Independence Day: Here's how sports united Indians against colonizers
India attained freedom on August 15, 1947, putting an end to nearly 200 years of British colonial rule. With August 15 approaching, India is gearing up to honor its Independence Day. Notably, sports also played a role in India's independence. Wins in cricket and football matches instilled the confidence in Indians to thrive over the Englishmen. Here is how sports united Indians against colonizers.
Mohun Bagan's 1911 triumph
Mohun Bagan, an all-Indian team from Kolkata, stunned the Brits when they won the 1911 IFA Shield. The IFA Shield was a football tournament created for the English contingent stationed in India. Mohun's triumph made Indians believe that they aren't inferior to the colonizers. Many even viewed Mohun's win as a payback to colonial rulers, who 'mistreated and abused' Indian people.
Cricket's expansion and division in India
Cricket, a sport with roots in England, evolved into a significant platform for expressing nationalist sentiments in India. As the interest in the game grew among different communities, the Brits organized the Pentangular Cricket Tournament. Though the teams were divided on communal lines, cricket did not prove to be a major impediment in the nationalist struggles during its initial years.
Impact of the game on the mindset
The victories of communal Indian teams in the Pentangular Cricket Tournament provided a physical and political space for the Indians to establish their identity of being equal. This also inspired many to challenge the discourse of racial superiority present in colonial India. In 1932, India finally played their first Test match against England at Lord's, London. C.K.Nayudu led the Indian troop.
Olympic title after second World War
India as an independent nation won its first-ever Olympic gold medal in the 1948 London Games. The Indian men's hockey team defeated none other than Great Britain 4-0 in the final to secure a momentous gold medal. The victory was celebrated all over India as the team was formed amid the communal tensions in the country.
The IFA Shield victory
Just after 3 months of India's Independence, the Mohun Bagan football team scripted victory in the IFA Shield. They hence became the first team to lift this trophy in independent India. That win was also widely celebrated as the final match was a close one. Mohun beat East Bengal 1-0 in the final to taste glory.
