Sachin Tendulkar had never spoken at length about his mother. Yesterday, at his first media interaction after quitting the game, he did. &ldquo;I requested the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to schedule my last match in Mumbai because my mother had never seen me play. <img alt="Sachin Tendulkar" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/nov/Sachin-Tendulkar_16_1.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 310px;" /> Sachin Tendulkar addressing the media yesterday. Pic/Suresh KK I wanted that to be a surprise for her. But thanks to you guys (media) she got to know of it. This match became really special to me,&rdquo; a beaming Tendulkar told the media at a five-star hotel. Tendulkar took personal interest in making arrangements to bring Rajni Tendulkar to the Wankhede for his farewell match. He ordered a ramp for her wheelchair to reach the President&rsquo;s Box and chose the seat from where she could get the best view of the match. &ldquo;My mother was extremely happy (with his 74 in his last international innings). It was difficult for her to travel. She sat for some time on the first day. <img alt="Rajni Tendulkar" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/nov/Rajni-Tendulkar.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 342px;" /> Rajni Tendulkar. Pic/Rajesh Shah I was a little worried whether she could sit for a long time, so for safety, I had also requested the Mumbai Cricket Association to keep a room for me in Garware Club House, but she preferred watching each and every ball.&rdquo; After the presentation ceremony on Saturday, Tendulkar went to the President&rsquo;s Box to meet his mother and other family members who were seated there. &ldquo;When I went to see her, I could see it in her eyes what it (retirement) meant. It was a controlled reaction. She spoke through her eyes and I could pick that.&rdquo; Here&rsquo;s to all mums... The iconic cricketer dedicated his Bharat Ratna award to his mother. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m humbled and honoured to be given the Bharat Ratna. This award is for my mother because of all the sacrifices she made for me right from my birth,&rdquo; he said. <img alt="Sachin Tendulkar and Rajni" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/nov/Rajni-Sachin.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 324px;" /> Sachin Tendulkar with his mother at the Wankhede on Saturday. Pic/Prakash Parsekar &ldquo;As a child, it&rsquo;s difficult to understand life. You don&rsquo;t understand what your parents have to go through to make you happy. It is only when you grow up, you realise all these things. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why I feel this award (Bharat Ratna) is for my mother. I would like to go a step further. Not just my mother&hellip; but like my mother there are millions and millions of mothers in India who sacrifice thousands of things for their children. So I would like to share my award with all the mothers for all the sacrifices they have made.&rdquo; Tradition and the Tendulkars go hand- in-hand. &ldquo;Like all Indian families, we just bought a packet of sweets and offered it to the Almighty and thanked the Almighty (after a good performance). &ldquo;Even yesterday (Saturday), my mother told me I have kept sweets in front of God,&rdquo; he said.u00a0

A good portion of Sachin's post-retirement media conference in Mumbai yesterday revolved around his mum Rajni

Tendulkar opens up about his mother Rajni

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Tendulkar opens up about his mother Rajni

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