Amazing Story From 1911 When India Witnessed A Real-Life “Lagaan” Moment… In Football

Imagine India in 1911.

Lord Curzon had recently announced the partition of Bengal between East and West Bengal along Hindu and Muslim lines. When the whole country was fighting against the British and the movement was at its peak…

…THE SUCCESS OF MOHUN BAGAN in IFA SHIELD in 1911 is remembered as an eventful event in the social history of Indian sports.

Mohun Bagan’s barefooted Bengalis defeated the British Army’s East Yorkshire Regiment to win the Indian Football Association Shield. This IFA Shield victory of 1911 is one of the most commented upon events in Indian histories. This victory was much more than just the greatest day in the history of Indian football. It provided an inspiration to a movement which was gathering pace in India then.

Mohun Bagan, considered the national club of India, became the first Asian football club when it was set up in 1889 in Calcutta. On 29th July 1911, Mohun Bagan was up against the East Yorkshire Regiment, a major British team. Over 80,000 Indians had gathered in and around the stadium to witness the real-life Lagaan moment.

After drubbing St. Xavier’s College 3-0 in the first round, they defeated Rangers Football Club in the second round. A 1-0 win over Rifle Brigade secured a semi-final berth for Mohun Bagan, under the leadership of inspirational Shibdas Bhaduri.

The final was as exciting as any game played today by players who cost their clubs millions. Perhaps more, because Mohun Bagan played that day with one thing on their mind – FREEDOM.

Mohun Bagan captain Shibdas Bhaduri scored an equalizer after the British team drew first blood. Then with just two minutes to go from the final whistle, Abhilash Ghosh received a pass from the captain and scored the winner with a thunderous strike.

The ground erupted in celebration. It started to rain in shirts and shoes within the ground. Mohun Bagan became the first Indian team to lift the IFA Shield. Indian football was born on 29 July 1911, and at the same time it pumped the freedom movement with much-needed enthusiasm.

29th July came to be known as Mohun Bagan Day.

This victory was highly praised not only by the Indian media. The British media wrote, “What the Congress failed to achieve, Mohun Bagan has”.

This day is remembered, for the bare-footed warriors who gave direction to a freedom movement. Not only that, it also has a nationalist, social, cultural and economic significance in historical perspective.

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