Mansoor Ali Khan Patuadi, the person about whom I don’t know much, has compelled me to write a few words. I know him as a great cricketer, as father of Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan and also as a husband of Sharmila Tagore. While growing up, I knew about his prominence and power but never knew about his inside life. I knew about his grandeur and brilliance but never got a chance to know his heart! But when he lost his life, the chapters of his time are all unbolted in front of me!
Once in his life, he met with an accident. Though the accident wasn't big, but it laid huge impact on his life. The accident took away his one eye. A splinter of windscreen entered his right eye, which even after operation left him without vision. It happened at a time when he had a bunch of dreams in his eyes. Anyone of his age could have become disheartened and depressed in life to realize that one of those dreamy eyes has left the hand of survival. However, word like depression never existed in Nawab’s dictionary!
The accident took away his right eye but his dreams were still placed on the right track. He was all passionate to play cricket with one eye, though he faced many problems. His victory became evident when he was chosen as the youngest captain of Indian cricket team. Before playing for himself, he always played for the country. He truly believed in self-less playing and that is the thing, which he was teaching to the young cricketers too.
Life has never been burden or tedious for Nawab sahib instead he always used to take up things positively and exhilaratingly. Knowing the worth of eye and realizing the pain of losing it, he presented his wish to donate that left eye after his death, which was his support throughout his life. Though Nawab sahib is no more with us but the eye, which helped him in sustaining his dreams and accomplishing them with enthusiasm, is still alive. He donated his eye, which will again save another man’s dream. We can say that ‘Tiger’ may have lost his life but not his sight!
Our tribute to the legend! May his soul rest in peace!
Shipra Saini
