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Xtra Time Web Desk: 2021 year marks the golden jubilee of legendary singer Manna Dey’s classic, “Shob Khelaar Shera Bangalir Tumi football”. The Bengali number, shot on a local train, means, ‘You, football, are Bengal’s greatest sport ever’.

2021 also happens to be the 100th year since East Bengal and Mohun Bagan (rebranded in the Indian Super League as East Bengal and and Mohun Bagan  first locked horns in a ‘Kolkata Derby’ at the Cooch Behar Cup. However, this time, in 2024, the 100th derby between the two giants in the history of the Kolkata League is going to be held."

Much has changed in the state since then. India’s profoundly syncretic culture bore the brunt of a bloodied partition. Once prepollent Governments have dissipated into quiescence. Glass-facade skyscrapers have replaced age-old colonial architecture. Yellow ambassadors substituted horse-drawn carriages and tram cars, only to further make way for cab aggregators. Swanky shopping malls having taken over, even the neighbourhood mom-and-pop stores are long gone.

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There are, however, some aspects of the laid-back city, which have stood the test of time – the serpentine queues at a rickshaw stand, the distant echo of a harmonium being played in the sombre tunes of a Rabindra sangeet early morning, and the proverbial clamor of the fish market.

There is also the collective love of a dash of extra milk in one’s tea. Throw in some weighty political insights coupled with really colourful opinions on football and you have every Bengali at a roadside stall ever.

Interestingly enough, one would have already sworn his allegiance to a side, even before being born, for what they call the ‘Boro match’ , or the big football game! While the nativists called ‘Ghoti’ cheer for Mohun Bagan, the ‘Bangal’ , whose roots belong to the land of the Padma river, join the Red-and-Gold brigade.

No celebration is complete in this part of the world without good food. Thus, they even have different dishes to commemorate a win. While the Mariners (Mohun Bagan aficionados) enjoy Chingri (Prawns), an average East Bengal fan relishes the Ilish (Hilsa fish) on match days and after won the mega battle.

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The rivalry between these clubs, a South Asian footballing nonpareil, in any other year, on 13^th july would have been witnessed by a packed Salt Lake Stadium.

Facts for the fans

 *Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are one of the biggest rivalries in the football world.

*They have taken part in over 325 competitive matches, with East Bengal leading 128−118, with 121 draws at the time of writing.

*But in Kolkata League both team played 161 matches, red and gold leading by 55-47, with 59 draws

*Bhaichung Bhutia remains the highest scorer in the derby, with 19 goals.

*These teams first met in a 0−0 draw in the Cooch Behar Cup back on 8th August 1921.

*The two teams have fought for supremacy over iconic stadiums such as the Eden Gardens, Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal Ground and the Kanchenjunga Stadium.

*Largest goal margin? East Bengal thumped Mohun Bagan 5−0 on 29th September 1975 − a result that old time fans can never forget about.

*The derby is quite similar to the Old Firm Derby between Rangers and Celtic, where the former consists of the native population and the latter consists of the immigrant population.

Amid all the noise and hiostory, “Kolkata Derby, chilaam aachi thaakbo ,” says a fan. It roughly translates to: “Dear Kolkata Derby, we were and will always be there for you.”

His words remind one of Dey’s song again. “... naam awmor hoyeche Mohun Bagan, East Bengal.” The names of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have been immortalised in the annals of Indian football, goes the evergreen chorus.