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Lakshmipat Singhania Academy
Kolkata
Maidan
Where the City Came to Play
Maidan is a very historical place in Kolkata, as well as in India. The historical significance of the place is elephantine. For sports enthusiasts, Maidan is no less than a spiritual haven. In Maidan stands Eden Gardens, one of the oldest stadiums in India. The iconic stadium has witnessed everything from victories to defeats, from ecstasy to heartbreaks, from roaring crowds to silent stands, from common celebrations to fierce riots, even tragic events like death and stampede. If the walls of the stadium could speak they would certainly tell the most fantastic stories.
In Maidan, there are basketball courts, tennis lawns, volleyball courts, indoor stadiums etc. Sports bring people together. When different individuals assemble to play, friendships are formed. New relations are made, teamwork is developed and people learn to work in harmony as a team. Sports also teaches that in life there will be times when despite giving our best the results won’t favour us. This is an invaluable lesson. Most significantly, in Maidan lies the heart and soul of Indian football. Century old clubs like Aryan FC, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan SC, East Bengal etc. still prevail in the Maidan grounds. These clubs are rooted not only in in sports history but also in Indian history as a whole. Be it the time when Mohun Bagan defeated the East Yorkshire regiment barefoot in the 1911 IFA shield final or when East Bengal went on to represent India in their Europe tour and defeated the big clubs of Europe. Even today, matches are played in those muddy, swampy, uneven grounds and still people throng to the grounds. Even today whenever the Kolkata Derby happens 70000 people magically appear in the Salt Lake stadium to witness the match. The famous Race Course of Maidan still has horse races scheduled and people buy tickets to get the experience. So Maidan is definitely an integral part of Kolkata’s history without which its tale will be left incomplete.