Kolkata rape-murder | When rivals reconcile: Football foes find common cause

As a child, Avirup Ganguly was forbidden from wearing yellow, a restriction imposed by his father, a fervent Mohun Bagan fan.

"You can't ever wear yellow, we are Ghotis (inhabitants of West Bengal). It is not the colour we represent," he would insist, equating the colour with East Bengal, Bagan's long-time rivals, whom he had ‘despised all his life', as Avirup says.

Avirup has friends who are East Bengal fans, and while he respects the club's prominence, storied history, and achievements, a lingering antipathy, instilled in him from a young age, remains deep-seated within him. "Blame my father," promptly comes the response. For any old-time follower of Indian football, that is hardly a surprise.

On Wednesday, though, Avirup, like many others, did the unthinkable.

Clad in a Mariners jersey, the 31-year-old joined numerous others in marching through Salt Lake Stadium with East Bengal fans, while rallying for justice for the R G Kar Hospital rape and murder victim and also petitioning to reinstate the Durand Cup tournament in the city.

"Had my father been alive today, he would have joined the protests too. This is historical for all of us, never before have we all come together in this manner. Today, we are one here, we want justice," he added.

He was joined by uncle Snehasish and three friends, all of whom were donning a Bagan jersey. "The derby is past us now, we want capital punishment for the rapists. No man should be allowed to get away with such kind of heinous crimes against a woman. Hope justice prevails!" said Snehasish.

The Durand Cup derby, scheduled for Sunday at Salt Lake Stadium, was cancelled due to ‘security concerns' arising from extensive protests throughout the city. The decision to call off the match was made in response to escalating tensions and fears of potential unrest.

Despite the game's cancellation, the fervour of the fans did not diminish one bit. Thousands of supporters from Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting assembled outside the stadium, united in their protest.

The situation outside the stadium quickly became volatile. As the protests turned violent, the police intervened, employing lathicharge to control the unruly crowds.

Several demonstrators were detained as law enforcement struggled to manage the escalating conflict.

The event, intended as a showcase of football rivalry, instead became a focal point for public outrage and a platform for expressing collective grief and frustration over the grievous incident.

Notably, although it might seem surprising, the camaraderie between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal is not entirely out of character, given their shared origins rooted in protest and defiance. Both clubs emerged as responses to social and political issues of their times, reflecting a deep-seated tradition of challenging the status quo.

Founded in 1889, Mohun Bagan's historical significance is highlighted by their landmark victory over the East Yorkshire Regiment in the 1911 IFA Shield final. This triumph was particularly momentous as it marked the first time an Indian football club defeated a British team during the colonial era.

About 31 years later, the formation of East Bengal FC was driven by a similar spirit of resistance against perceived injustice. The club's inception was a direct response to the exclusion of Sailesh Bose, a prominent Bangal player, from the Mohun Bagan team due to his regional background. This act of discrimination led to a faction within Mohun Bagan breaking away to establish a new club, East Bengal, in order to provide a more inclusive platform for players and supporters alike.

The origins of both clubs underscore their roles as symbols of resistance and resilience. Mohun Bagan's historical victory represented a challenge to British colonialism, while East Bengal's formation was a response to internal discrimination and exclusion. Tuesday was no less than a reflection of the duo's historical roots and their ongoing commitment to embodying the spirit of resilience and unity that characterized their origins.

Two days later, the secretaries of all three clubs, Debasish Dutta of Mohun Bagan, Rupak Saha of East Bengal, and Ishtiaq Ahmed of Mohammedan Sporting, held a joint press conference, expressing their hope that the Durand Cup semifinals and final would proceed in Kolkata as initially planned.

"It's indeed a historical day for Kolkata Maidan, the Big Three clubs are speaking together for the first time. As responsible football clubs of India, we also request CBI and all other investigative agencies that our sister 'Tillotama' (RG Kar victim) get justice soon and culprits get severe punishment. We also extend our sympathies to the family of the RG Kar victim.
"In this fight, we are together without any political influence," Saha read out the statement that had the signs of the three top officials.

Both clubs were each awarded one point, and under the revised quarterfinal schedule, they will play their knockout matches in Jamshedpur and Shillong, respectively. As the two teams are positioned on opposite sides of the draw, they have the potential to face each other in the final.