'Sourav is very fond of his daughter'

Source: Sify Sports     Date: December 26, 2001          

Kolkata: Flash bulbs, video cameras, probing scribes, newspaper headlines....The Gangulys have seen it all, but not Sana, the infant daughter of Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly. Her father was far away in South Africa when she was born.

The following are excerpts from an interview with the mother of the celebrity baby.

 

The birth of Sana must been a defining moment for you. 

Yes. Every mother goes through this experience. I wish Sourav was around. He was very, very keen to be here. The fact that we sent him the picture of our daughter through Internet was little consolation. He even booked tickets for a brief visit after the first Test in South Africa. But unfortunately, defeat in that Test match upset everything. It was at the last moment that he had to change his decision.

 

Was it your advice? 

No, everyone in our family was part of this decision. The situation became delicate after the defeat. You know there are some journalists who always look for opportunities to undermine him. I knew how deep his desire was to come and stay beside me at that time.

 

What was his first reaction on learning of the birth of Sana? 

He was ecstatic when he got the news on phone. Nothing could be more joyous for him than having a daughter.

 

So, he wanted a daughter…..

I think so. At a small function held at St Xavier’s School (his alma mater) before the tour South Africa tour, someone asked him what his preference was. "Daughter," was his prompt reply. He is very fond of Sana.

 

What’s the meaning of ‘Sana’ ? 

It means praise. The names of Sourav, Snehashis (his elder brother) and Sneha (his niece) all begin with S.

 

How did Sourav react when he first saw his daughter? 

He perhaps experienced the most blissful moment of his life.