By Bipin Dani
MUMBAI, India (TheSportsNEXT)
November 7, 2012: Sachin Tendulkar, who was conferred Order of Australia
award on Tuesday, however, will not be able to enjoy any particular
entitlements or privileges. This was revealed by Tom Battams, the Press Officer
at the Office of the Australian Prime Minister.
Speaking exclusively with TheSportsNEXT.com over telephone
from his office on Wednesday, Tom Battams said, "Mr. Tendulkar’s honor is
in recognition of his service to Australia-India relations by promoting
goodwill, friendship and sportsmanship through the sport of cricket".
"While it does not confer any particular entitlements or
privileges on him, it recognizes the above contribution in an official way. He
is also entitled to use the post-nominal ‘AM’, he further added.
"When in Australia or in any part of the world, he can
now sign as Sachin Tendulkar, AM. AM is the abbreviated form of Honoray member
of Order Of Australia", he signed off.
According to Kersi Meher Homji, an Indian cricket historian,
now settled in Australia, it's a high honor and a rare honor from a foreign
country. An award to him is recognition for all Indians, living in or out of
India.
Interestingly, the historian has suggested the reciprocal
gesture be shown by the Indian government to former Australia captain, Steve
Waugh.
"To reciprocate Australia's gesture of bestowing Order
of Australia to Sachin Tendulkar, India should award Padma Shree or Padma
Bhushan award to Australia's master batsman and former captain Steve Waugh who has
been doing a lot of charity work for daughters of leprosy sufferers in Udayan,
India since 1998", he signed off.
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