Balaram, the outsider among Indian football’s holy trinity

It’s been a couple of days since Tulsidas Balaram, the last member of the Holy Trinity of Indian football (PK-Chuni-Balaram), passed away at Uttarpara – a suburban town some kilometres away from Kolkata. Away from the public gaze, much as the reclusive legend would have liked, while his body was not taken to the East Bengal Club in deference to his wishes despite the Hyderabadi’s exploits in the red-and-golden shirt in the Maidan.

 The 87-year-old had earlier gone on record that there was no need for such a ceremonial send-off, apparently in anguish over a section of the officials of the red-and-gold, but more of that later.

 What exactly was it that made Balaram turn away from the local football fraternity and the powers that-be in general? Was it some kind of a complex that he was never accorded the kind of social acceptance that the two of his comrades-in-arms PK and Chuni were? Or was it because of being deprived the Padmashri honour repeatedly, despite once the police verification for the same being duly completed ? Or because of the national football body’s apathy to tap into his vast experience in a managerial or advisory role?

 A famous frame of the ‘Big Three’ of the game of the Sixties – PK, Chuni and Balaram in an exhibition match after their retirement cropped up frequently when the other two passed away during the two tormenting years of the pandemic. The latter may have lacked the socialising skills of a Chuni, who was very much a member of the city’s cocktail circuit till a few years before his death or PK’s articulation and ability to mingle with all strata of the society, but Balaram’s world revolved around football and not much else.

 Those who have seen him in action and are not loathe to stick their neck out, had gone on record saying that Balaram was more of an allround player than the two of his illustrious peers. In the annual number of Khela, a vernacular sports magazine, Subhas Bhowmick – a stalwart of the game in the ‘70s and ‘80s and a decorated coach – wrote in 2002 that Balaram’s work rate and football sense was second to none and a reward for that was he was a regular member of the national team for seven years at a stretch.

 ‘’He dominated from box to box and was extremely effective with or without the ball. While he excelled in scoring, Balaram’s assists betrayed a great football sense while he had a tough tackle to boot. Yes he may have lacked the gloss of Chuni, but he could be a more effective player for his team,’’ Bhowmick had written.   

What exactly was it that made Balaram turn away from the local football fraternity and the powers that-be in general? Was it some kind of a complex that he was never accorded the kind of social acceptance that the two of his comrades-in-arms PK and Chuni were? Or was it because of being deprived the Padmashri honour repeatedly, despite once the police verification for the same being duly completed ? Or because of the national football body’s apathy to tap into his vast experience in a managerial or advisory role?

 Surprisingly enough, Balaram was never considered captaincy material in the prestigious events. Talking about coaching, his only stint was at the helm of Mayor XI junior team which excelled at the Gothia Cup in Sweden but it was a shame that he could not make the trip for the lack of a visa.

An uncompromising, hyper-sensitive individual who liked calling spade a spade, there was a perception that Balaram could be a ‘difficult’ person to work it. It’s not really a surprise that he has been written about lesser, though veteran journalist Shyam Sunder Ghosh tried to address this shortcoming with a timely paperback: Balaram – the hero of Indian football last year.  

 While on the pitch, Balaram the selfless footballer, gelled effortlessly with Chuni and PK. There was a huge amount of mutual admiration as one could make out from his tributes to his two departed colleagues in the media. Off it, he was quite a foil to them – and that’s what sets him apart.

 RIP Sir!