East Bengal Ultras
NicknameBangal Brigade
AbbreviationEBU
Established2013 (2013)
TypeSupporters' group, Ultras group
ClubEast Bengal
LocationKolkata, West Bengal
StadiumEast Bengal Ground
Salt Lake Stadium
Kalyani Stadium
Barasat Stadium
Kanchenjunga Stadium
ColoursRed and Gold
Websiteebultras.com

The East Bengal Ultras (Bengali pronunciation: [ˈi:st ˌbenˈɡɔːl ˈʌltrəz]) is the vocal supporters' group of an Indian football club, East Bengal, which competes in the ISL—the top tier football league in India. The group is also often referred to as the Bangal Brigade since much of its fanbase originates from the eastern region of Bengal. Founded in 2013, it was the first Ultras group in Indian football and has been credited with revolutionising the Indian football fan movement. East Bengal Ultras was the first supporters' group in India to organise an on-field pyrotechnics show and the first in South Asia to organise a live chant show, which was named Tunes of Colony, in 2019. The group has around 25 chants and slogans.

East Bengal Ultras is known for making some of the largest unique tifos in Indian football. In the 2019–20 I-League season, it set a record for the biggest tifo—10,000 sq ft (930 m2)—in Indian football history at that time, breaking the previous record of 7,200 sq ft (670 m2) which the group had also set.

East Bengal

East Bengal Club was founded in 1920 and is regarded as one of India's oldest and most successful association football clubs. The team has won multiple national and international trophies in its history. In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha (or nonviolent resistance) swept over India and affected football;[1] Indian clubs boycotted the ongoing Calcutta Football League (CFL) midway through the season. In the midst of the disruption, Royal Regiment was declared First Division winner, but East Bengal was not promoted to the First Division despite having won the Second Division. Thousands of East Bengal fans and officials held a protest march at the East Bengal Ground, where protesters carried flaming torches. A hand holding a flaming torch became the supporters' club's emblem. This icon is still the emblem of the club.[2][3][4]

Initial years: 2013–2016

East Bengal Ultras in 2013

In 2013, the East Bengal Ultras made its first appearance at an away game against Bengaluru,[5] becoming the first ultras group in the country.[6][7] The group introduced smoke shows at the 2015 Calcutta Football League Kolkata Derby, which East Bengal won by 4–0 and unveiled its first large tifo at the 2016 Kolkata Derby at the Salt Lake Stadium in Bidhannagar. The tifo was a large East Bengal jersey that had the number 12 printed on the back, denoting that the fans were the club's "twelfth man". The tifo was the first of its kind in Indian football and became very popular with the club's supporters.[6][8]

In the 2015–16 I-League, the East Bengal Ultras presented colourful mosaic shows at matches against Bengaluru and Salgaocar in the Barasat Stadium. These were firsts in India's fan culture.[9] At the opening match of the 2016 CFL Premier Division at the Kalyani Stadium, the East Bengal Ultras displayed a 3D tifo, first ever in South Asia, that depicted an East Bengal player holding the CFL Trophy against the backdrop of the Kolkata skyline and the text Kolkata Amader ("Kolkata is ours").[8][10]

Growth of ultras culture: 2017–present

Viking Clap in East Bengal Ground

The East Bengal Ultras introduced pole flags and a scarf show at a 2016–17 I-League match against Aizawl. The first big tifo of 2017 was another 3D tifo against Bengaluru. The new atmosphere in Indian football created by the group attracted coverage by foreign sports media like Copa90,[11][12] Ultras-tifo,[9] Football Fans Asia,[13] 11 Freunde,[14] Medium,[15] Exhale Sports and ultras groups of various football clubs.[16][17] East Bengal Ultras have also backed the club's youth team, performing activities at youth derbies, which prompted much discussion on fan forums.[6] The group started with around 10 people, but they had expanded to thousands by 2019, including between 100 and 150 core members.[10][18] They are considered as the second best ultras group in Asia.[12][15][19]

Pyro show

At an 18 August 2018 CFL game played between East Bengal and Aryan, scores of pyrotechnics were lit at the end of the game. Chants and pyro displays caught the attention of rival fans and players. A powerful procession to the venue was accompanied by a smoke show at the start of the game and it was the first and largest pyro show in Indian football.[20][5][11][7][21]

Tunes of Colony

Tunes of Colony by East Bengal Ultras

To celebrate the club's centenary, the Ultras organised an event called Tunes of Colony, which was held on 31 July 2019[10] at the Sovabazar Natmandir temple. It was the first-ever chant-based musical show in Indian and South Asian football. The event was a hit with East Bengal fans.[18][7]

