.

Thank you very much Sourav --- For all the memories , the courage you shown to look eye-on-eye with opponents, the youngsters you groom who are all set to take the game to the next level. From the Independence Cup Finals at Dhaka to the Bare Chest Euphoria at Lords Balcony. From an Offside God to Successful captain. From a classy square cut to fiery lofted shot over mid-off…the tantrums you shown to touches you thrown… everything .. Everything touched our heart …stays in our heart, our minds, in the spirit of the game, in the passion of the game…We love you .. We all ………

As you walk into the sunset on the eve of 10th of November 2008, blushing over the wishes, cherishing these memories and bearing these changes, harboring the humiliations….

We wish you a health, wealth and lots of time to do the things that you love doing the most ………..