Cricketers' absence from Lala funeral indicative of the times

The tributes have been flowing thick and fast for Lala Amarnath. Although reading of any cricketing folklore informs one about the kind of man Amarnath was, I have not had the pleasure of watching even video footage of his cricket. From a layman's viewpoint, the death of Lala Amarnath has been put in perspective by the responses that have poured in.

As would only be expected, reports in newspapers and websites alike are littered with a couple of cliches. Lala Amarnath is referred to almost exclusively as 'the stormy petrel of Indian cricket' or as 'the original rebel.' I would claim ignorance on either count. I also hastily add that these cliches might be used solely for the reason that they are so apt.

However a person's death means so many different things to different people. The use of a cliche puts all those responses under one blanket. Cricket, and its following, has always had a healthy amount of subjectivity involved.

What makes the responses of various cricketers ring less than true is a report that suggests that only three former Test cricketers attended Lala Amarnath's funeral. Cricketnext.com reports that R Surendranath, Yashpal Sharma and Gursharan Singh were the only three Test players in attendance. Everyone who is involved with Indian cricket knows that a sizable number of former Test cricketers live in Delhi. What everyone also knows is the number of former cricketers that turned out for the release of those controversial tapes by Manoj Prabhakar and tehelka.com. The number was considerably more than three.

At a time when journalism seems to focus so much on responses of celebrities to an event, it is sad that even a death has been reduced to this level. Although a group of former Test cricketers were keen to express their deepest sadness to televison programmes, websites and newspapers, only three thought it necessary to attend the funeral of Lala Amarnath.

What tribute could be more fitting than spending a couple of quiet moments at the man's funeral with head bowed in respect?