If you utter the word ‘Badshah’, the first name that comes to everyone’s mind is Hindi movie actor Shah Rukh Khan aka ‘King Khan’. But there has been another ‘Badshah’ long back to ‘80s, who used to rule the hearts of Kolkata Maidan by virtue of his skills and enormous talent in football — Majid Bishkar.
As a 23-year-old, Majid made the entire Maidan dance to his tunes with Iranians compatriots Jamshed Nassiri and Mahmud Khabbasi. The football crazy fans of the City of Joy used to watch them in complete awe. Majid played as an attacking midfielder, but more so as a thinking footballer whose every move was geometrically calculated.
Today’s young generation won’t know about the Iranian wizard much. Since it has been part of Kolkata football’s folklore the young generation is aware of his shenanigans in bits and pieces.
Even if one searches Youtube by the name of Majid Bishkar, his recent interviews and clippings from the just-concluded East Bengal’s centenary celebration will pop up, and one would end watching every but his artistic display that enchanted the red-and-gold fans for decades. Only people from his generation would be able to testify about the Iranian’s greatness in more ways than one.
“I didn’t expect that I would be returning to Kolkata once again (after 32 years), more so I didn’t expect to return at East Bengal club again. The East Bengal officials have remembered me, which is really a pretty big thing. Coming back at this club reminds me of so many memories,” Majid said.
The 63-year-old fair looking ‘Badshah’ started his playing career in Rastakhiz Khorramshahr club in 1976 when many of us were yet to born. He then signed for Shahin Tehran Football Club and played there for two years before being snapped up by the Red and Golds in 1979-end. While studying at Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh, he was offered by the East Bengal to don the red-and-gold shirts and the rest is history. “I still remember the person who made me sign for East Bengal, but I forgot his name,” recalled Majid.
The Red and Golds, who entered their centenary year, wanted to celebrate in a big way and they did. They brought in all the former greats who have donned the famous jersey once in their lifetime as well as the recent captains who made their names from the club. East Bengal also conferred the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ to India’s 1983 cricket World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.
Fans’ joy knew no bounds when it was announced that Majid would be joining the celebrations along with 2003 Asean Cup-winning captain Suley Musa. Majid landed at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport August 12 midnight and there were already thousands of supporters to welcome the erstwhile ‘Badshah’. Such was the craziness of the gathering that he came outside and had to go back before wheeling out from another gate to avoid being mobbed even in the dead of night.
“My mind is flooded with memories. Park Street, New Market, Victoria Memorial, Maidan and of course Howrah Bridge. It’s great to be back… makes me nostalgic,” Majid remembered.
After his two-year stint with East Bengal and scoring 71 goals for them, he then signed for cross-street rivals Mohammed Sporting Club and stayed there for five more years helping them win numerous trophies.
“I was in two minds about returning to India and Kolkata. I wanted everything to be settled as a condition for my arrival. When Jamshed (Nassiri) and Mona (Monoranjan Bhattacharya) and my brother-in-law living in Tehran assured me, I decided to come here. Even this is the first time we (Majid and Jamshed) saw each other in 25 long years,” Majid, who was the only World Cupper to play in India that time, explained.
“My nephews researched a bit and informed me that the Indian fans still want me to come. They are waiting for me. Then I finalised about my visit. And now when I am here, it feels really amazing.” Majid was member of the Iran squad that participated in the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.
Asked about his memorable match in his career, Majid quickly went back to time and replied, ‘It was the Darjeeling Gold Cup in 1981 against Mohun Bagan in Siliguri’.
“The supporters had lost all hopes as East Bengal were trailing 0-2 till the 76th minute. We scored three goals after that and turned the match on its head. That was the best match I had played for East Bengal,” Majid said.
Among his personal best, Majid rates his goal in 1980 Rovers Cup final strike against Mohammedan Sporting, beating the then best goalkeeper in the country Bhaskar Ganguly as his best. “East Bengal became the joint winners in the Rovers Cup final after I had beaten Bhaskar Ganguly to make it 1-1,” Majid said with a wink.
The magician still remembers the day August 16, 1980, when 16 people died in a stampede during a bitter Kolkata Derby (in Calcutta Football League) at the Eden Gardens — one of the saddest days in Indian football.
“The match was not up to the standard as none of the sides (East Bengal and Mohun Bagan) were playing well. But there was a lot of interest about it and the stadium was packed. Suddenly I saw some portions (of the stands) were empty but could not make out the reason as I was on-field,” he recollected.
“Later when I returned to my residence, which was near the (SSKM) hospital, where the injured ones were taken, I came to know about the tragedy from a supporter. He said ‘look, so many people died because of the kind of match you played’. I was really saddened by the incident,” he recalled.
Meanwhile, Majid had reasons why he left East Bengal for Mohammedan Sporting after spending just two years with the Red and Golds.
“You know we players love to play for our club. But if politics comes in between, it spoils everything. I don’t like politics to be in the field. I think that I had that match standard that I can satisfy myself and the supporters,” he added.
However, Majid’s tenure in Kolkata didn’t last long as he got himself embroiled in controversies. Due to troubles in his homeland, he eventually got addicted to narcotics and led a bohemian lifestyle. After a few other unsuccessful stints in other parts of India, he eventually went back to Iran.
“I was in lot of trouble when I returned to Iran but the love that I have received from the East Bengal fans got me going. I think I have got everything (in terms of love and affection from fans) even though I don’t have anything (in material terms),” Majid concluded.
My biggest regret is not playing in the World Cup (1978) in Argentina. I still feel sad about it. Even one minute in the World Cup would have been enough