Sports, Bapu (Aniruddhasinh) and We

 
The London Olympics 2012 finally opened to a spectacular inaugural ceremony that showcased a dazzling display of the latest technology, lights and fireworks. It is said that apart from the 80,000 spectators who had thronged the stadium for the inaugural ceremony, an estimated 3 billion people worldwide watched the ceremony on TV.Bapu (Aniruddhasinh) has time and again stressed upon the importance of sports in our lives. I have personally played with Bapu (Aniruddhasinh), Nandai and Suchitdada during various trips and picnics I have been privileged to be a part of. The latest such occasion was when we had been to Umergaon for ushering in the new year. What stood out very clearly was their complete involvement in the game, their going out of the way to make the other participants feel at ease and shed their shyness and inhibitions so that they too enjoy the game fully. Bapu (Aniruddhasinh) himself is an expert badminton player. He also plays football, cricket and Indian sports like kabaddi, kho-kho extremely well. You will be pleasantly surprised to know that he is an excellent rugby player and an expert swimmer too. Bapu is also an expert in Kushti (wrestling) and has even prepared akhadas for kushti contests.  During our Umargaon picnic I have myself played cricket with Bapu (Aniruddhasinh), Nandai and Suchitdada and have seen Bapu and Nandai play badminton. During this same picnic I also saw and enjoyed playing pool with Bapu (Aniruddhasinh) and Suchitdada. Even during one of our trips to Lonavla, we greatly enjoyed playing with Bapu. I can also very well recollect the sight of Bapu (Aniruddhasinh) playing cricket with all the volunteers at Juinagar during the construction of Gurukul temple.  Bapu (Aniruddhasinh) has always maintained that, “the family that prays together stays together and the family that plays together stays together". This belief of Bapu truly encapsulates the importance that sports plays in the development of our personality.