Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS): Sachin Tendulkar Sunday dedicated to all the mothers in India -- and especially his own mother, Rajni Tendulkar -- the Bharat Ratna he was awarded for his 24-year service to cricket.

"I'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," said Tendulkar at a press conference here.

"As a child, you don't understand life... when you grow up, you realise all these things. It is not just for my mother, not just my mother, but there are millions and millions of mothers in India who sacrifice many things for their children. I would like to share my award with them."

Tendulkar also congratulated C.N.R. Rao for also being awarded the Bharat Ratna for his "immense" contribution to the field of science.

"The award belongs to the entire nation, I'd say. At this stage, I would like to congratulate Prof CNR Rao for getting the Bharat Ratna. It is an honour to get the award with him, his contribution to the field of science is immense, it's only that cricket is played in front of thousands of people," he said.