Navjot Singh Sidhu credits his transformation to Swami Vivekananda’s books

Former India captain Kapil Dev (left), Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Navjot Singh Sidhu at the launch of ‘SherryonTopp’ © IANS

Mumbai: Apr 19, 2013
 
Former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu is a man of many words and it is hard to imagine that he once barely spoke in the team dressing room.

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The cricketer-turned-commentator and politician credits his transformation from an introvert to an outspoken person to Swami Vivekananda’s books.

“The first time my professor told me Sherry you have got to participate in a debate, I took leave from school for the next three days. The first time I was appointed a prefect, I had to say school disperse. That didn’t happen. I fainted. That is how scared I was. Fear clogs, faith liberates,” said Sidhu.

“Only in the year 1998, when I left cricket, in the last phase, that I stumbled across Swami Vivekananda’s books. The first volume transformed my life. It was a metamorphosis. A catharsis. It completely revolutionised my life. It changed my perspective. I became a believer. That belief converted me into an achiever. Today there is nothing impossible for me.”

“From 1999 onwards, you saw a different Sidhu. The latent energy that was lying inside just flowered and blossomed,” he told reporters on Thursday night after launching his website SherryonTopp.

The website, in association with Multi Screen Media, features Sidhu in a virtual avatar and he said, “This is the future in life as in chess. It is the forethought that wins.”

“Life will head towards 3G and 4G. When I look at the younger generation, their life exists on two things– the mobile phone and the apps. If you have to connect with all genres, this is the medium. For me in the last 10-12 years, I have been elusive. People don’t know where to reach me and I did not have an official website. There were 70-80 impostor sites. It’s a new avatar. You have to reinvent yourself,” he said.
 
Former India World Cup winning captain, Kapil Dev, who was also present at the launch, said Sidhu was also a fast bowler but did not pursue it due to his laziness.

Sidhu, however said, “I wasn’t lazy. I think it was my back. The lower vertebra had a few problems, so I had to give up fast bowling. Otherwise it was my dream. I also wanted to be an army general. I cleared my first attempt exams for NDA academy. My father didn’t allow. But if I had been a general, then I would have missed out all the fun in IPL and as a cricketer.”

SherryonTopp will feature Sidhu’s blogs, live chats and Sidhuisms.