Tifos

"Then, Now, Forever" tifo

In the 2018–19 season, East Bengal won both Kolkata Derbies in the I-League. On 16 December 2018 at the Home Derby, East Bengal Ultras unfurled a gigantic tifo referencing the fan taunt Aha bujhlen kotta, aar koite hoibo? ("Do you understand sir? Do I need to say more?") with images of tea, sugar and milk. This tifo was covered by the BBC.[22][23]

On 27 January 2019 at the return derby, the East Bengal Ultras displayed the second-largest tifo in Indian football. This was covered by sports media like Ultras-tifo.[24] The banner was around 7,200 sq ft (670 m2) and depicted the struggles their ancestors faced during the Partition of India, showing how the East Bengal Club became an inspiration for their daily lives. The fans also put on a smoke show before the match.[25][26]

East Bengal Ultras unveiled a large banner at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification match against Bangladesh. It portrayed the front page of The Times of India after India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup and displayed the message "Dream Comes True!". The group supported the Indian team with continuous chanting and viking thunder claps, which continued after the match finished in a draw.[27][28]

History book tifo

At a game against Real Kashmir on 4 December 2019, the first game of their 2019–20 I-League campaign at the Kalyani Stadium, the East Bengal Ultras presented a 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) tifo, the largest in Indian football at that time, showing five major achievements in the history of East Bengal in the form of a book.[25] This tifo was featured in a December 2019 article in the United States-based media outlet The18.[25][29] The record was later broken by Manjappada, the supporters' of Kerala Blasters FC on 11 December 2022 by presenting a 11000 sq ft tifo.[30]

NRC controversy

Tifo on display with slogans on NRC during Kolkata Derby

In January 2020, East Bengal Ultras caused a controversy when during the 2019–20 I-League first leg Kolkata Derby match, its members unfurled a tifo bearing statements against the National Register of Citizens (NRC).[31][32] The banner bore text in Bengali that said, Rokto Diye Kena Maati, Kaagoj Diye Noy ("We bought the land with our blood, not with papers"). The group said in an official statement that the tifo was apolitical and an answer to racist jibes and cyberbullying from rival fans.[33] The incident led to controversy between groups both for and against the NRC.[34][35][36]

Chants and slogans

East Bengal ultras brigade during a CFL Premier Division match in Kolkata, in July 2023.

লড়েছি অনেক যুদ্ধ, মিলিয়ে কাঁধে কাঁধ
জাকার্তা থেকে জম্মু,করেছি বাজিমাৎ
দুচোখে ভরা স্বপ্ন,বুকেতে দাবানল
লড়াইয়ের রূপকথা, ও আমার ইস্টবেঙ্গল
(In English: We fought many battles, shoulder to shoulder, from Jakarta to Jammu, we did checkmate. Eyes filled with dreams, bursting in my heart, fairytale of battle, O my East Bengal)[37][38]

— Adopted from "Un giorno all'improvviso"

