‘Parliamentarians don’t take sportsmen’s views seriously…’

By Mihir Vasavda

Ric Charlesworth, the first and only other active sportsperson before Sachin Tendulkar to become an MP, tells Mihir Vasavda public perception towards a sportsman changes once he becomes a full-time politician.

Q: What is it like to be an active sportsperson and a member of parliament?

A: It’s pretty difficult to multi-task. I don’t know much about the Indian political structure but I know a bit about the politics and bureaucracy there (laughs). But jokes aside, being an MP is a privilege and as a sportsperson, it is necessary to understand and respect those privileges and not take them for granted; that’s important. It can get a bit complex, but it is indeed an interesting job.

Q: How challenging is it?

A: It’s extremely challenging. The first thing you’ve got to do is understand politics. As a sportsman, you tend to live in a bubble of your own and are kind of oblivious to the world outside. So, you’ve got to understand the real issues that affect the people and form your opinion on it to deal with it properly. The scenario in the 1980s was quite different to what it is now and you cannot compare an Australian constituency to an Indian. But the challenges remain the same. You’ve got to formulate policies that will benefit the public and also execute them. It requires a lot of learning, which will happen only if you spend sufficient time on the job.

Q: Does it act as a distraction to the playing career?

A: To a certain extent, yes. During my time, there weren’t many international commitments. In hockey, we had only three or four major tournaments in a year so I could devote enough time to look after my constituency, which again wasn’t too big. But it’s different now. With the cricket calendar being packed all year round, I am not quite sure as to how Sachin will devote his time for both.

Q: Does the public perception change towards a sportsperson after he becomes a politician?

A: Of course, it does. People know and admire you because of your exploits on the field. So, when you take up a new role, something that people don’t expect you to take, the reactions are extreme. I am sure that has been the case with Sachin as well. The general public perception towards the politicians is not so good and that’s true everywhere in the world. So if you do stupid things, people will start devaluing and disrespecting you.

Q: Are a sportsperson’s views taken seriously?

A: Not till the time you are playing. People and fellow parliamentarians will not take you seriously until you retire. They will always see you as a sportsman more than a politician. My first few months were like going back to the university all over again. So during this period, it is important for a sportsperson to learn as much as possible.

Q: What’s your advice to Sachin?

A: It depends on how he views this opportunity and how serious he is about this. But the key thing here is that people in India will be keen to see how he conducts himself as a politician. So I hope he educates himself well. During my stay in India, I realised his word is taken very seriously so he can do good things for many people. And I hope he does.