Indian football has not had many reasons to be cheerful in recent times. The fortunes of the national team remain unsure. Sunil Chhetri, the men’s side’s record goal-scorer and talismanic leader, has recently retired from international football. However, in a remarkable display of unity, the fans of three of the most storied clubs in Indian football’s rich history - East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting - joined hands on Sunday to protest the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College.
It would be no exaggeration to say that the supporters involved in the protests went against the grain of over a century of fierce rivalry that is akin to tribalism. Some of them may have even violated family traditions - for those unfamiliar with the socio-political fabric of Kolkata, fandom of a particular club is also a cultural identity. But they knew they could lend their collective voice to a greater cause.
The local authorities, anticipating trouble during a derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan that was scheduled for Sunday, cancelled the match a day before. Yet, a sizable, vociferous crowd assembled outside Salt Lake Stadium’s gates in the evening. As the initial hundreds-strong crowd swelled beyond a thousand, the supporters exchanged clubs flags - regarded as ‘treason’ in normal times - sang songs and demanded justice for the family that had lost their daughter in the horrific tragedy.
Even as the police detained a few supporters, others joined in, most notably Mohun Bagan captain and India international, Subhasish Bose; All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey was also present. This was heartening to see at a time when some of India’s leading sportspersons have been accused of keeping quiet on a number of societal issues. India’s men’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, was also unequivocal.
“Educate your sons, your brothers, your father, your husband, and your friends,” he posted on Instagram. This may be an issue plaguing society at large, but Indian sport has also suffered it from a close distance. Over the past 20 months, the country’s leading wrestlers have been fighting their own battle off the mat. This is what sport can do if players and fans come together for a common cause. In this case, it was to use their platform in a powerful manner and demand accountability.