|
Monty, a great Asian Sikh hero
 The Monty Effect is in full
swing. We’re talking about cricket’s latest poster boy, Monty
Panesar. The Indian origin, British-born Monty has become a sort of
cult figure in the UK. And he’s also reportedly signed a celebrity
book deal for the exorbitant amount of £300,000 with Hodder &
Stoughton!
It could have been a joke. For here is a shy guy, who is about to
pen his life story in a book! He’s a regular Indian Sikh boy, who
goes to the gurudwara to do seva every Sunday. And yet, Monty’s
glamorisation is evident as you flip through the pages of Esquire
magazine, where the six-footer models like he’s to the manner born.
And so what if he’s even sharing the cover of GQ magazine with Jude
Law… His response to us mentioning this is a smile and the question:
“Who’s that?”
So, on to more in-your-face queries… Is he enjoying his newfound
cult status? “Even now, it’s difficult to accept when people treat
you as a hero. Sometimes, I need to pinch myself to believe it’s
real! Friends and relatives are forever telling me I’m in the
newspapers. It’s a nice feeling. I get motivated to play even
better. I don’t mind the spotlight and it doesn’t affect me
adversely. One reason for my popularity could be that I’m an Asian
playing for England. Or it could be my bowling. As for the book
deal, you’ll have to read the book… it covers my cricketing career
to date. Sometimes it feels as though it is my life story as so much
has happened in less than a year. Miracles do happen and sometimes,
they happen in just a year…” Monty muses, going on to talk fondly of
his latest acquisition, a sponsored BMW X5. It’s yet another symbol
of his having arrived.
This turbanator sure means business. And even though his
glamorisation has been inevitable, Monty epitomises Eastern values.
He’s a vegetarian Sikh, who doesn’t even trim his beard. In fact,
The Sunday Times, London reports, “There’s an X-factor with Monty.
He’s not just another player. He stands out as a character.” Monty
says, “You’ve got to believe in yourself. I have been brought up
with simple Indian values. I’ve extended those values to my
cricketing career,” he answers. His parents, Paramjit and Gursharan,
both grew up in Punjab. He narrates, “My dad was a carpenter when he
arrived in England in the mid-’70s to stay with family. My mum and
he met through friends and were married. I still have a large,
wonderful family in India. Roots are important to me. My
grandparents are still in Punjab. It was great to meet them, when I
toured India last March. I take my heritage rather seriously.”
Perhaps it’s this that keeps him grounded despite being cricket’s
latest pin-up boy and someone who gets a lot of attention from
girls. And unlike other bratty sportspeople, who brag about their
off-the-field conquests, he doesn’t even discuss his serious
relationship with his girlfriend. So we ask him the most sober
question possible… Any marriage plans? “I have many experiences to
go through, so I don’t have any particular thoughts on marriage. I
think it would be unfair to my partner if I married straight away,”
he maintains.
Although this modest man may have a computer science degree from
Loughborough University, he admits, “Studies came first, but cricket
came second, third and fourth. I was 10 when my father first took me
to watch a match.” So the natural-born athlete has been studying the
art of left-arm spin from the age of 12. “Though I play, talk and
dream cricket, I’ve made friends from all walks of life. But my role
models have always been Sachin Tendulkar, Ian Botham and Bishen Bedi,”
he reveals, talking about the days spent in Delhi, training with
Bedi, whom he learnt a lot from.
Coincidentally, his first ever Test wicket was Sachin. “It was
great! When I took his wicket I didn’t know whether to laugh or
cry!” How does he keep that edge? “I have a great hunger and passion
for the game. I feel it’s a privilege to play international cricket.
I find it difficult to find a balance between playing and training.
So, I train and play equally hard.” The pleasure Monty gets from
playing for England is captivating. There’s a certain aggression in
him. He has an ability and willingness to improve his game. Every
game teaches some tough lessons, he says. “I think some of the
toughest lessons learnt are patience, tolerance and discipline.
These carve a way to higher success. I want to be the best spinner
in the world, but I also want to become a multi-dimensional
cricketer,” he says.
7 March 2007
|
Read Also
