Vasu Paranjape, guiding light for Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, passes away
Mumbai, Aug 30: Vasu Paranjape, a noted cricket coach who mentored India greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, passed away at his residence here in Matunga on Monday.
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has paid glowing tributes to noted coach Vasu Paranjape, terming him one of the best coaches he has worked with.
The 82-year-old Paranjape died at his residence here in Matunga and is survived by his wife and son Jatin, an ex-national selector and cricketer.
Remembering the man, who donned many hats, Tendulkar said in a statement, "Vasu sir, as I have always known him, was one of the best coaches I have worked with. He has been an integral part of my cricketing journey since childhood and a mentor in many ways."
According to Tendulkar, he was a knowledgeable and lively person with a great sense of humour.
"Early in my career, I remember him telling me in Marathi, 'You watch out for the first 15 minutes and the opposition will watch you for the rest of the day'.
"He was knowledgeable, lively and had a great sense of humour. I had visited him a few of months ago and he was his usual humorous self," added Tendulkar, who has numerous records to his name.
Tendulkar also felt that a piece of him had left the world.
"During our Under-15 national camp in Indore, the care taker had gone complaining to him (as coach) about us boys playing with a tennis ball in the night, keenly expecting some support and stringent action. Vasu Sir in his inimitable style reacted, 'They are kids and will play. Why don't you also field for them,' leaving the caretaker stumped!
"He has left us with many memories and moments to smile. I feel that a piece of me has left the world. RIP Vasu Sir," said the legendary batsman.
Tendulkar's teammate and former India batsman Vinod Kambli also paid tributes to Paranjape.
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No endeavour to build Ayodhya mosque, reclaim land given for it: BJP leader to Adityanath
Ayodhya (UP) (PTI): A BJP leader here has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, asking him to reclaim the land allotted for the construction of a mosque here and claiming that no substantial endeavour has been undertaken to build it.
On November 9, 2019, settling a fractious issue that went back more than a century, a five-judge bench headed by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, at the site where the 16th century Babri Masjid once stood. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot would be found for a mosque in the holy town.
The Sunni Central Waqf Board later formed the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation to build a new mosque on the land allotted by the state government in the Dhannipur area of the district.
BJP leader Rajneesh Singh, in his letter to the chief minister on December 10, said that since the apex court's verdict, "no substantial endeavour has been undertaken by the Muslim community to construct the mosque".
Their "intention was never to establish a mosque there but to perpetuate the discord under the pretext of a mosque", he alleged.
"In compliance with the Supreme Court's order, the land allocated to Sunni Central Waqf Board in Ayodhya is being used by the mosque's responsible persons for other purposes. The Muslim community's intention was never to construct the mosque but rather to keep the disturbance and disorder alive under the guise of a mosque. However, this has not been possible due to your leadership," Singh said in the letter to Adityanath.
Asserting that "a mosque is not necessary for offering prayers anyway," he appealed to the chief minister to "issue strict instructions to the officials of the Ayodhya mosque trust to use the land in compliance with the Supreme Court orders".
In case of being unable to do so, issue directives to return the land to the government to prevent its misuse, Singh said.
In a conversation with PTI, he said, "The Muslim community merely wishes to preserve Babar's legacy through this mosque and aims to manipulate Hindu sentiments in the name of Babri Masjid."
When PTI contacted Athar Husain, the secretary of the Ayodhya Masjid Trust, for his reaction to the issue, he refused to comment.
In 2022, Singh petitioned the Allahabad High Court, claiming that the Taj Mahal mausoleum is an ancient temple dedicated to the deity Lord Shiva and is known as the "Tejo Mahalaya".
