Tendulkar’s father dead
PM, team condole death

MUMBAI, May 19 (PTI) — A bereaved Sachin Tendulkar has left Leicester for Mumbai following the death of his father, noted Marathi literary figure Prof Ramesh Tendulkar, early today.

Professor Tendulkar died at his residence here following a massive heart attack around 1 a.m., sources close to the family said. He was 65.

Professor Tendulkar had retired a few years ago as the head of the Marathi department in the local Kirti College which he joined in 1967.

He had undergone angioplasty at the Jaslok Hospital one-and-a-half months ago and was steadily recovering, sources said.

Professor Tendulkar had just returned to Mumbai after spending a few days with his daughter in Pune.

Sachin’s mother was by his side when the end came. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Bandra, where doctors declared him dead on admission.

Professor Tendulkar is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter. After the death of his first wife, Professor Tendulkar had married her younger sister, Sachin’s mother.

While Sachin was playing in the World Cup in England, his two brothers Nitin and Ajit, were in Chicago and Paris, respectively. Sachin’s doctor wife, Anjali, and daughter were also in England.

The task of breaking the news to Sachin was entrusted to the Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad on phone by Dr Kausthubh, the cardiologist who treated Professor Tendulkar here.

The funeral of Professor Tendulkar is expected to take place at noon tomorrow by which time all the three sons would arrive here from different places.

A large number of friends of Professor Tendulkar rushed to his residence at "Sahitya Sahawas" at Bandra in north-west Mumbai after hearing the news of his death.

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on Wednesday condoled the death of Prof Ramesh Tendulkar, father of cricket star Sachin Tendulkar, at Mumbai in the early hours on Wednesday.

"It is, indeed, sad that Ramesh Tendulkar, who had made valuable contribution to Marathi literature, was not destined to see Sachin rise to still greater heights of glory", Mr Vajpayee said in a message here.

In Pune, senior Congress leader, Mr Sharad Pawar, expressed "deep grief" over the demise of noted poet Ramesh Tendulkar.

"Sachin’s father has died at a time when cricket enthusiasts in India were feeling that the star batsman will have a lion’s share in India’s victory at the World Cup", Mr Pawar said in his condolence message.

"The affinity of sport lovers will provide courage to Sachin to tide over the deep sorrow and perform his task at the World Cup", he added.

LEICESTER (UNI): The members of Indian and the Zimbabwean team on Wednesday observed a minute’s silence, just before the start of their World Cup match here on Wednesday as a mark of respect to Sachin Tendulkar’s father.

Due to this sudden development, Sachin Tendulkar had to miss out this all-important match and rush back home to attend the funeral.