On August 1, 1920, in the bustling colonial city of Calcutta (now Kolkata), a group of visionary sports enthusiasts gathered in a small meeting room on Kripa Nath Lane to lay the foundations of a football club that would go on to become an enduring symbol of cultural pride and sporting excellence: East Bengal Club. Born amid simmering tensions in India’s early football landscape, the club’s creation was more than a sporting endeavor—it was a bold assertion of identity for a marginalized community, etched into the fabric of South Asian football history.
The Catalyst: A Controversy That Sparked Revolution
The story of East Bengal’s birth is rooted in a dispute that exposed deep-seated inequities in colonial-era Indian football. In 1920, Jorabagan Club, one of Calcutta’s prominent teams, was set to face off against the British Army’s Durham Light Infantry in a high-stakes match. At the center of the controversy was Sailesh Bose, Jorabagan’s star defender and a revered figure among players of East Bengali origin (from the region now part of Bangladesh). Despite his talent, Bose was abruptly dropped from the lineup, a decision widely seen as discriminatory—fueled by biases against players from East Bengal, who were often sidelined in favor of those from West Bengal or British-backed elites.
The snub outraged Suresh Chandra Chaudhuri, Jorabagan’s vice-president and a passionate advocate for East Bengali representation. Refusing to accept the injustice, Chaudhuri rallied like-minded allies: Raja Manmatha Nath Chaudhuri, a respected lawyer; Ramesh Chandra Sen, a businessman; and Aurobinda Ghosh, a sports administrator. Together, they resolved to create a club where East Bengali players would never be marginalized—a space where their skills, heritage, and aspirations would be celebrated, not suppressed.
The Founding Moment: Unity in Purpose
On that sweltering August afternoon, the founding members formalized their vision. They named the club “East Bengal” to honor the ancestral homeland of its core supporters—migrants from the eastern regions of Bengal (now Bangladesh) who had settled in Calcutta for work and opportunity. For these communities, the club became more than a team; it was a bridge to their roots, a rallying point in a city where they often felt like outsiders.
Sarada Ranjan Roy, principal of Vidyasagar College, was appointed the first president, bringing academic gravitas to the fledgling institution. The club’s early colors—red and gold—were chosen to symbolize courage (red) and prosperity (gold), reflecting the hopes of a community striving for recognition. Its emblem, a hand holding a torch, embodied the mission to “carry the flame” of East Bengali pride forward.
Early Struggles and Swift Triumphs
East Bengal’s first decade was marked by grit and rapid ascent. Within 10 days of its founding, the club fielded a team in the Hercules Cup, a local seven-a-side tournament, and won it convincingly—a statement of intent that sent ripples through Calcutta’s football circles. By 1921, they joined the second division of the Calcutta Football League, earning promotion to the top flight by 1925.
These early successes were hard-fought. The club relied on community donations to fund kits and travel, with players—many of whom were laborers or clerks—training after work in dusty fields. Yet their passion transcended resource constraints. In 1939, East Bengal claimed their first major trophy, the IFA Shield, defeating Mohammedan Sporting Club in a final still remembered as a “triumph of the underdogs.”
A Cultural Phenomenon Beyond Football
East Bengal’s significance soon extended far beyond the pitch. In a city divided along regional lines, the club became a unifying force for East Bengali migrants. Its matches against Mohun Bagan, Calcutta’s other iconic club (with strong ties to West Bengali identity), evolved into the “Kolkata Derby”—a clash so intense it drew crowds of over 100,000, dwarfing even cricket matches in a nation obsessed with the sport.
The derby was more than a game; it was a cultural spectacle. Fans painted their faces in red and gold, sang folk songs from East Bengal, and waved flags emblazoned with the club’s torch. For many, victory in the derby was a validation of their place in Calcutta’s social fabric. As historian Rupak Saha noted, “East Bengal didn’t just play football—they carried the weight of a community’s longing for respect.”
Legacy: A Century of Resilience
Over the decades, East Bengal solidified its status as a powerhouse. They dominated domestic competitions, winning 39 Calcutta League titles, 29 IFA Shields, and 3 National Football League crowns. In 2003, they made history as the first Indian club to win the ASEAN Club Championship, defeating BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand in the final.
Yet their true legacy lies in their role as a cultural institution. Through the trauma of Partition (1947), which split Bengal into India and East Pakistan (later Bangladesh), East Bengal became a lifeline for displaced families, offering a sense of continuity amid upheaval. Even today, the club’s fanbase spans borders, with supporters in Bangladesh and the global Bengali diaspora cheering for the “Red and Golds.”
Conclusion
The establishment of East Bengal Club on August 1, 1920, was a pivotal moment in Indian football—a story of defiance, community, and the transformative power of sport. What began as a reaction to injustice grew into a symbol of pride, uniting generations around a shared love for the game and a longing for belonging. As the club enters its second century, its torch continues to burn bright, a testament to the enduring spirit of those who dared to dream in a small room in Calcutta, a century ago.
