Shimla-the birthplace of the Durand Cup and the Indian Air Force ...

the Gorkha Brigade team for many seasons. As a senior officer
he did try and revive the forgotten fortunes of football within
the Gorkhas and indeed within the services, but the world had
changed by then and football was never the same in the Indian
Army after the mid 1960s. Even after his death, his mother took
on the mantle of bringing football back in the forefront in the
name of one of the Indian Army’s most illustrious players by
donating the Lahiri Memorial Trophy to the 39 Gorkha Training
Centre. For some reason, the trophy has been ‘lost’.
He represented India in the Asia Cup in Ernakulum, the
Merdeka Tournament in Kuala Lumpur and in the Pre Olympics
in Afghanistan. He was left out of the Indian team (despite
much talk and indignation in the media) for the 1960 Olympics
and was named the first reserve. Apparently his name was not
nominated for selection, as was the norm for selection in those
days. The person who was to have nominated his name was not
present at the meeting. The non selection kind of devastated
him as a footballer and after a few more months of being on
the field, he dedicated himself to the Indian Army, went on to
Fort Bragg, North Carolina to become India’s first Green Beret
Ranger and then went on to raise the Commando Wing of The
Infantry School, Mhow.
In the olden days politics was less hectic and the people in power
had a lot of time for sports. Jawaharlal Nehru was present as
often as he could be. Dr Rajendra Prasad was often in the ground
witnessing matches. He was just too good on the soccer pitch.
Mike could net a goal from either corner flag with aplomb. Such
was his ball control and power. And, finally Chandan fondly
reminisces of his ‘baba’, “ I have heard a lot of people mention
(and among them, his playing contemporaries) that Lahiri was
one of the finest strikers of his time, in the world. Fortunately he
also had superior officers who encouraged him all the way and
gave him leave of absence from his soldierly duties whenever
he had to replace his Army fatigues for football boots. He was
Mike and team with President Dr Rajendra Prasad
lucky to have had the support of his superiors.”
total recall
Lt Col Mike Lahiri left the career Senior Command course a week
earlier in order to be in time for the 39 Gorkha Training Centre
Inter-Battalion Football Competition. As the CO, he lead the 4/3
Gorkha Rifles team to victory in that tournament! He was also
graded a straight ‘Alfa’ on the Senior Command course! He told
me once, in Babina, that but for his making to the India Football
XI, he would have been playing test cricket for the country, as
a fast bowler!! He was an outstanding sportsman. One of his
endearing habits was to coach the Battalion Football team from
the sidelines, as he sat with Staff College aspirant officers, like
yours truly, and teach them the finer points of writing military
appreciations at the same time, the all-time bug-bear of middlepiece
army officers! For ‘objectives’ to be attacked, he used his
two nipples and the navel...and devised the artillery fire support
plan!! Mike retired as a much acclaimed Lt General. Alas, he is
no more...Cancer got him in the end.
The Gorkha Brigade Football team reached the Durand finals
in 1958 only to loose narrowly to the Madras Regimental Team.
They however, lifted the Durand trophies in 1966 and 1969,
beating the teams of the Sikh Regimental Centre and Border
Security Force respectively. Of this, one time ADC to the Indian
Army Chief, Brig (Retd) Behram Panthaki recalls, “I was a
witness to the 1969 finals between the GBC and BSF. The then
Indian Army Chief, Gen Sam Manekshaw, and K Rustomjee, DG
BSF were also watching this exciting football match. VV Giri
was the President. GBC won hands down. After we reached the
Army House, the Chief went into his cellar, and pulled out a
bottle of Champaigne and with a small note, told me to go and
hand over the bottle to Rustomjee. The note read “Khushrow,
here is to drown your sorrow at the defeat by my Gorkhas!”
(with inputs from Chandan Lahiri, Mahesh Gill, Chap Narain
Gurung, and Behram Panthaki)
purple beret July 2011 25