Babu Moshay is what easily connects one to Calcutta and Bengalis. One more thing that easily connects one to Calcutta is their love for sports. Cricket lives in each and every pada (locality) of this city. People are crazy about this game here. The sight of a man in his 50s walking with transistors to get the score update brings back those golden memories of 1980s. Dada is still loved by the people equally if not more than Sachin. Believe me, there are thousands of people who miss those lofted shots of Dada against the left arm orthodox. They back Knight Riders team every season they take the ground in golden jerseys. To the fans’ delight, most wonderful stadium in India finds it home at Calcutta – “The Eden Gardens” – situated on the banks of Hooghly between two sister bridges. Watching a day & night cricket match live at Edens is out of the world experience. Simply outstanding! Wo shamaa kuch aur hota hai, jab Eden me dudhiya match hota hai!
While cricket is the most passionate sport amongst people over here, football is no less. Perhaps, the only metro city in India where people play professional football to this extent. That the Calcutta Football League (CFL) is the oldest league in Asia would come as a surprise to many. That the city has hundreds of football clubs would appeal to the fans who want India to do well at the international level. Mohan Bagan and East Bengal are the famous clubs and Salk Lake Stadium at EM Bypass is a famous venue for football matches. If you happen to stay at Calcutta for a reasonable period of time, you ought to develop the soft corner for Brazil and Argentina, not to mention why.
Their love for sports is evident from the fact that they have pada-level clubs across the city. They watch matches together at the clubs. They analyze each and every match like an expert – be it football, cricket or tennis. They play Carrom Board at colleges, clubs and homes. They play tennis and badminton too. Their joy has not limitations when Leander Paes keeps on winning those doubles title. They get greatly disheartened when team India loses a match. They get equally upset when Brazil gets defeated. They maintain the legacy of sports month on month, year on year, decade on decade. They embrace the heroes, they crucify the heroes, but the game wins at the end. It never gets better anywhere else!
While cricket is the most passionate sport amongst people over here, football is no less. Perhaps, the only metro city in India where people play professional football to this extent. That the Calcutta Football League (CFL) is the oldest league in Asia would come as a surprise to many. That the city has hundreds of football clubs would appeal to the fans who want India to do well at the international level. Mohan Bagan and East Bengal are the famous clubs and Salk Lake Stadium at EM Bypass is a famous venue for football matches. If you happen to stay at Calcutta for a reasonable period of time, you ought to develop the soft corner for Brazil and Argentina, not to mention why.
Their love for sports is evident from the fact that they have pada-level clubs across the city. They watch matches together at the clubs. They analyze each and every match like an expert – be it football, cricket or tennis. They play Carrom Board at colleges, clubs and homes. They play tennis and badminton too. Their joy has not limitations when Leander Paes keeps on winning those doubles title. They get greatly disheartened when team India loses a match. They get equally upset when Brazil gets defeated. They maintain the legacy of sports month on month, year on year, decade on decade. They embrace the heroes, they crucify the heroes, but the game wins at the end. It never gets better anywhere else!
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2 comments:
Oh yes, passion defines Calcutta in most things and certainly in sports. Avid followers and very knowledgeable.Unfortunately the passion stops at following - rarely in playing.
@ Ramesh - true, do not why but they run out of gas after a brief period of time... Talking of cricket, they have done so good at Ranji level but hardly anyone does better at national level...
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