I Will Just Not Take Personal Criticism

His restrained and firm tone gives way to profound semantics as he confronts criticism and questions about his performance while defining his role as an educationist. Ever vigilant to ward-off any possibility of a controversy, cricketer Virender Sehwag speaks to Metro life about his present life and the past with nostalgia.“I studied at Arora Vidya School, till Class VIII. It was 500 meters away from my house and everybody at the school knew my family. I was a very average student in academics but was quite disciplined and focused. However, if asked to choose between classes or cricket, I would rather choose to play,” recalls the right-handed batsman who soon found his calling in the game and joined Surmount Club, Najafgarh.

In higher classes, his schooling shifted to G-Block Government School in Vikaspuri and he “had to travel for 40 minutes between the school and the academy. There was no place to play in school in those days. So though I convinced my father about joining the cricket academy, he used to be upset over me wasting too much time in travelling. One day he said, ‘If you get to play International cricket someday then do open a school where children can get educated and play too.’”The veteran cricketer fulfilled his father's dream when he set up Sehwag International School. Most of the students at his school consider him their idol but that doesn't encumber Sehwag.

“I don't feel pressurised since I have myself grown up watching Sachin (Tendulkar). It is a great feeling to be a motivation and inspiration for somebody.” As far as the ‘hero’ status is considered, Sehwag controls his emotions to say, “The whole nation is missing him. Sachin has taught me a lot of things and I feel lucky to have played with him when I joined the team. He still motivates me.” Especially in these difficult times when Sehwag’s performance is under scrutiny.

“There are highs and lows in everybody’s life. This season wasn't good for Wasim Jaffer either. It is part of life and we have to take it. If you are criticizing me for my poor performance, it is OK with me but if you criticize me on my personal reasons, I will just not take it,” he says in a matter- of-fact tone. His mechanism to cope with criticism is not unusual. “We don't watch news channels or read news papers at home. My kids watch cartoons and movies only. Not giving importance is the best way,” he says adding, “When you are in the low phase, one big achievement gives a (re) start.” Speaking of a possible comeback in the near future, he says, “No one can plan anything. I will try and give my 100 percent be it for Team India, T-20 or any other match because I love the game,” before heading to his fitness session.

Top-grade school is Sehwag’s lofty hit to new-gen glory

• Viru offers academic & co-curricular activities under one roof
•  Sachin, Laxman laud the initiative

As a child, he wanted to don the India colours and wield the willow to slaughter the fearsome bowling attack anywhere in the world. But Virender Sehwag, the swashbuckling India opener, never forgot for a moment his parental advice not to ignore education.

That was easier said than done, though. The young Sehwag always found it tough shuttling between home and school, especially grappling with the sheer wastage of time while trying to balance academics with his favourite game.

True, his home and school in the 1990s weren’t far apart; both were in Najafgarh, then a dusty, underdeveloped colony in southwest Delhi. “But on crowded buses, it isn’t easy to carry your heavy cricket kit in your hand and an equally heavy school bag slung across your shoulders. The conductor needn’t be kind; you end up wasting hours in transit between school, coaching centre and home,” notes Sehwag, whose batting prowess has scripted many an international record.

“I thought of a solution to it: why not set up a world class school where education and top-rate sports facilities will blend seamlessly?’’

The result is Sehwag International School (SIS), a 23-acre multi-activity campus in Jhajjar, just south of plush Gurgaon in Haryana. Into its third year, the school is bracing up to take in no less than 250 students in the upcoming academic year.

SIS, for the record, is India’s only school to be founded by a cricketer of global repute. A co-ed, boarding-cum-day school with 370 students, it is the realisation of an ideal situation Sehwag had cherished during his evolving years.

“Good schooling is a must even with your passion for sports,” notes the Nawab of Najafgarh, who started SIS in 2011 along with his wife Aarti Sehwag, its chairperson. “My aim is to give the young generation all necessary facilities under one roof. An institution where the parental care won’t be missing -- with a band of affectionate teachers available round the clock for boarders! A home away from home!”

Creditably, SIS, which follows CBSE syllabus and is poised to teach its first class X batch in 2014-15, accommodates day scholars along with boarders. “I want to ensure that my endeavour also benefits people of my own native land. Their children can go back home every day; the expense is thus less,” says Sehwag, whose parents hail from Chudani village which is close to Bahadurgarh in pastoral Jhajjar district.

Celebrity cricketers are all praise for Sehwag and his unique endeavour.

Sachin Tendulkar says SIS venture makes him proud to be associated with Sehwag. “It’s a great job. I wish Viru all success,” adds the master-blaster who has partnered with Sehwag in running SportsMentor Pvt Ltd, which is a pioneer in providing an internationally-accredited scientific sports education programme for schoolchildren in India.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly notes that it rarely happens that a successful cricketer invests in education when there are more lucrative ventures around. “I’m proud of him,” adds the southpaw.

Hyderabadi great V V S Laxman, who has visited SIS, is particularly impressed with the school’s cricket stadium built as per BCCI stipulations. “The ground is big-size; the facilities are state-of-the-art,” he gushes. “Overall, it’s a good blend of co-curricular activities.”

In fact, besides the cricket ground, the SIS campus has high-standard facilities for athletics, basketball, badminton, equestrian, football, lawn tennis, table tennis, squash and a swimming pool.

Besides nine full-time coaches, the school has highly-qualified teachers who also take care of boarders (boys, for now) in spacious, air-conditioned, four-bedded rooms — each bathroom-attached). “We strive to make them responsible citizens by instilling in them the need to work for society rather than scripting just individual success stories,” says Sehwag, the only Indian to be honoured as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for his performance in 2008, and next year becoming the first player of any nationality to retain the award.

The Sehwags have two children, and is keen to admit them to SIS. “Aryavir is in class 1; the younger one is in a playschool. “From their class 3, both will be in SIS,” avers Delhi-raised Aarti.

Sehwag says his background as a sportsperson has helped him realise the true value of lessons learnt outside the bounds of a classroom. “At SIS, we go beyond and ensure that our students get the best of indoor and outdoor training, moulding them to think critically, synthesize knowledge and reflect on their own thought processes,” he adds.

Aarti reveals that the basic aim is to ensure comprehensive development programmes for students to give them an international learning experience, while preserving our core Indian values. “With such qualities imbibed within them, our students are bound to ‘Arise, Awake, Ascend’ to greater heights and a greater tomorrow.”