Over the past few days (and arguably decades) one name has been on the lips of every boy in India. Sachin Tendulkar. The man who has carried the dreams of a nation, whose rise and success has almost mirrored that of his country, and who continues to attract the adoration of young and old alike both in his homeland and across the world. An idol? Certainly. An role model? No doubt. A legend? Probably. The greatest? Arguably. But a hero? Hmmm.
Coined in English in 1387, "hero" comes from the Greek "heros", literally "protector" or "defender". Later, it became used for those who, in the face of adversity, displayed courage and the will for self-sacrifice. Now, in the Oxford English dictionary, is is described as a "person admired for their courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities".
To me, the real meaning of hero is someone who displays genuine courage and determination in times of danger to help others. As dangerous as facing Akhtar or Lee from 22 yards on a bouncy pitch may be, and as courageous as one may need to be to stand in between them and the target (that said, YOU might actually be their target), I can't help but feel that someone cannot truly be described as a hero for their ability to wield a piece of willow. Heroes are the people who go that extra step. Not maximise their talent or fulfil their potential, but genuinely go above and beyond what you would ever expect of them.
So who are these real heroes?
Everyone deserves at least two. These are the people commonly know as "mum and dad". I appreciate not everyone gets these in the capacity that they'd like, and even then, not everyone sees theirs as heroic, but everyone deserves to have them. I certainly can't imagine my life without mine. And so, isn't it a little bit offensive to then call someone a hero who has not done one billionth as much for us as they have?
Someone told me that Steven Gerrard was more of a hero to him than his parents. Not because he loved or respected the England captain even vaguely as much as he does for his family, but because, in his eyes, he looks up to Gerrard more. I don't think that makes a hero. That makes a role model. Heroes are the people who do a lot for us, who protect and look after us, and that makes a distinction between the two adjectives.
This week, we have been celebrating the true heroes. The people who ran into crossfire to cover for a friend behind. The people who flew planes into waves of anti-aircraft fire to protect their families and the families of millions of others. Even the people who worked tirelessly, day and night, at Bletchley Park to crack the enigma code. But these heroes do not stop there. Whether you agree with us being in the Middle East or not, you cannot forget the people out there who put their lives on the line because they genuinely believe they are doing good for the world, the people of Afghanistan and us back home. We must remember them too. They are heroes.
The nurses who work long hours for relatively little pay, yet still feel the duty to make each and every patient as safe and comfortable as they can be. They're heroes. The firefighters, policemen, paramedics and coastguards who are willing to enter burning buildings or flooding lakes to save others are people who I consider to be heroes. And these people are definitely heroes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRWHBRPgtIo
Finally, who could forget your best friends or your siblings? The ones who would be there to look after you almost unconditionally, who would have your back in any situation, or who simply make you laugh when no one else can. They are really heroic too.
Sachin Tendulkar is without doubt someone that kids all around the world can look up to. A lot of what he has done can be applied to be successful way beyond cricket. A hard work ethic, a determination to maximise his potential, modesty - these are all things we should look to incorporate into our own lives. He is an absolute superstar and a fine role model.
But my heroes don't appear on TV.
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