The East Bengal Ultras has been very vocal since its inception and brought football chanting to Indian football to counter traditionally abusive Kolkata football supporters and create a more positive atmosphere and a sense of belonging at games.[5][18][21] One of the first East Bengal Ultras chants was Amra Korbo Sringojoy and Haat e Moshal, Buk e Barood; Amra Holam, Lal Holud ("We will do it and torch in hand, gunpowder in the heart, we are red and gold respectively");[38] since then, a number of chants and slogans based on the club's fortunes have been adopted, modified and re-structured. As of 2020, there are around two dozen chants and slogans. The East Bengal Ultras construct new tunes and chants every year, adapting tunes from Ultras in Europe and South America. "Dale Cavese" is one of the most famous tunes that became popular with the East Bengal Ultras. "Allez Allez Allez" sung by Liverpool F.C. fans, which was itself adapted from Un giorno all'improvviso (originally "L'estate sta finendo") sung by the S.S.C. Napoli fans, was adopted into Bengali and became popular among the supporters.[39][40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sohinee (2 October 2020). "How Mahatma Gandhi formed the first Indian football association in South Africa". The Bridge. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Armband (9 November 2019). "East Bengal Football Club : History and Emergence". Sports-nova. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. ↑ Talukdar, Ranadurjay. "1930s: The Dark Decade". eastbengaltherealpower.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "History". eastbengalfootballclub.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Dey, Sayak Dipta (7 September 2018). "Corteo and Pyros : When East Bengal Ultras did a Legia Warsaw". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "A Fans Revolution : East Bengal Ultras – Goalbold.com". goalbold.com. 13 April 2017. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 C, Sabyasachi (27 December 2019). "5 Times East Bengal Ultras Shocked the Indian football fans this decade!". BADGEB. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  8. 1 2 Roy, Abhranil (20 January 2017). "I-League 2017: Brace yourself for the East Bengal Ultras – Sportskeeda". sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  9. 1 2 Hrisav; Ashnut (22 February 2016). "East Bengal – Salgaocar". ultras-tifo.net. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 Roy, Abhranil (13 August 2019). "An ode to innovations: Effect of East Bengal Ultras on Indian football's fan culture – The Bridge". thebridge.in. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  11. 1 2 @Copa90 (21 August 2018). ""Indian football had never seen such a huge pyro show"". Twitter. Retrieved 4 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. 1 2 COPA90 Football (17 February 2017). "Top 5 Incredible Asian Ultras". Youtube. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Football Fans Asia (2 December 2017). "East Bengal Ultras – A documentary about a growing movement in Kolkata, India". YouTube. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  14. ↑ "Eine Reise zum größten Derby Asiens: East Bengal gegen Mohun Bagan" [A trip to Asia's biggest derby: East Bengal against Mohun Bagan]. YouTube (in German). Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  15. 1 2 Sajjan, King (23 July 2018). "5 Best Football Supports in Asia". Medium. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "Индия: Итоговый фильм от East Bengal Ultras" [India: Final film from East Bengal Ultras]. Fanat1k – Spartak Moscow Supporters (in Russian). 23 June 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  17. ↑ "Apresentamos um pouco da cena ultra da Índia! East Bengal Ultras, do Kingfisher East Bengal FC, clube de Calcutá". O Canto das Torcidas. 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  18. 1 2 3 Jha, Tarkesh (3 October 2019). "Emergence and Evolution of Ultras in Indian football fans culture". Khel Now. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  19. ↑ Salikha, Adelaida (18 September 2017). "Asia's 5 Most Attractive Football Fans". Seasia.co. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  20. ↑ "CFL 2019, East Bengal 3 – 0 Aryan Club: Santos double guides EB to victory". Sportstar. 28 August 2019. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  21. 1 2 "কাঁচা খেউড়ের বদলে এখন চ্যান্ট হয়, গ্যালারি কালচার বদলেছি অনেক প্রতিঘাত পেরিয়েই" [Slangs are now replaced by chants. The gallery culture has changed after many setbacks]. The Wall (in Bengali). 28 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  22. ↑ Cronin, James (17 December 2018). "Kolkata derby: Inside the East Bengal v Mohun Bagan rivalry". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  23. ↑ Ojha, Chiranjit (29 January 2019). "Rumours, Revenge And Rivalry The Story Behind Mohun Bagan Fans' Post Derby Protest | The Fan Garage (TFG)". The Fan Garage. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  24. ↑ "East Bengal – Mohun Bagan". Ultras-Tifo. 27 January 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  25. 1 2 3 Yoesting, Travis (6 December 2019). "Record-Setting Tifo Presented In Unique Book Form". The18.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  26. ↑ C, Sabyasachi (27 January 2020). "Throwback: One year of the "historic" Tifo by East Bengal Ultras". BADGEB. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  27. ↑ Bhattacharya, Nilesh (16 October 2019). "ToI-inspired tifo welcomes Chhetri & Co". Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  28. ↑ Bhattacharya, Atrayo (22 October 2019). "Indian Football Fans: How the Blue Tigers United Rivals". Khel Now. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  29. ↑ Roy, Angshuman (25 January 2020). "Fancy, a fandom". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  30. ↑ Desk, The Bridge (11 December 2022). "WATCH: Kerala Blasters fans unfurl the largest Tifo in Indian football". thebridge.in. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  31. ↑ "I-League Derby: East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Fans Protest CAA-NRC". The Quint. 20 January 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  32. ↑ Roy, Angshuman (20 January 2020). "Bangal the Great, fans punch 'Bangladeshi' taunts". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  33. ↑ Sadhu, Rahul (13 February 2020). "This nation is made with our blood, not some paper: Anti-CAA, NRC protest hits Kolkata Derby". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  34. ↑ Sarkar, Soumashree (20 January 2020). "'Land Bought in Blood': Why Anti-CAA Protests at the Kolkata Derby Hold Meaning". The Wire. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  35. ↑ Sircar, Sushovan (21 January 2020). "Barbed Wire Scars: East Bengal Fans Reveal Anti-NRC Banner's Story". The Quint. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  36. ↑ "I-League 2019–20: East Bengal Fans Hold Anti-CAA, NRC Protest During Kolkata Derby". News 18. 20 January 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  37. ↑ "Effect of East Bengal Ultras on Indian football's fan culture". The Bridge. 1 July 2019. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  38. 1 2 "East Bengal Ultras – Lorechi Onek Juddho". SoundCloud. December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  39. ↑ Debnath, Jeff (8 February 2014). "Chants". East Bengal Ultras. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  40. ↑ Tainikar, Neil (10 December 2018). "A brief history of the most popular chants in Indian football". The Bridge. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
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