VSK TN
Here is the untold story of the barefoot Bengalis who
beat a British football team to become national icons way before the
Non-Cooperation Movement!
How many of us know
of a football match in which an Indian team shattered the arrogance of the
British Raj? In a story that is reminiscent of the landmark movie Lagaan,
Mohun Bagan defeated East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 in the IFA Shield final in
1911 — a time when the nationalistic movement was raging on in the country!
of a football match in which an Indian team shattered the arrogance of the
British Raj? In a story that is reminiscent of the landmark movie Lagaan,
Mohun Bagan defeated East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 in the IFA Shield final in
1911 — a time when the nationalistic movement was raging on in the country!
Here is the untold story of the barefoot Bengalis who
beat a British football team to become national icons way before the
Non-Cooperation Movement!
The year was 1910.
In September, legendary Indian pehalwan Great Gama defeated Poland’s
Stanislaus Zbyszko to be declared the world champion in freestyle wrestling.
For the British, this victory was an occasion to celebrate as they considered
it the triumph of a British subject over an uppity wrestler from Europe.
In September, legendary Indian pehalwan Great Gama defeated Poland’s
Stanislaus Zbyszko to be declared the world champion in freestyle wrestling.
For the British, this victory was an occasion to celebrate as they considered
it the triumph of a British subject over an uppity wrestler from Europe.
Little did they know
that their own arrogance would soon be challenged in a sport they didn’t quite
expect the “natives” to match them at Football.
that their own arrogance would soon be challenged in a sport they didn’t quite
expect the “natives” to match them at Football.
In 1911, Mohun Bagan
Athletic Club was invited to play in the prestigious Indian Football Association
(IFA) Shield. Coached by the disciplinarian Sailen Basu, Kolkata’s oldest
Indian football club had already gained a remarkable reputation and was
considered the club that spoke for the country.
Athletic Club was invited to play in the prestigious Indian Football Association
(IFA) Shield. Coached by the disciplinarian Sailen Basu, Kolkata’s oldest
Indian football club had already gained a remarkable reputation and was
considered the club that spoke for the country.
Mohun Bagan accepted
the invitation and went on to have a great run in the tournament, ultimately
reaching the final in top form. But to win the trophy they had pass their
toughest test yet.
the invitation and went on to have a great run in the tournament, ultimately
reaching the final in top form. But to win the trophy they had pass their
toughest test yet.
In the final, the
eleven barefooted Indian players faced the far-better trained and booted East
Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army. Back then, a pair of boots didn’t cost
less than Rs 7 (an average schoolteacher’s monthly salary).
eleven barefooted Indian players faced the far-better trained and booted East
Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army. Back then, a pair of boots didn’t cost
less than Rs 7 (an average schoolteacher’s monthly salary).
Unsurprisingly, the
build-up to this game was unprecedented – scores of Indians travelled to
Kolkata via train from outlying districts and neighbouring states. In fact,
such was the demand that the East Indian Railway ran a special train and
additional steamer services were used to ferry spectators to the ground.
build-up to this game was unprecedented – scores of Indians travelled to
Kolkata via train from outlying districts and neighbouring states. In fact,
such was the demand that the East Indian Railway ran a special train and
additional steamer services were used to ferry spectators to the ground.
On the day of the
match, the Calcutta Football Ground was jam-packed with spectators who numbered
between 80000 to 100000. People watched from treetops, telegraph posts and
terraces of houses.
match, the Calcutta Football Ground was jam-packed with spectators who numbered
between 80000 to 100000. People watched from treetops, telegraph posts and
terraces of houses.
For those who didn’t
have a good view, an ingenious method was devised to keep them informed of the
scores— kites would be flown with the club’s colours and the score written on
them.
have a good view, an ingenious method was devised to keep them informed of the
scores— kites would be flown with the club’s colours and the score written on
them.
The Indians knew that this was no ordinary football
match, it was an opportunity to show up the British Raj at its own game.
Amidst
this highly charged atmosphere, the match began on July 29, 1911. To the great
disappointment of the Indians, it was Sergeant Jackson of East Yorkshire
Regiment who scored first. With just 15 minutes left in the match, the Indian
side of the stadium plunged into gloom.
this highly charged atmosphere, the match began on July 29, 1911. To the great
disappointment of the Indians, it was Sergeant Jackson of East Yorkshire
Regiment who scored first. With just 15 minutes left in the match, the Indian
side of the stadium plunged into gloom.
The mood changed abruptly when Mohun Bagan skipper Shibdas Bhaduri
equalised the scores immediately afterwards. And as the clock ticked towards
the end of the match, centre-forward Abhilash Ghosh scored the winning goal to
make it 2-1.
equalised the scores immediately afterwards. And as the clock ticked towards
the end of the match, centre-forward Abhilash Ghosh scored the winning goal to
make it 2-1.
It took few minutes before the scene sunk in and reality
dawned on the delirious crowd – Mohun Bagan had just defeated a British team to
become the first Indian team to lift the coveted IFA Shield!
dawned on the delirious crowd – Mohun Bagan had just defeated a British team to
become the first Indian team to lift the coveted IFA Shield!
