Kolkata: Former CAB and The BCCI President Biswanath Dutta, one of the greatest mentors of Indian sports fraternity, breathed his last on Monday after suffering from acute lung infection.
He was The BCCI President in 1989 after a six-year stint as the Vice-President of the parent body from 1982-88.
He was 92. He is survived by his daughter and son, the Senior Vice-President of the AIFF Mr.Subrata Dutta.
One of the most revered administrators of Kolkata Maidan both in football and cricket, Biswanath Dutta is known to have played an instrumental role in getting a young Dalmiya under his aegis as a Cricket Association of Bengal treasurer in 1977.
In fact, Dalmiya till he was alive always acknowledged that he had learnt the ropes of cricket administration from Dutta.
Remembering how Dalmiya caught his attention in his first meeting at the Calcutta High Court in the early 1970s, he had said: “There was some dispute in the IFA first division league, and Dalmiya moved High Court challenging IFA’s decision. He was an outstanding speaker and he almost convinced the judge in their favour.”
However the relationship between mentor and his protege was soured during the 1990 BCCI elections when Dalmiya supported the candidature of senior Congress leader late Madhavrao Scindia.
In one of the most acrimonious BCCI elections to have been ever fought in Kolkata (the close second would be 2004), Scindia defeated him, who then retired from active sports administration.
But Dalmiya known for his legendary persuasive powers mend fences with his Guru during later years.
However, his influence in Kolkata maidan was unquestionable and legend has it that he at one point of time had influence over almost 30 clubs in the first and second division.