Va va vroom

What''s Rs 1.13 crore? Nothing? Or everything? That depends on the perspective. It''s definitely something (a lot of lolly, honey), or else the nation wouldn''t be taking sides in the latest Ferrari Furore.
Does Sachin Tendulkar, God''s gift to cricket, national icon, India''s Great, Big Hope, etc, etc, deserve this? Are critics being unfair, even ungrateful? Is Justice Vikramjit Sen overreacting to a minor issue? Are we all being a little silly and blowing up a chotisi love story between two great sportsmen into a badasa debate? I don''t think so.It''s not just about a car and a waiver. Had it been that simple, it would have been sorted out quietly, discreetly, sans fuss and media comment. This is about fair play and double standards. And that''s what makes the Ferrari case so important.
Sachin Tendulkar is Sachin Tendulkar. Who can deny his unique status in the cricketing world? Nobody. Not even Justice Vikramjit Sen. But, before we remove his halo or knock off his crown too hastily, let''s get one thing in perspective. Sachin is, above all, an Indian citizen. He plays for our country. He plays as part of the Indian team. His glory is linked with the glory of 10 other players on that field. He cannot claim individual victory, for if his teammates let him down (or he, them), the country loses, and not just the cricketing world''s most admired player.
The same rules apply across the board. Sachin''s career, therefore, cannot be assessed in isolation. And arbitrary new rules cannot — must not — be created just for him. Or worse, rules based on the personal whims of a minister. This isn''t cricket. Besides, the entire deal falls into a slightly fuzzy area. Is the car really and truly a ‘gift'' from Formula One ace driver Michael Schumacher? The German has never actually confirmed this. In fact, he has been quoted as saying that nobody has ‘gifted'' him a Ferrari so far! And that comment, coming from Ferrari''s very own superstar, is a telling comment indeed. The Ferrari bosses haven''t clarified their company''s position either — is it a gift or an endorsement fee adjustment? Only Sachin''s chartered accountant can tell for sure. Whatever the internal arrangements, the fact remains that a whole lot of resentment has been generated in the media by the blatant bending of import duty rules.
Of course, everybody wants Sachin to zoom around on the hottest wheels in town. And no, nobody is ‘jealous'' of his gift. But for God''s sake, why avoid the tax? On what grounds? Surely, he of all people cannot trot out the excuse that he can''t afford the steep Rs 1.13 crore? Come on, that''s a twee too precious for someone who reportedly earns in the region of Rs 35-40 crore a year.
It''s surprising, then, that he should''ve even asked Yashwant Sinha for a duty waiver. A man who can comfortably keep a high-maintenance Ferrari in his garage, can definitely afford the tax on it. Then comes the business of his unparalleled achievement — equalling Sir Don Bradman''s magnificent record of 29 Test centuries. Excuse me, but isn''t that also a trifle suspect, given the fact that Sir Don played a different ball game, in a different time, and created a different sort of record that, frankly, cannot be compared with Sachin''s — or even Gavaskar''s — records for that matter? And pray, what is the connection between Bradman, Tendulkar and Schumacher? The last is a driver of mean machines. I doubt that he knows much about either Sachin or cricket. Or even that he has witnessed a proper match. Why would he ‘gift'' such a pricey car to a sportsman whose following is strictly restricted to the cricket playing nations of the world? Something is definitely ‘off'' here. And PIL or no PIL, I''m glad Tendulkar has been asked to pay up. Go on Sachin, reach for that Master Card of yours!