104 Years Ago, Mohun Bagan's Real-Life Story of Lagaan Moment Changed Indian History. Here's Its Story.
Aamir Khans movie Lagaan is one of the landmark films in Indian cinema. It brilliantly captured the angst of the peasant farmers against the oppressive British empire. The story ends with the farmers winning the match thus freeing them from the tax and the British. However these events captured on reel took place in real life and it involved Mohun Bagan Football Club. The win changed the country in many ways and the freedom movement was given a n...Read More
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Is Lagaan Movie Based on Real Story?
Aamir Khan's movie Lagaan is one of the landmark films in Indian cinema. It brilliantly captured the angst of the peasant farmers against the oppressive British empire. In order to be free from taxes or Lagaan, the farmers agree to a cricket match against the British. The condition was that if the British won, they would impose three times the tax while a victory for the farmers would have seen them exempt from tax for three years. The story ends with the farmers winning the match thus freeing them from the tax and the British.
However, these events captured on reel took place in real life and it involved Mohun Bagan Football Club, one of the oldest football clubs in Asia. This is a fascinating story of how Mohun Bagan had their Lagaan moment on July 29, 1911.
Indian Express
The situation in Bengal was very tense at the start of the 20th century. Lord Curzon had partitioned Bengal in 1905 and there was tension everywhere. The independence movement had once again revived and the British were firmly on the backfoot. In this backdrop, there was a match between Mohun Bagan and the British Army's East Yorkshire Regiment and the result proceeded to change the entire landscape of India.
Mohun Bagan Football Club
Mohun Bagan, which was set up in 1889, was captained by Shibdas Bhaduri but the players were barefooted. In the match against the East Yorkshire Regiment played out in front of 80,000 fans, the East Yorkshire team scored first but Mohun Bagan's skipper equalised and the watershed moment came when Abhilash Ghosh capitalised on a pass from Bhaduri to net the winner. The crowd erupted and there were wild celebrations on the pitch. It started to rain and the realization sunk in. Mohun Bagan had become the first Indian team to win the IFA Shield Trophy.
Sportskeeda
The win changed the country in many ways. July 29 was celebrated as Mohun Bagan day and the freedom movement was given a new lease of life and intensity. The inspiration drawn from this win spread across the country and it prompted the British Media to pen down the sentiment in one line: "What the Congress failed to achieve, Mohun Bagan has". It has been 104 years since that glorious day, but the achievements of Mohun Bagan continue to stand the test of time.