CALCUTTA (India): Indian football clubs have had remained unaffected from the influence of political parties and its leaders in stark contrast to the teams in Europe, Africa and in even some Asian countries.
None of the teams in the country had ever carry any ideologies — left, right or centre-right — but the current political battle on issues like National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) has encouraged a right-wing political party to use the East Bengal club platform to woo the people in the state.
East Bengal was formed on August 1, 1920 on the basis of bias and bigotry towards the players hailing from Eastern part of the erstwhile Bengal Presidency in the Jora Bagan Club.
Since then, all the immigrants who have made India their home after the Partition in 1947 and Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 have a special connection to East Bengal club owing up to their migrant roots, which forms the majority fan base of the club.
“Give-and-take” policy between club and political party
The party’s agenda is to help the club find sponsors among other things, and garner support of their fans on the burning NRC issue.
In return, the party has even promised to arrange investors for the club, who are currently hit hard by several issues including the likely pullout of their sponsors from next season.
Sociologists believe that political parties or politicians establishing their clout through sports is nothing new as it’s a “give-and-take” understanding between the club and political party.
“The political parties want to associate themselves with the club or federation to establish their clout. The political influence boosts the club to land sponsors and other benefits,” Susnat Das, former sociology professor at the Calcutta University, told Khel Updates on Friday.
But Das warned that such a collaboration can also create a backlash among the club’s supporters.
“The association of politics and sports is nothing new. But it shouldn’t convey wrong messages to the society. Fans do have their own and different liking for other political parties. He or she may not support the ideology of the party which is forging a tie-up. This will hurt the club’s fan base,” added Das.
The party through its representative in West Bengal has already sounded out their intention to help the ailing club, who are currently fighting relegation in the 2019-20 I-League.
‘Rakta Diye Kina Mati, Kagaz Diye Noy ‘
However, the East Bengal fans had given the NRC a big thumbs down at the I-League match against Mohun Bagan on January 19 at the Salt Lake stadium.
The fans displayed a giant banner to protest against NRC and Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) as a massive 63,756 fans watched the city Derby.
The innovative display read in Bengali: “Rakta Diye Kina Mati, Kagaz Diye Noy (A paper cannot replace a land acquired through blood).”
Another display showed Batul the Great, a popular superhero Bengali comic strip character created by Narayan Debnath to protest against NRC and CAA.
A senior East Bengal official felt that the club won’t bow to any political party.
“I do not think the club will take help from any political party. It’s a decision that has to be taken the club’s executive committee, but I’m sure the EC will not play to their (political party) hands,” he said.
Politics, economics, or even art and culture is reflected through sport and football pitch is a microcosm of life itself.
“If the political party has a genuine love for the game, then it’s fine. But if it has a hidden desire to build his image or secure a vote bank by using the club’s platform then it won’t be a good advertisement for the sport,” said football historian Dr Ujjawal Roy.
Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan were patronized by ministers
Interestingly, clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal were patronized by some ministers in the then Communist Party of India (Marxist) led West Bengal government including high-profile ministers Subhas Chakraborty, Somnath Chatterjee and Jatin Chakraborty.
Subrata Mukherjee, current cabinet minister in the state government, is among one of the ‘top-ranked’ fans of Mohun Bagan.
Another century-old club Mohammedan Sporting, who are struggling to revive their past glories, have used the political tool to woo the Muslim leaders in the respective Left-Front and Trinamool Congress governments.
In fact, the late Sultan Ahmed, who was a sitting Member of Parliament, was the first political leader to be the club’s secretary general and president.
Former East Bengal stars and India internationals Biswajit Bhattacharya and Bikash Panji doesn’t see any wrong in such a partnership.
“The club isn’t in good shape. They’re in crisis. If any political party can help them to bring investors through their network, East Bengal will gain,” said Bhattacharya, who had played and coached the red and gold side.
Political parties around the world has always chosen the playground to influence the common people.
“Any help is welcome. The club needs fund. There’s absolutely no problem if the political party offers help to find sponsors for next season and thereafter,” said Panji, who played for East Bengal from 1985 to 1991 and then again in 1994.
