Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the Question of Greatness Sham Samaroo
May 16, 2009
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is 35 runs away from surpassing the legendary Sir Vivian Richards’ tally of 8,540 runs to become the second highest run scorer in West Indian history – a feat he is hoping to accomplish during the second test – the 121st of his already illustrious career, same number as Richards. Chanderpaul’s astonishing feats in the last few years have forced even his most severe critics to reluctantly confess that there is indeed something special about the diminutive Guyanese left hander. Chanderpaul’s achievements have also provoked the question whether he is a great batsman. Each time I have been asked this question, I have answered it with a question of my own, specifically, what one means by great or, if you wish, to define greatness.
Shakespeare tells us: "Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them". Chanderpaul is an East Indian of humble roots from a tiny village on Guyana’s east coast who overcame enormous challenges to win a place on the West Indies team. Surely he was not born with the proverbially silver spoon in his mouth. Should Chanderpaul be conferred the tag of greatness it must therefore be because his greatness was self made, or because he proved equal to the challenge that was thrust upon him, against his own or anyone else’s expectations – or perhaps, it’s a combination of both.
Some argue that greatness implies great success and that Chanderpaul has achieved great success is indisputable, and therefore must be considered great. Others contend that great success is not a synonym for greatness. Which provokes yet another question: Is there a point along the continuum of great success when it ceases to be mere great success and becomes greatness? If so, where is Chanderpaul on that continuum? Using that criterion, a third opinion holds that Chanderpaul is standing on the threshold of greatness. Still others argue that great success is an insufficient criterion for greatness – that greatness implies something more – and point to the great Rohan Kanhai as a case in point.
But what is that something and how do we define it? Therein lies the conundrum.