Apart from the literary figure of the universal poet Rabindranath Tagore, very few Bengalis are familiar with his footballing passion. Although, his association with two sports is not unknown to some people. But the story of the poet's soul attraction with the centuries-old Red and Gold brigade tent of Kolkata is an unspeakable episode of his colourful life. Surya Chakraborty was one of the legendary players who played in the Leslie Claudius series in the early 20th century. In the year 1927, the responsibility of captaining the East Bengal Club fell on his shoulders. This incomparable right-in footballer of India rocked the Calcutta grounds for ten consecutive years wearing the East Bengal jersey. In 1929, when his alma mater club was relegated from the First Division of the Calcutta League to the Second Division for the second time, Surya Chakraborty almost single-handedly restored the glory of club football.
The Former EB Captain Surya Chakraborty and the Tagore
Kaichal village of Vikrampur in Dhaka, the present capital city of Bangladesh, was the witness of his childhood and teenage life. As we turn the pages of history, Ravi Thakur, a journeyman from Tripura, met his father, Lalitmohan Chakraborty, a renowned lawyer from Comilla. In the middle of the conversation, Tagore got to know about the passion of Surya Chakraborty, lawyer’s son, for playing football, and ordered Lalitmohan to send his son to Santiniketan. At that time Surya Chakraborty, footballer of Wonders Club of Dhaka, moved to Santiniketan as per Rabindranath Tagore's instructions without delay. Incidentally, at that time footballers from Dhaka's two famous sports clubs, Wonders and Wari Club, came to play in various clubs in Kolkata. A new chapter of Surya Chakraborty's playing career began when he came to Santiniketan. Along with his studies, he started playing football regularly in Kaviguru's football team named 'Vishwabharati XI'. Within a few days Rabindranath became mesmerized by the magic wand of his feet. Kaviguru used to send Surya Chakraborty to Jorasanko in Calcutta during the summer holidays. Rabindranath Tagore also arranged for his permanent stay there. In the presence of Kaviguru, football friendly matches were organized at Santiniketan. Various traditional clubs or college teams of Calcutta were invited to play those matches with the Bharti XI. Surya Chakraborty's football prowess forced Ravi Thakur to decide to play him in Kolkata's big team within a few days. Rabindranath is said to have been the catalyst behind the team captain, who played in the East Bengal jersey for ten consecutive years, joining Dukheeram Majumdar's football training centre. As instructed, Surya Chakraborty started training at Arians Club under Majumdar Babu.
Rabindranath’s magnificent role in taking Paritosh Chakraborty as EB Captain
Another such exciting incident is the latent role of Rabindranath Tagore behind the imposition of the red-yellow jersey on the one-time captain of the East Bengal Club Paritosh Chakraborty in the forties. From 1942 to 1949, Paritosh Chakraborty played football with power for the red-yellow army for seven consecutive years. He holds the record for the club's first Shield win and the IFA Shield and League wins in the same season. The 6-foot-3 inch Red-and-Gold defensive player studied at Kolkata's Bangabasi College in the 1930s. His name was regularly on the college football team list. At some point in 1935, he wrote a letter addressed to the Principal of Rabindranath Tagore College himself. The subject of which was an invitation to play a friendly football match with the 'Vishwabharati XI' of Santiniketan. The letter also mentioned Rabindranath's familiarity with the reputation of the Bengali college players. Bangabasi College won the friendly match by 1-0 goal difference. The players took to the field with the blessings of Tagore. And at the end of the match, the winner handed over Gitanjali wrapped in silk cloth to the footballers of Bangabasi College as a gift. Rabindranath Tagore was surprised by the game of Paritosh Chakraborty, a member of that team of Bangabasi College, and blessed him.
Rabindranath did not confine himself only to prose-poetry-drama, but also in the field of sports. His talent haunting eyes could easily spot the contemporary genius players.
