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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