12 July 2011 purple beret
The legacy A Purple Beret Story The <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> cup history dates back to 1888 in <strong>Shimla</strong>. It is <strong>the</strong> oldest football tournament in India <strong>and</strong> also <strong>the</strong> 3rd oldest in <strong>the</strong> world-after <strong>the</strong> English <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scottish FA cup. It was started by Sir Mortimer <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong>, <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>n foreign secretary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British Raj. Sir Henry Mortimer <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> was born in Sehore, Bhopal State <strong>of</strong> India on <strong>the</strong> 14 th <strong>of</strong> February 1850 <strong>and</strong> died in Engl<strong>and</strong> in 1924. During <strong>the</strong> Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880) he was <strong>the</strong> political secretary at Kabul <strong>and</strong> from 1884 to 1894 he was <strong>the</strong> foreign secretary <strong>of</strong> India. In 1893 he negotiated with Abdur Rahman Khan, Amir <strong>of</strong> Afghanistan, <strong>the</strong> frontier between British India <strong>and</strong> Afghanistan. This line is called <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> Line after him. The <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> tournament was basically intended as ‘out-door relief’ <strong>and</strong> recreation for European troops stationed in India. The British <strong>Indian</strong> Army was given <strong>the</strong> charge <strong>of</strong> running <strong>and</strong> organizing <strong>the</strong> cup. Initially, it was an intra-army cup, where about eleven different teams used to participate. The Royal Scots Fusiliers won <strong>the</strong> inaugural cup by defeating Highl<strong>and</strong> Light Infantry with a score <strong>of</strong> 2-1. Some historians opine that <strong>the</strong>re were two reasons that <strong>the</strong> British introduced <strong>the</strong> football tournament in India. Firstly, it was <strong>the</strong>ir extreme passion for <strong>the</strong> game <strong>and</strong> secondly it was also a way <strong>of</strong> inculcating camaraderie in <strong>the</strong> army. However, notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>the</strong> larger objectives, <strong>the</strong> British cannot be condemned for pioneering a harmless sports tournament. In fact, just as we credit <strong>the</strong>m for introducing railways, English <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> course cricket, <strong>the</strong>y need to be given <strong>the</strong>ir due for ushering in competitive football in India. The <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> tournament has encouraged generations <strong>of</strong> <strong>Indian</strong>s to pursue <strong>the</strong>ir dream <strong>of</strong> playing <strong>and</strong> winning at <strong>the</strong> highest level. The tournament is also unique wherein <strong>the</strong> winning team gets not one trophy, but three! The <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Cup</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shimla</strong> Trophy are rolling trophies while <strong>the</strong> President’s <strong>Cup</strong>, first presented by Dr. Rajender Prasad is given to <strong>the</strong> team permanently. The tournament was suspended in 1914 due to World War-I <strong>and</strong> was revived in <strong>the</strong> year 1921 <strong>and</strong> continued as an All India Inter Regimental Football Competition till 1939 at <strong>Shimla</strong>. Ever since India’s Independence in 1947, <strong>the</strong> tournament is being organized by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> Army <strong>and</strong> is held history at <strong>the</strong> Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi, under <strong>the</strong> aegis <strong>of</strong> HQ Delhi Area. It was in 1940, that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> Committee decided to hold <strong>the</strong> tournament at Delhi. In <strong>the</strong> same year, civil teams were also given permission to participate. That year, Mohammedan Sporting won <strong>the</strong> tournament to record <strong>the</strong> first ever victory <strong>of</strong> a civilian team. With <strong>the</strong> outbreak <strong>of</strong> World War-II, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> Committee decided to suspend <strong>the</strong> tournament during <strong>the</strong> period <strong>of</strong> war. In 2005 <strong>the</strong> sporting clube-de-Goa missed <strong>the</strong> title by a whisker when Army XI produced an upset win. Earlier in 2002/03, <strong>the</strong> Army XI lost in <strong>the</strong> finals to East Bengal club. With <strong>the</strong> relegation <strong>of</strong> sports to a low priority owing to many operational <strong>and</strong> counter insurgency commitments, participation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Army teams has been quite low key. Mohun Bagan <strong>and</strong> East Bengal have shared 32 <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Cup</strong> victories between <strong>the</strong>m. After <strong>the</strong> down-slide <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> high pr<strong>of</strong>ile teams from Hyderabad, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Cup</strong>, with rare exceptions since 1970 has been won mostly by teams from Kolkata -Mohun Bagan <strong>and</strong> East Bengal, or Punjab - Border Security <strong>Force</strong> <strong>and</strong> JCT Mills, Phagwara. In 1997 FC Kochin from <strong>the</strong> South won. In 2002, for <strong>the</strong> first time a team from Mumbai, Mahindra United, won <strong>the</strong> title twice, while in 1999 <strong>and</strong> 2003 <strong>the</strong> Goan side, Salgaocar, won <strong>the</strong> trophy twice. The new Millennium’s first title was once again won by Mohun Bagan. In 2006 it was won by Goa’s Dempo S.C., who beat JCT 2-0 in <strong>the</strong> finals. Recent seasons have been dominated by Churchill Bro<strong>the</strong>rs from Goa. They won <strong>the</strong> tournament twice in 2007 <strong>and</strong> 2009, while finishing as runner’s-up in 2008. The main aim <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> tourney now, is to promote football in <strong>the</strong> country by conducting it annually. It is open to all club teams in <strong>the</strong> country <strong>and</strong> conducted under <strong>the</strong> aegis <strong>of</strong> All India Football Federation. This tournament has emerged as <strong>the</strong> most prestigious one in <strong>the</strong> country along with IFA Shield <strong>of</strong> Calcutta <strong>and</strong> Rovers Football tournament <strong>of</strong> Mumbai. Of all <strong>the</strong>se it is only <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> that has managed to preserve its original character, vision <strong>and</strong> prestige. The support <strong>and</strong> backing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> AIFF, Sports Ministry, Government <strong>of</strong> India <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> three armed services has been most forthcoming. The 123 rd edition <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dur<strong>and</strong></strong> <strong>Cup</strong> was conducted from 17 October purple beret July 2011 13
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