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East Bengal and Mohun Bagan enjoy a heightened position in the pantheons of the Indian sports. Football is for them as much as they are for football. The clash between the two still draws a multitude that can hardly be challenged by any soccer match in the world. With two teams poised for the 287th meeting in the return leg derby of the Sahara CFL Premier Division on Sept 12, TWF correspondent Kushal Chakraborty looks into the factors that make Kolkata's football derby so special
Its poor rooting in the world ranking notwithstanding, India has made its position among the elites permanently for having one of the oldest and most followed derbies in the world. The meeting of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal has perpetuated a distinctive contest that in its appeal and character identifies with best in the world – be it London, Madrid, Milan or Rio. The clash between the giants of Kolkata still generates an attendance of around 100,000 underlining a massive support base that virtually divides the eastern metropolis, which has a population of around 15 million. Put on the measure of time the Mohun-East clash (as the derby has come to be called over the years) is poised to celebrating its centenary. Its timelessness is nourished by a fervor that continues undiminished, much in the same strain when the duel began – on May 28, 1925.
The clash – all of 83 years and 286 matches old – represents a battle of class, culture and credo. Unlike any other sport football in the city is born of and is sustained by a sociological conflict – fired by the cohabiting of peoples of separate geographical roots. It first emerged as a rebellion against the aggressors – the British imperialism – and later it was taken over by the ethnic discord. In its long journey through time the unique footballing contest has thrived on the support of the two Bengali communities, which have nurtured their cultural differences though remaining united in their love for football.
Drawing its partisan spirit from the latent ethnic disparity the attendance during the matches oscillated with the fluctuating fortunes of the teams. In a throwback to the initial days of the rivalry the last encounter (on August 5, 2008) between the two sides at the giant Salt Lake Stadium saw Mohun Bagan supporters outnumbering those of East Bengal. The fans were responding to the possibility of Mohun Bagan beating East Bengal for the sixth consecutive occasion – a record so far enjoyed by the latter. Mohun Bagan did equal the record thereby sparking a race for a new mark.
Mohun Bagan fans had thronged in big numbers in the first encounter in 1925. But East Bengal grew in stature gradually swelling the attendance of its supporters. By the 1970s it was overwhelmingly East Bengal. The team went on to create a record of winning the Calcutta Football League – definitely one of the oldest football leagues in the world (being instituted in 1898) – title for six continuous years. The high point of East Bengal's dominance came on September 30, 1975, when it defeated Mohun Bagan by a record 5-0 margin. An overflowing crowd of around 30,000 – mostly East Bengal supporters – crammed into the Mohun Bagan ground, which had a seating capacity much less than the actual turnout. With Mohun Bagan's performance failing to meet its supporters' expectations, the attendance during this period dwindled considerably. The later years saw Mohun Bagan getting back into form and the matches started recording good attendance on both sides. In another instance the Federation Cup semifinal on July 13, 1997 saw the giant Salt Lake Stadium brimming with almost 1,20,000 spectators. It was result of an unprecedented hype and mania fomented by the duel of the two celebrated coaches – Amal Dutta (Mohun Bagan ) and P.K. Banerjee (East Bengal). East Bengal won the match 4-1 with its striker Baichung Bhutia scoring the first and the only derby hattrick so far.
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause that sparked this rivalry. But it is told that East Bengal was founded to rebel against the discrimination of players coming from the eastern parts of the erstwhile-undivided Bengal (pre 1947). Though the protest was aimed against the management of Jorabagan Club but the rivalry shifted over to Mohun Bagan, which projected itself as the epitome of aristocracy and as such the bearer of the best of Bengali culture.
In their quest for supremacy the clubs built up legends around prominent wins of the respective teams. Mohun Bagan, being the forerunner in terms of age (established in 1889), treasures its 1911 IFA Shield triumph against the English side East Yorkshire Regiment. That was the first ever title win by any Indian team in the history of football. It thus became a part of the pantheon of Indian freedom movement. The victory on the football field came to symbolise the natives' uprising against its English rulers. On the other hand East Bengal (established in 1920) fans boast of their teams victories against foreign sides, which fairly outnumbers what its rival could attain.
Like the derbies all over the word, the Indian version too has it darker side in terms of fan violence. The worst among these was the one on August 16,1980 when 16 people were killed in a stampede at the Eden Gardens Stadium, which then was a multi-discipline venue.
These two clubs are credited for their role in attracting big-time sponsors in Indian soccer. The clubs leave no effort in wrapping up the best footballers of the country. And the two, especially East Bengal, also lead the field in importing foreign players. To earn a place in the team is more difficult for a player. He is judged by his ability to withstand the pressure more than his skills.
"The rivalry between the sides is good for the country as the two clubs have been contributing a significant number of players in the national team," says former international Aloke Mukherjee. Krishanu Dey, one of the finest midfielders of the country who met with an untimely end a few year ago, had once said, "the colours of the East Bengal works as a great source of inspiration whenever we take on Mohun Bagan."
For die-hard Mohun Bagan player and former India captain Subrata Bhattacharjee the club jersey worked an inexplicable charm on player. It is not only the players but also the coaches and the club offcials who wholeheartedly contribute in keeping alive the intense rivalry between the two. Legendary P.K Banerjee, who successfully coached both the teams at different times, says it is the intense rivalry between two sides that lent an added vitality to Indian football. "The rivalry fired superlative performances from many players. The good form also helped the national team, which was dominated by players picked from both the teams," he remarked on various occasions.
Eight decades on and looking at a tri-century, the most celebrated duel of Indian football is moving towards attaining a new high. This phenomenon has pitifully missed a challenger in the country. There has been an emerging trend in Goa where some upcoming supporter-based teams are showing possibility of the country's second football derby. Till it happens East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will continue to enjoy the pride of place in Indian soccer no matter what their performances are.
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