Kapil: the strength of a man prevails

One would suspect that Kapil Dev was shaped out of good old fashioned, environment friendly, bio-degradable Haryanvi earth.

A greater force must have picked up some of the fertile soil, breathed life into it and whispered, 'Jao puttar, tussi Kapil Dev. Desh ke liye new ball pheko' (Go son. You are Kapil Dev. Take the new ball for India).

Four decades later it is fitting that the tag of Indian cricketer of the century goes to the one who is most deserving.

What Kapil has done in the course of being a cricketer, businessman golfer and icon is to tell the world that it's allright to be successful whilst retaining an inherent sense of simplicity.

Lessons were there to be learnt everyday in life and Kapil did just that.

In 1983 an awe struck young Indian cricketer stood on the balcony at Lord's (with his shirt on) to receive the Prudential World Cup. His smile was one of unbridled joy as he proferred the Cup out to the Indian supporters, who were chanting his name below, so that all could see...and believe.

The vast crowds - and those countless Indians who had till then sat nervously before their TV sets - saw and acknowledged this simple, yet meaningful, gesture. One felt unquestionably proud to be an Indian.

But for Kapil Dev Nikhanj the saga had already begun: time came armed with a price tag.

I chased Kapil around Delhi for two days in 1991. He was just a story then.

He gave me another two days in 1994, after taking 432 Test wickets. His star was slowly waning. The fast bowler's pride had quietly acquiesced to a shortened run-up even though his business acumen was getting sharper by the day. He had graduated into being a friend and yet I continued to mentally document the instances that confirmed his iconic status.

The match fixing allegations came...and went. During this period Kapil endured some of the most humiliating experiences of his life.

Cricket had given, but cricket had also taken away. The peace of mind that came from knowing who he was was replaced with a deep sense of insecurity from thinking what people thought he was.

He won yet again, as he is used to, but this time it was not for India but for himself and his family.

Let us appreciate what Kapil the cricketer has meant to a nation as large and as diverse as India. The experiences that he went through could burn out lesser men and yet each time he came out a winner.

Who writes this man's script? The answer remains lost, but the brains trust would be well advised to scoop up a sample of his DNA for the sake of Indian cricket.

And as he accepted the Wisden award, ironically from none other than Viv Richards a beaten finalist in 1983, Kapil exhibited a rare quality.

Patience? Yes.

Determination? Certainly.

Courage? To a great extent.

But there was something more, something harder to define.

Dignity...?

Yes, dignity. Immense, immeasurable dignity.

For in the dark and deep abyss of a legend's mind the strength of an ordinary man had finally prevailed.