Tendulkar awarded 'Maharashtra Bhushan'

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and I T wizard Dr Vijay Bhatkar were conferred with 'Maharashtra Bhushan Puruskar', Maharashtra's highest civilian award in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Tendulkar, became the youngest recepient at the age of 28, when he received the award for the year 2000-01, from the Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at a simple ceremony held at Rang Bhavan in South Mumbai.

The award carries a scroll, memento and Rs five lakh. 'Wonderboy' Sachin, whose presence evoked enthusiastic response from the crowd, said he was missing his father at this moment. "Without the teachings of my father I would not have been where I am today", an emotionally charged Sachin said.

He profusely thanked his coach Ramakant Achrekar, support provided by Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar and his family members. Sachin, who has scored 10,000 runs and scalped 100 wickets in the one-day edition of the game, vowed to give his best to the game thereby bringing laurels to the state as well as country.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said Tendulkar ought to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Cultural Affairs Minister Ramkrishna More, Minister of State for Cultural Affairs Vimal Mundada, Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, former Indian cricket board chief Rajsingh Dungarpur and Ramakant Achrekar were among those present on the occasion.