15/11/1947 - MOHUN BAGAN'S SECOND IFA SHIELD WIN | MBFT

ON THIS DAY
MOHUN BAGAN'S SECOND SHIELD WIN

Mohun Bagan's 1911 Shield triumph added more fuel to the fire of Indian nationalism and the ongoing Swadeshi movement. However, the club had to wait 36 long years to win the shield again.

This 36-year that Mohun Bagan experienced was quite a roller coaster. It was during this time that many of the club's great players wore green and maroon. The team had the thrill of winning their first CFL championship, but IFA Shield remained unachieved. However, the club played three shield finals in the meantime—first in 1923, when Mohun Bagan lost the final against Calcutta Club, then in 1940, when the defeat came against Aryan Club. In 1945 again, Mohun Bagan reached the final of the tournament and lost it to East Bengal by a solitary goal from Fred Pagsali.

Sarat, Sibdas's successor:

Sarat Chandra Das, who was born on June 11th, 1916, in Suita, a small district of Guwahati, Assam, joined Mohun Bagan in 1941 from Maharana Club of Assam and served the club wearing the green and maroon till 1948. He, son of Mr. Probodh Chandra Das and Mrs. Pramoda Das, was elected captain in 1946.

Captain Sarat Das with IFA Shield (courtesy: Subir Mukherjee)

His presence in defence and ability to lead the team added some extra spirit to the team's mindset. He was a very tough fullback of his time. Though short in stature, he was famous for his heading ability and tough tackling. We know that when Mohun Bagan needed it the most, Sibdas Bhaduri stepped up and delivered a masterclass in 1911's Shield final. In the 47's Shield final, Sarat Das also displayed what was probably his best performance to repel East Bengal's forwards. He was someone who could perfectly lead a star studded squad.

Road to Final:

2nd Round: Mohun Bagan 3-0 Kalighat
3rd Round: Mohun Bagan 2-0 Rangers

Quarter Final: Mohun Bagan 6-1 George Telegraph
Semi Final: Mohun Bagan 1-0 Mohammedan Sporting

The goal against Mohammedan Sporting being scored by Arun Sinha, who stayed on field even after sustaining an injury while playing. It came from a corner by Nirmal Chakraborty. Sailen Manna had missed a penalty earlier in the game. After defeating Mohammedan, the mariners to face East Bengal in the final.

Team of the Final:

In Goal, stood the charismatic Dinobondhu Sen, informally called ‘Bakai’. Often he would be spotted sporting a cap on his head while guarding the Bagan goal.

In defense, the trustworthy captain Sarat Das and Sailen Manna; at Half, Anil Dey and Talimeren Ao.

Mahabir Prasad at side half had scintillating footwork and controlled the field of play at the midfield with his counterparts Dinanath Roy and Bijan Bose. The deadly attacking trio were Salim, Nair, and Dasgupta.

However, East Bengal were considered favourites in the build up to the final. They had a formidable team and for them started P. Mustafi at goal, Rakhal Majumdar and Paritosh Chakraborty, D. Chandra, S. Kaizar and N. Roy, S. Mukherjee, S. Bhattacharjee, B. Dasgupta, Sunil Ghosh and Saleh.

Back row from left: Prabodh Majumdar, Babulal Dalmia, Amiya Hazra, Mr. Goswami, Kesto Sen, Rabi Mitra, Sudhir Bose, Tarak Chowdhury, Asit Chowdhury (Totobabu), ____,  Ganesh Roy and, ____ .

Standing: Professor P. K. Roy, Abhay Ghosh, Dinanath (Deenu) Roy, Sailen Manna, Padma Banerjee, Dr. Sanmath Dutta, Arun Sinha, Kanu Dutta, Dinobondhu Sen, Karuna Bhattacharya, Nair, Bijan Bose, Mahaveer, Anil Dey, Bhupen Dutta and Satyendra Sen.

Sitting on chairs: P. K Basu, Umapati Kumar, Sarat Das, Srish Chandra (Habul) Sarkar, Abhilash Ghosh, T. Ao, Deenbandhu Sen and Anil Chandra Shui. 

On the ground: ____, Manmath Ghosh, Arun Dasgupta (Jhantu), Salim, Bobby Bhattacharya and Dhisankar Bhattacharya.

The Match:

The 1947 final between two neighbouring clubs from Kolkata was a significant moment in Indian football history, particularly as it was held shortly after India gained independence from British rule.

Due to a fan attack incident in the other semi final, the final was postponed for a bit but ultimately conducted on November 15. East Bengal started the match in a very positive way, but Sailen Manna and Sharat Das defended their attacks well and kept the score 0-0.

After absorbing the initial pressure, Mohun Bagan made a brilliant attack and almost scored in the 6th minute when Dinanath Roy received a pass from Bijan Bose and ran up the right wing before cheekily back passing the ball to Salim, who immediately completed the link up, through it towards Dinanath who ran behind the defence, thus completely exposing the East Bengal defence, but it was Roy who found himself very marginally offside and the chance could not be converted.

However, Bagan scored the goal in the following two minutes. After a fantastic run down the right, Dinanath Roy passed the ball to Salim, who beat the East Bengal custodian Mustafi with a spectacular effort that ended up in the net.

In the second half, East Bengal went all out, but the sturdy and reassuring defensive organisation of Mohun Bagan nullified their efforts.

The final whistle blew, and Mohun Bagan became the first ever IFA Shield champions in independent India. A Bengali governor, Sir B. L. Mitter, and his wife, Lady Mitter, watched the full match sitting in the stands, presided, and gave away the prizes at the end of the game. An amount of Rs. 27,000 was generated from the sale of tickets that day.

Significance:

The 1947 IFA Shield final was more than just a sports event; it was an emotional moment for many Indians and can be considered a new beginning for Indian football. The match took place in a newly independent India and helped further popularize the football in India, especially in Bengal. Football was one of the few platforms through which the masses, regardless of socio-economic background, could express their pride and solidarity.

The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal grew stronger after this final, with the "boromatch," widely called Kolkata Derby now a days, becoming one of the biggest sporting events in India. It created a legacy that continues today.

There is a popular legend about Mohun Bagan's shield win in 1911. After they won it in 1911, a priest reportedly went up to one of the Bagan players and asked that now that the Union Jack had been lowered on the Maidan, when will it be taken down from everywhere in the country? The player had replied that it would happen the day Mohun Bagan wins the Shield again.

The 1947 IFA Shield Final remains a landmark event in Indian football, symbolizing both the rich footballing culture of Bengal and the spirit of a nation embracing its new-found independence.

Acknowledgement:

Subir Mukherjee, Avik Chatterjee, Shiladitya Mitra

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