Kolkata Derby

In the world of Indian sports, football holds a special place in heart of sports lovers. Anyone in Kolkata on the day of a Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal match, on the other hand, would disagree. The tussle between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan dubbed the Kolkata Derby, is Asia's longest footballing rivalry, with a rich 100-year history. Looking back, these are some of the reasons why the Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal rivalry is considered one of the most ferocious in the world.

Bengalis are Indians from the eastern region of the country who speak Bengali. Those from the erstwhile undivided Bengal (now West Bengal) during the British Raj are known as 'Ghotis,' whereas those from the eastern portion (now Bangladesh) are known as 'Bangals.' Mohun Bagan, one of Asia's oldest clubs, was founded in 1889. After defeating East Yorkshire Regiment in the 1911 IFA Shield final, the Mariners became famous. In India's pre-independence era, they were the first all-Indian club to defeat a British team for a major prize. Suresh Chandra Chaudhuri, an industrialist and vice-president of Jorabagan, and Manmatha Nath Chaudhuri(Raja of Santosh after whom the Santosh Trophy was named) founded East Bengal on August 1,1920.

The club's name alludes to the fact that it was formed to represent the East Bengali immigrant population in Kolkata (across the River Padma, now in Bangladesh) Mohun Bagan represented the established bastion of the Ghotis, both on and off the football pitch, in East Bengal, which became home to millions of immigrants who were often considered as outsiders in Kolkata at the time. Although India has the footballing pedigree of many of the other famous rivals, in terms of raw emotion and passion, the Kolkata Derby can equal any of them blow for blow, fan for fan, and chant for chant.

The Ilish (Hilsa) vs Chingri (Prawns) fish conflicts that follow the Kolkata Derby are maybe one of the most interesting examples of it since they set it apart from any other sporting rivalry in the world. Bengalis' love for football is only surpassed by their desire to eat fish. The preferences, on the other hand, vary by area. Bangals, or supporters of East Bengal, have a unique fondness for hilsa, whilst Ghotis, or supporters of Mohun Bagan, prefer prawns. Due to the increased demand for both species on Kolkata Derby days, prices of both fishes are known to skyrocket throughout Bengal.

The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goes beyond sport. Rather, it's a metaphorical battle between two very similar but diametrically opposed ways of existence.It wasn't uncommon for entire neighbourhoods in Kolkata and Bengal to be painted in team colours, such as red and gold for East Bengal and green and maroon for Mohun Bagan, until the 1990s. The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal has grown to be pan-Indian, if not worldwide, over the years. With their arrival into the ISL, the trend is only expected to continue. But the true significance of the historic Kolkata Derby still lies in the local intricacies. It’s personal.