Glowing tributes to MA Chidambaram

The tributes came from far and wide. And from prominent personalities in fields as diverse as politics, sports, industry, music. But that was only to be expected considering the multi faceted personality that MA Chidambaram was.

Perhaps the most touching tribute came from Lala Amarnath. The former Indian captain had his skirmishes with officials but he had nothing but the highest praise for MAC. ``I bow my head in reverence to the departed soul,'' said Amarnath, now 88. MAC, as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, had played a prominent role in helping him during his benefit match in Mumbai in 1961.

Cricketers and administrators are traditionally at loggerheads but some of the best tributes to MAC came from players. From Amarnath to Polly Umrigar, from MAK Pataudi to BS Bedi, from S Venkatraghavan to Md Azharuddin, a string of notable former captains showered praise on MAC for his services to the game, for his dynamic qualities and for improving the finances of the Board.

In fact, speaking about MAC's interest in the welfare of the players, Umrigar recalled that it was during his tenure as Board president that the players started travelling by air. ``He was a thorough gentleman who cared a lot for the players,'' said Umrigar, now 73.

Other leading cricketing personalities to pay tribute included former Board presidents Madhavarao Scindia and Raj Singh Dungarpur, former Board secretary Ranbir Singh, current Board secretary Jaywant Lele, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association secretary Ashok Kumbhat, secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association Ranga Reddy, joint secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association Shivlal Yadav, former secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association PR Man Singh and double international MJ Gopalan.