East Bengal Celebrates ‘Sports Day’ on the 87th Birth Anniversary of Dipak (Paltu) Das
Carrying forward its rich tradition and heritage, East Bengal Club observed the 87th birth anniversary of its late Secretary, Dipak (Paltu) Das, on Thursday, August 13, with due respect and reverence. To commemorate his memory and remarkable contribution to the club, East Bengal celebrated the special day as ‘Sports Day’, with a series of programmes organised from morning till evening at the club tent and ground.
The day began at 10 a.m. with a floral tribute and the lighting of a ceremonial lamp before the portrait of Dipak Das. Distinguished guests, former and present club members, sportspersons, doctors, sports journalists and eminent personalities from different walks of life paid their respects and remembered his dedicated service to East Bengal.
A blood donation camp and health check-up camp were subsequently organised, providing club members and members of the public with access to medical consultations and basic health screenings. The social welfare initiatives added a meaningful dimension to the Sports Day celebrations.
One of the major attractions of the day was an exhibition match featuring former East Bengal footballers. Seeing several legendary players return to the field together brought back nostalgic memories for the supporters and made the match one of the highlights of the celebrations.
In the afternoon, a grand felicitation ceremony was organised at the club tent. Several accomplished sportspersons and distinguished personalities were honoured for their contributions in their respective fields. The programme was attended by West Bengal Industries Minister Tapas Roy and Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh as special guests. Former East Bengal captain and legendary footballer Sudhir Karmakar, former footballer Kuljit Singh, and one of Indian football’s most recognised names, Bhaichung Bhutia, were also present.
Special recognition was given to Asmita Dey, who recently won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, for her outstanding international achievement. Nafisa Khatun, a gold medallist in the 4×400-metre relay at the Asian Athletics Championships, was also felicitated.
East Bengal also recognised promising footballers from Bengal. The best players from the first to fifth divisions of the football leagues conducted by the Indian Football Association (IFA) were honoured on the occasion. The initiative highlighted the club’s commitment to encouraging grassroots football talent and supporting the development of future stars.
Renowned Bengali sports commentator and journalist Jayanta Chakraborty was specially felicitated for completing 50 years in sports journalism and commentary. His five-decade contribution to Bengali sports journalism was acknowledged with great respect by the club authorities.
The club also honoured lyricist Raja Chand and noted music composer Arindam Chatterjee, the creative minds behind East Bengal’s centenary theme song, recognising their contribution to carrying the club’s legacy and emotion to a new generation.
The celebrations also witnessed the inauguration of several important facilities within the club premises. A Players’ Box named after former East Bengal captain and legendary footballer Sudhir Karmakar, a Presidential Box named after late Secretary Dipak Das, and an office complex named after eminent club personality Jyotishchandra Guha were formally inaugurated.
The Sports Day in memory of Dipak Das was therefore much more than a commemorative event. By bringing together sport, social service, club heritage and recognition of sporting excellence, the occasion became a celebration of East Bengal’s glorious legacy and its commitment to the future.
From former legends to emerging talents, from football to other sporting disciplines, the day brought together every aspect of the club’s sporting culture. Once again, the celebrations underlined that East Bengal is not merely a football club—it is an institution deeply rooted in the sporting and cultural heritage of Bengal.
