Editorial Indian football

Rahim Saheb used to call my husband ‘Prince’: Basanti Goswami gets nostalgic after watching Maidaan

April 15, 2024
DEBASIS SEN
In picture: Chuni Goswami during his playing days (Image: AFC); Basanti Goswami holding the Asian Games 1962 Gold Medal (Image: Debasis Sen)

Basanti Goswami, widow of the late Chuni Goswami, has a special place in her 62, Jodhpur Park residence for the 1962 Asian Games gold medal her husband won. The legendary footballer, who died four years ago, would have been the happiest person to watch Maidaan, the film made based on the famous win by India’s football team at the Jakarta Asian Games. Mrs Goswami was with his son and daughter-in-law to watch the special screening of the Ajay Devgn starrer.

“I enjoyed watching the film because we did not get an opportunity to watch the matches live,” Basanti Goswami said during a chat with RevSportz. “I could feel the amount of hard work and sweat that went in by each member, including my husband, to win the gold medal in Jakarta. It was a very special gesture by the makers of the film to invite us for the special screening. It brought back so many memories watching the movie. But we missed the real man. It was a very proud moment for us.”

There have been some factual tweaks made for cinematic purposes. The Goswami family is okay with the changes.

“Jarnail (Singh) was injured in the final,” said Basanti. “In the movie, they showed he (Jarnail) had a small tape. But in real life, he had a bandage and there was blood coming out every time there was some movement. We had to accept these minor changes for the sake of the movie.”  

Chuni Goswami and Basanti first met in 1954, and it was love at first sight. It was the charismatic Chuni who approached Basanti first, and their love story started then.

“We first met in 1954 at Deshopriyo Park,” said Basanti. “We could rarely meet as I came from a very conservative family and was not allowed to go out without permission. I was only allowed to go to my friend’s place on the day of Biswakarma puja, where we met. We also had the opportunity to meet on Ashtami and Saraswati puja. He always used to talk about his game and football.

 

“We stayed at the same locality in Dover Lane before he and his family shifted to Jodhpur Park. Most of our meetings would happen at Deshopriyo Park in front of Priya cinema. I still remember, the Indian team left for Jakarta on August 15. He met me before leaving and was quite tense. I assured him they would do well.”

India did start their campaign in the 1962 Asian Games on a disastrous note, losing 2-0 to South Korea. But they went on to win their next four matches – against Thailand (4-1), Japan (2-0), South Vietnam (3-2), and South Korea (2-1). Chuni scored a brace in the semi-final against South Vietnam, including the winning goal.

“When he returned to India, I met him (Chuni) after four days,” said Basanti. “The first words he said to me was they made it. He was very happy.”

Chuni’s first meeting with Syed Abdul Rahim took place before the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. He was at that time playing for Mohun Bagan.

“There was a national camp being held in Hyderabad,” said Basanti. “He was not allowed to join the camp by his employer, State Bank of India. He had joined them a year earlier. Dhiren Dey, who was the president of Mohun Bagan club, then approached the chief minister, Bidhan Roy. He joined the camp after a week. The first thing Rahim Saheb said to everyone was ‘mera prince aagaya, ab sab theek ho jayega [my prince has arrived, now everything will be okay]’. He (Rahim) used to call my husband Prince.

“Rahim Saheb was a very good person. He was non-interfering. Every player in the team was the same to him.”

Amartya Roy portrayed Chuni Goswami in the movie. “His role was very limited in the film,” said Basanti. “Like my husband used to have long hair in his young days, he too had long hair. He was slim as well, and his face was similar. My husband had an infectious smile and was a glamorous person.”

Finally, talking about the film, Basanti said, “Maidaan was his (Chuni’s) life at that time. From morning up to 9 o’clock, he was at the club. I felt very emotional watching the movie. Wished there was a biopic on my husband.”