Kirti Mitra’s baganbari, although it no longer exists, is where it all began. Near Phariapukur in north Kolkata, the large marble building called Mohun Villa was the venue for an important meeting of eminent intellectuals and landowners. They wanted to start a club to develop sporting activities amongst the local Bengali youth. By all accounts, the meeting, presided over by Bhupendranath Basu (who would later become president of the Indian National Congress in 1914), was a success. And thus, on August 15, 1889, the Mohun Bagan Sporting Club was established, named after the villa that housed that momentous event. On the first anniversary of the club, FJ Rowe, a professor of English literature at Presidency College, suggested that in the absence of angling and rifle shooting activities, the word “athletic” would be more appropriate for the club. From then on, India’s oldest football club has been known as Mohun Bagan Athletic Club.

Over the past 125 years, Mohun Bagan AC has not just been a football club, but an institution. Last Sunday they won the eighth Hero I-League at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, their first league title in 13 years, after drawing 1-1 against defending champions Bengaluru FC. When Bello Rasaq, the Nigerian defender, scored the equaliser, he ended a long drought: the Mariners had not won a major trophy for the last five years; their best showing since the league win in 2002 has been as runners-up in the 2nd I-League in 2008-09. Constant change in coaches and financial crises had become a bane; even the most ardent Bagan fan might have admitted to feeling jaded.

But none of that was of consequence when the champions returned home. Over 2 lakh people greeted their heroes and joined in the spontaneous celebrations all over Kolkata. Bagan’s supporters defy class divides — they are a mix of IT professionals, media personnel, private and public sector employees etc. The field and the stadium become a levelling ground, the only colours that matter are green and maroon.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/mohun-bagan-blaze-of-glory/#sthash.YuMYCQg7.dpuf

Kirti Mitra’s baganbari, although it no longer exists, is where it all began. Near Phariapukur in north Kolkata, the large marble building called Mohun Villa was the venue for an important meeting of eminent intellectuals and landowners. They wanted to start a club to develop sporting activities amongst the local Bengali youth. By all accounts, the meeting, presided over by Bhupendranath Basu (who would later become president of the Indian National Congress in 1914), was a success. And thus, on August 15, 1889, the Mohun Bagan Sporting Club was established, named after the villa that housed that momentous event. On the first anniversary of the club, FJ Rowe, a professor of English literature at Presidency College, suggested that in the absence of angling and rifle shooting activities, the word “athletic” would be more appropriate for the club. From then on, India’s oldest football club has been known as Mohun Bagan Athletic Club.
Over the past 125 years, Mohun Bagan AC has not just been a football club, but an institution. Last Sunday they won the eighth Hero I-League at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, their first league title in 13 years, after drawing 1-1 against defending champions Bengaluru FC. When Bello Rasaq, the Nigerian defender, scored the equaliser, he ended a long drought: the Mariners had not won a major trophy for the last five years; their best showing since the league win in 2002 has been as runners-up in the 2nd I-League in 2008-09. Constant change in coaches and financial crises had become a bane; even the most ardent Bagan fan might have admitted to feeling jaded.
But none of that was of consequence when the champions returned home. Over 2 lakh people greeted their heroes and joined in the spontaneous celebrations all over Kolkata. Bagan’s supporters defy class divides — they are a mix of IT professionals, media personnel, private and public sector employees etc. The field and the stadium become a levelling ground, the only colours that matter are green and maroon.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/mohun-bagan-blaze-of-glory/#sthash.YuMYCQg7.dpuf