February 26, 2005. News got out that Ian Colquhoun, the springy Central Districts and New Zealand wicketkeeper, had passed away. The immensely popular Colquhoun’s funeral, hosted at Palmerston North Boys High School, was attended by about a thousand people — but the biggest surprise came when they performed a haka in memory of Colquhoun, the man who had played Hawke Cup for Manawatu, played for Otago, and made it to the All Blacks trials before becoming a successful teacher and coach. Abhishek Mukherjee reflects on the life of a near-forgotten man.