Author: Bharat Sundaresan
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: September 15, 2011
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/walmiki-scripts-his-own-epic/846809/0
Introduction: From his humble household, Indian
Hockey's new hero Yuvraj charts a fresh journey
Never ones to miss out on an opportunity,
the entire gamut of the city's political parties have aligned themselves with
the hero of the hour. On Wednesday, however, the array of posters put up by
them for welcoming Yuvraj Walmiki act as a trail to southern Mumbai's latest
poster boy's obscure and humble abode.
It is nothing more than a pump-room, slightly
smaller than 100 sq.feet, situated within the confines of one of three commercial
complexes that are lined up a few feet away from the Marine Lines railway
station. An unkempt curtain acts as the door to what four generations of Walmikis
have called home for over 45 years. The house has never had electricity, and
a small gasoline lamp is the only source of light for the family once the
sun goes down.
The Walmiki household, however, is decked
up today like never before. Multiple bouquets are queued up on chairs placed
outside the room, which doubles up as kitchen and the bedroom - they have
to use the toilets in the adjoining buildings. And the walls nearby are resplendent
with posters and more flowers commemorating the Indian hockey team's victory
in the Asian Champions Trophy and obviously Walmiki's achievement too.
"It's almost like a marriage atmosphere.
But I doubt whether so many people will come even for my wedding when it happens,"
says Yuvraj, who scored three goals including his conversion of the crucial
third penalty stroke in the final against Pakistan.
But relatives - mostly distant - aren't the
only ones who have swarmed the Neelkanth building compound, which acts as
the family's front yard and is where Yuvraj and his brothers started playing
hockey, since the wee hours of the morning, much before the oldest of the
four Walmiki brothers landed from Delhi.
"Oh there have been people from various
political parties, police officials, income-tax officers, mayors and many
more who have come since morning. We had no clue about most of their identities,"
says mother Meena Walmiki, clearly exhausted after playing host to more people
than ever before.
The beaming father, while complaining about
the excessive number of sweets he has had to eat, calls this the best day
of his life. "I drive a private car for a salary of Rs 6,000. But even
my sahib, who is 90 years old, came here and blessed us and made me feel really
proud," Sunil Walmiki says.
While Wednesday may have witnessed controversies
regarding payments to the hockey team, it has been an extremely busy one for
the Walmikis.
"We were stuck at the airport for 15-20
minutes, where there were people playing drums and felicitating us there.
Then my entire family was invited to Matoshree, where we met Bal Thackeray
and spent more than an hour with him. I have been hounded for television interviews,
including one in the same building, and my phone has been ringing non-stop,"
says Yuvraj, fresh after a power-nap in the corridor of the neighbouring building.
The 21-year-old Walkmiki, who represents Air-India
domestically and has played in the German league over the last two years,
insists that his only dream now is to gift his parents a comfortable lifestyle.
"We used to study under the streetlights,
and there are many days when I spend sleepless nights wondering about the
kind of difficulties we have been through without light and water. We still
have many loans to pay and most of what I earn goes into running the household.
Lekin ab bahut andhera dekh liya. Abhi roshni ki taraf badna hai (we have
seen enough darkness now and it's time to head towards the light)," he
says.
But despite the unprecedented attention bestowed
upon them, the Walmikis still have their feet firmly on the ground. "A
lot of important people have come and congratulated us and made plenty of
promises. It might last for probably one more day. Now let's see how many
of them actually do stick to their word," says Yuvraj.
