A few days ago, I raised an appeal to change the name of Durand cup because I feel it’s more important to immortalize the names of our freedom fighters or a decorated Army Chief than keeping alive the name of any Britisher through a game, but I am a mere journalist , so who am I to give this suggestion?
Whether the government will take any decision or not on the appeal to change the name, only time will tell.
But before that , I talked to some senior veterans of Indian Armed Forces on the proposed naming of our glorious Durand cup.
Now , let’s see what they say-
Lieutenant General Dr.Pradeep Chandran Nair is a retired decorated officer of the Indian Army. He last served as the 21st Director General of Assam Rifles.
He shared his thoughts with me.
“We need to leave our colonial legacy behind and rename the cup after any of these three great footballers – P.K. Banerjee, Chuni Goswami or Tulsi Das Balaram who played during the Golden era of Indian football. It will only be in the fitness of things to recognise their contribution at a time when there was no great financial incentive for them to play the game that they loved.”
Brigadier Prasanta Kumar Ghosh, the Army Officer who operated undercover in East Pak and was among the first to reach Dhaka during 1971 Liberation War.
He was assigned a very difficult task in the Eastern Theatre of creating road blocks,intercepting enemy convoys and inflicting casualties on the enemy.
He said- “Coming to the topic raised by you. Full disclosure. I am an ardent supporter of the ‘ de colonisation’ project. Calling it ‘ Durand Cup’, is meaningless and smacks of intellectual bankruptcy. Netaji Subhash Cup, would be more appropriate.”
Former chief of India’s eastern fleet, Vice-Admiral Bimalendu Guha fought 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war feels-
“Football came to India from Britain – Soldiers used to play in Cantonment, as regimental tournaments.
Later, Mohun Bagan is the first ever Indian club to have won the IFA Shield defeating East Yorkshire Regiment by 2-1 on 29th July 1911 to create history and make the whole world sit up and take notice of the Indian struggle for freedom against Imperial Britian.Barefoot football till 1951 or so.
I suggest Telemerin Ao’s name who captained Indian team first time after 1947. Later, played for Mohan Bagan team.”
Wing Commander Alok Sahay (retd.) is a Kargil war veteran.
“It would not only be prudent but a befitting honour to our freedom fighters if the name of Durand Cup is changed with their name.A committee may be tasked to decide a new name.Let us invoke pride in the hearts of new generation.”
Major Rakesh Sharma, a retired commissioned officer of Indian Army who also fought Kargil war said-
“The demand and expectation is so valid and justified. *We have so many proud and dedicated freedom fighters and Durand Cup must be named after any of them.”
Uttam Chakraborty, the man who took PNS Gazi’s last photograph is a retired naval officer who fought 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war and was posted in INS.Hansa/ 551 Sqdn.
“Of late there are demands growing up to change the name of the Durand Cup in the name of some distinguished Armed Forces personnel as the tournament is being organised by the Indian Armed forces since independence.”
“I would suggest late Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw (popularly known as Sam Bahadur)‘s name. It will be a befitting tribute for his contribution.”
Another former General of Indian Army (unwilling to quote himself) disagreed with my views on changing the name of the Durand Cup. “While we need to overcome the colonial mindset and promote our Indian value system and ethics, change of name of such important historic event will rob it from its importance and lineage.”
Commodore MV Suresh commanded several submarines and ships and was awarded the Nao Sena Medal for Submarine Operations opined- “I admire the article.
I had all along thought that it was named after an outstanding Football player.
I was shocked to see that it was named after a British. It was sad that we were so obsequious towards the British who sucked our blood and looted our resources to the tune of hundreds of Trillion Dollars.
They ruined our economy. Plundered our resources, deprived our education and for all these 77 Years we did nothing about it.
It is time we wake up and stand tall, remove the vestige of slavery and our obsequious attitude.”
“This article has made the clarion call. Let the Nation awake and let us be proud of our Heroes and let all out Sports Trophies be named by our own Heroes. They deserve to be saluted, honoured and remembered.
Let us make a movement, just as we did for Port Blair to be named as SRI VIJAYA PURAM.”
We believe that the authorities will give due wait to the matter it deserves.
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(Ms. Pratyusha Mukherjee is an Independent Senior Broadcast Journalist works for British Media for more than two decades, associated with us as Editorial head of Defence & Sports.)