Chronicled in
newspapers across both India and the world (including British newspapers such
as the Times, Daily Mail and the Manchester Guardian), Mohun
Bagan’s historic victory transformed them overnight into national icons.
newspapers across both India and the world (including British newspapers such
as the Times, Daily Mail and the Manchester Guardian), Mohun
Bagan’s historic victory transformed them overnight into national icons.
“May God bless the
Immortal Eleven of Mohan Bagan for raising their nation in the estimation of
the Western people,” rhapsodized the Amrita Bazar Patrika (More than a century
later, that team is still fondly remembered as “The Immortal Eleven”)
Immortal Eleven of Mohan Bagan for raising their nation in the estimation of
the Western people,” rhapsodized the Amrita Bazar Patrika (More than a century
later, that team is still fondly remembered as “The Immortal Eleven”)
Reuters News Agency
noted in its cablegram dated July 30, 1911 to England, “..the scene beggared
description, the Bengalis tearing off their shirts and waving them..”.
noted in its cablegram dated July 30, 1911 to England, “..the scene beggared
description, the Bengalis tearing off their shirts and waving them..”.
“The members of the
Muslim Sporting Club were almost mad and rolling on the ground with joyous
excitement on the victory of their Hindu brethren”, wrote the Mussalman.
Muslim Sporting Club were almost mad and rolling on the ground with joyous
excitement on the victory of their Hindu brethren”, wrote the Mussalman.
The Times of
India reported: ‘On Thursday and Friday, every Bengalee carried his head
high. And the one theme of conversation in the tramcars, in offices and in
those places where the babus congregate most, was the rout of the King’s
soldiers in boots and shoes by barefooted Bengalee lads.”
India reported: ‘On Thursday and Friday, every Bengalee carried his head
high. And the one theme of conversation in the tramcars, in offices and in
those places where the babus congregate most, was the rout of the King’s
soldiers in boots and shoes by barefooted Bengalee lads.”
The Englishman’s
summed up the win’s political importance in one line: “Mohun Bagan has
succeeded in what the Congress and the swadeshiwallas have failed to do
so far — to explode the myth that the Britishers are unbeatable in any sphere
of life.”
summed up the win’s political importance in one line: “Mohun Bagan has
succeeded in what the Congress and the swadeshiwallas have failed to do
so far — to explode the myth that the Britishers are unbeatable in any sphere
of life.”
In fact, such was
the impression left by Mohun Bagan’s barefooted ball control that some
Europeans were compelled to comment that “only in India does one get to see
real football; everywhere else, bootball predominates”.
the impression left by Mohun Bagan’s barefooted ball control that some
Europeans were compelled to comment that “only in India does one get to see
real football; everywhere else, bootball predominates”.
The triumph also
established Kolkata as the nerve centre of football in India and laid the
foundation for the city’s long-lasting love affair with football. In fact, in
the years to come, iconic Indian footballer Chuni Goswami would turn down an
offer to play for English side Tottenham Hotspur in favour of Mohun Bagan.
established Kolkata as the nerve centre of football in India and laid the
foundation for the city’s long-lasting love affair with football. In fact, in
the years to come, iconic Indian footballer Chuni Goswami would turn down an
offer to play for English side Tottenham Hotspur in favour of Mohun Bagan.
More importantly,
the historic win shattered imperial arrogance at a time when Bengal was aflame
with anger and agitation against the Raj’s decision to partition the province
six years earlier. As noted sports historian Boria Majumdar wrote in 2013,
“Mohun Bagan had become synonymous with the national battle cry for Vande
Mataram.”
the historic win shattered imperial arrogance at a time when Bengal was aflame
with anger and agitation against the Raj’s decision to partition the province
six years earlier. As noted sports historian Boria Majumdar wrote in 2013,
“Mohun Bagan had become synonymous with the national battle cry for Vande
Mataram.”
With the victory
firing the imagination of the whole nation, the Swadeshi movement gained
momentum. And finally, on December 11, 1911, the British Raj bowed to the
movement and rescinded the partition of Bengal.
firing the imagination of the whole nation, the Swadeshi movement gained
momentum. And finally, on December 11, 1911, the British Raj bowed to the
movement and rescinded the partition of Bengal.
In fact, such was
the public sentiment associated with Mohun Bagan’s victory that a local story
went that the Union Jack fluttering over Fort William (the British headquarters
in Calcutta) would come down only once Bagan won the Shield again.
Intriguingly, it did prove true: the celebrated club won the IFA Shield next in
1947.
the public sentiment associated with Mohun Bagan’s victory that a local story
went that the Union Jack fluttering over Fort William (the British headquarters
in Calcutta) would come down only once Bagan won the Shield again.
Intriguingly, it did prove true: the celebrated club won the IFA Shield next in
1947.
Interestingly, few
Indians know that Mahatma Gandhi was a huge football aficionado and had even
used the sport to spread his ideas. Sometime during his two-decade stay in
South Africa (1893-1915), Gandhi started three football clubs (in Durban,
Johannesburg and Pretoria) that were all named Passive Resisters Soccer Club!
Indians know that Mahatma Gandhi was a huge football aficionado and had even
used the sport to spread his ideas. Sometime during his two-decade stay in
South Africa (1893-1915), Gandhi started three football clubs (in Durban,
Johannesburg and Pretoria) that were all named Passive Resisters Soccer Club!