When India toured Pakistan in 1982 and 83, a Test match was played in Lahore. After the third day's play, there was a thank-you party that was arranged, and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was there at the door welcoming the guests, along with the team manager Maharaja Fatehsinghrao Prataprao Gaekwad. When Gavaskar was introduced to Noor Jehan, who was named Malika-e-Tarannum (Queen of Melody) for her legendary voice, she failed to recognise the Little Master. Gavaskar, at that point, was one of the finest cricketers in the world and was already destined for greatness.

'No, I don't know him, I only know Imran Khan and Zaheer (Abbas)," she believed to have said. While Imran Khan and Zaheer Abbas were outstanding in their own right, Gavaskar was perhaps in his prime, particularly in Test cricket, with tons of runs under his belt, none more iconic than his exploits in the West Indies against a barrage of fast bowlers. It isn't too difficult to guess that the response did not sit well with Gavaskar. The former India captain, never one to miss a beat, was told he must know the legendary Pakistani singer, to which he responded cheekily, "No, I only know Lata Mangeshkar."

Gavaskar spoke at length about the incident at Aaj Tak's special ode to the Nightingale of India - Shradhanjali Tum Mujhe Bhula Na Paoge event. The former India captain was possibly the first Indian cricketer who was instrumental in bringing a deep sense of pride among Indians, inspiring an entire generation with the belief that we are not far behind. In fact, we, too, could be the best. And perhaps, that came at a time when we lacked a bit of self-belief, the single most important aspect that can drive anyone to achieve excellence. It was possibly the mother of all comebacks - subtle, graceful, yet to the point. But there was something far more significant in that response that echoed rooted patriotism and a sense of identity. It embodied the Indian spirit — firm, dignified, and unapologetically proud of its own. Fresh from independence, India was still a building economy, trying to find its feet among global peers.

The spirit shown by Gavaskar in all its splendour in Lahore in 1983 now finds its way in India's approach under Operation Sindoor — a strategic and symbolic response following the Pahalgam terror attack. Measured, yet resolute. It is a statement to the rest of the world. The world's largest democracy knows when to stay silent and when to strike with decisiveness. Today, that attitude stands bolder than ever.

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