The exploits of Sir Donald Bradman on the field are legionand do not need repetition. Sufficient to say he was a legend, an icon, and atorch-bearer for his country in its hour of great distress and a willy-nillypossessor of a record, which isunlikely ever to be threatened. A ruthless leader, a rebel with a cause, arecluse who did not suffer fools readily, he guarded his privacy assiduously.
One had a vivid mental picture ofthe man from the forefront accounts one had read or was told by persons who hadknown him. What we had not bargainedfor, during the few meetings at small private dinner parties on India'stour of Australia in 1992, was the humility and apparent sincerity ofthe man underneath the rather severe veneer of dignity, poise and no-nonsense.These qualities quite shone through.
Almost the first question he asked was how the two younghopefuls of Indian cricket, Tendulkar and Kambli, were coming along. He had reada great deal about their school-day exploits.
His patience with my not-too-cricket-crazy familyepitomised good breeding and immaculate manners. On hearing that my daughter,Sheyna, was an artist, he asked her whether she would like to do a portrait ofhis as he was not totally satisfied with any done reviously.
My daughter greedily accepted the offer and, from a photograph given by him forthe purpose, completed the portrait which, as luck would have it, undertook atortuous journey through mail/diplomatic bags, and reached him on the morning ofhis 84th birthday! He was too much of a gentleman, not to say he loved it thoughI fancy, being a perfectionist, he would have found something, however minute,missing or wrongly brought out.
All our mail to him was promptly responded to and hiscarefully hand-written letters will always be greatly cherished by us.
He was truly unique both as a player and as a person. Averitable giant both on and off the field.
