Abhijit Sarkar – The emotional journey of India’s new U-17 hero

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Gopal Roy, Bandel: Famous Canadian singer song-writer Felicia Dobson, commonly known as Fefe Dobson, once said, “The things that drive me are poverty, and pain, and knowing that I don’t want to end up being alone and I want to do something with my life and I want the name Dobson to remain in everyone’s heads. Basically, just to rock and be the best performer I can be, and be true, and be real, and give people the real Fefe, nothing fake, all real.”

India’s new hero of the U-17 national football team, Abhijit Sarkar’s journey to become a footballer has been such a story which would bring tears in anyone’s eyes. A real and not reel script which can throw challenges to any motivational film on the silver screen. But when dedication meets dream and tenacity, the battle against poverty, food, education & infrastructure becomes a cake-walk.

Abhijit’s father Haren Sarkar is a van-rickshaw driver by profession and his mother Aloka Sarkar binds biri, which is a cheap cigarette industry in West Bengal. Keota Hemanta Basu Colony’s resident Abhijit’s father goes to Chawkbazaar of Bandel around 3am in the morning everyday to purchase fish and he sells that to the nearby Chinsurah market with a profit of hardly Rs.200-250 daily. His mother hardly earns 25 rupees a day to live their livelihood of utmost poverty.

The Indian football fans might show their gratitude towards late Brazilian legend Carlos Alberto as well who planted that illusive dream in Abhijit’s eyes to become a footballer. The Brazilian legend, when he came to Kolkata for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, presented a red football to the little Abhijit and said, “Live your life with it. Every night, when you will sleep, this football should be your companion.” Since then, the ball has become an indispensable part of Abhijit Sarkar’s life. The young kid who used to struggle to get a pair of boots and jersey, started playing football with his friends from the age of five years. But it was the Bengali trial for the U-13 boys which changed his life. Since then there was no stopping for Abhijit.

His childhood coach Ashoke Mondal is still unmarried. He used to work in a pen manufacturing company and lost his job. He runs toto-rickshaw to satisfy his dreams to help the poor kids who want to become footballers in future. He too sacrificed his life to help Abhijit to chase his dream by purchasing jersey and boots for him. The moment www.xtratime.in correspondent asked his feelings as his student scored against Italy for the national team, his voice got choked in emotion, joy and pride. He just said, “My Abhijit, my dream is on your hands. I have lost my words to express how glad I am.”

Abhijit is a diehard Mohun Bagan fan and his father is an ardent East Bengal fan. He completed his Madhyamik examination in Goa during his camp for the U15 National team.

Abhijit’s scored a memorable goal against Italy last night and made a video call to his cousin around 9:30 at night to speak to his parents. His father was saying, “I just want to see my kid to glitter the name of the nation, our state. He has tremendous determination to go the distance. The zeal speaks for him that he will earn the place in the first XI in the world cup and show the world what he is capable of.” He added, “My dream to see him playing the world cup in naked eyes unfortunately won’t be fulfilled as they will play their matches in New Delhi and Guwahati. But my blessing will keep him going throughout.”

Abhijit’s mother was crying like a baby in pride and emotion as she said, “You know, he told me that he dedicated the goal to me. My eyes became wet. I was crying. He was saying, Maa, this goal is for you, this goal is for all the battle you have fought for me.” A deep sigh, a sigh of believing the dream his son has achieved. She just said, “Let him come back, I will cook all the fish curry and fish items he loves to eat.” A mother knows how tough the journey has been, “We have worked so hard to see him there, but he works harder than us, just to see us smiling.”

India might do well in the world cup, they might not. But one thing for sure, this boy is ready to fight for the tri-colour with the eyes which hate to lose.