Mohun Bagan is a name synonmous with Indian football. The oldest existing association football club in India, and one of the oldest in Asia, has a very special moment of history to celebrate today, as does Indian football. It was on 29th July 1911, that Mohan Bagan beat British team East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1, to win the Indian Football Association Shield. It has been 112 years since the monumental event.
Mohun Bagan
The win also marked the first time an Indian or Asian Club had defeated a foreign team. The historic triumph was a matter of great privilege. It was the clarion call of a golden dream. Mohun Bagan had defeated heavyweight teams like St. Xavier¡¯s (3-0), Rangers (2-1), Rifle Brigade(1-0) & Middlesex Regiment(1-1;3-0) to reach the final. At this stage all the Bengali youths were rejuvenated with undaunted spirits.
Mohun Bagan
It was not any moment, rather it was an occasion that would change Bengal football forever. Thousands of people thronged from far away Patna, Purnia, Kishanganj, Assam & Dhaka to watch the match. The atmosphere was electric, and the crowd deafening. That is how newspapers like Times of India, and Pioneer, defined the episode.?
After Mohun Bagan come out trumps, the celebrations were huge. The crowds went berserk, and the noise hit the roof. The players were taken on a public procession atop a horse driven carriage. After 112 years, the moment still finds its significance in Indian football history. A feat weighed in gold.?
We talk of the Manchester Derby or the El Clasico, but halfway across the globe in the eastern part of India there is another football rivalry that draws fans to the stands in huge numbers.
The Kolkata Derby - played between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, has been the highlight of Indian football since time can remember.?
The main reason for the rivalry is that Bagan represents the Ghotis (those from the west) while Bengal represents the Bangals (those from the east).
Culturally, this derby is very similar to Scottish Premier League's Old Firm derby, since a majority of the Mohun Bagan supporters represent the 'nativist' population (similar to Rangers FC) and a majority of the East Bengal fans represent the 'immigrant' population (similar to Celtic FC).?
However, a lot of people having origin in Bangladesh also support Mohun Bagan as it is one of the oldest and most controversial football clubs in India.?