Umapati Kumar Explained

Umapati Kumar
Fullname:Umapati Kumar
Birth Date:8 February 1898
Birth Place:Burdwan, Bengal Presidency, British India
Death Place:Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Position:Inside forward
Years1:1916–1936
Clubs1:Mohun Bagan
Nationalyears1:1923–1936
Nationalteam1:India

Umapati Kumar was a former footballer who played mostly as an inside forward. As a footballer, he represented India in international football, and Mohun Bagan AC in the Calcutta Football League.[1] [2] [3]

Personal life

Umapati Kumar was born on 8 February 1898 in Chagram, located in the Burdwan district of West Bengal. His father Rajanikanta Kumar was a barrister in Kishanganj, Purnia district, Bihar. The Kumar family was having their hereditary Khagra Nawab Estate Zamindari during Presidency rule under British Raj. By 1916, he completed his matriculation from Kishanganj Higher English School, and represented the school team in interschool football tournament.[4] and came to Kolkata. In 1919, Kumar married Sailabala Devi and in 1920, he graduated from the Scottish Church College.[5] One of his son, Bishwanath Kumar, was a sportsperson and represented Mohun Bagan alongside playing cricket and hockey.[4]

Playing career

Umapati Kumar is best remembered for his long and cherished career with Mohun Bagan AC. He joined the club as a youngster in 1916 and would continue to don the Green & Maroon jersey for more than two decades. Earlier coached by Dukhiram Majumder,[6] [7] Kumar played alongside some of the stars from Mohun Bagan's famous 1911 IFA Shield winning team, as well as later icons including Gostha Pal,[8] [9] Bimal Mukherjee, Satu Chowdhury, Balaidas Chatterjee,[10] [11] Karuna Bhattacharya,[12] Dr. Sanmatha Dutta.[13] He predominantly played inside left for the club with Syed Abdus Samad,[14] and retired in 1936.[15] In 1923, he was part of the Mohun Bagan team that defeated both the Calcutta Football League and IFA Shield winner Calcutta FC.[16] In the same year, they met Calcutta FC again in the final of IFA Shield in their 3–0 defeat.

Kumar was also a regular participant in exhibition matches that took place in Kolkata like Indians vs Europeans and Civilians vs Military. Kumar captained the Indian team in these matches for four consecutive seasons and the Civilian team (which would also contain Europeans) for two consecutive seasons in 1926 and 1927.[17] He was also an integral part of the IFA XI which toured Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and South Africa in the 1930s.[17] [18] On 4 July 1936, he played for India against visiting Chinese team in their 1–1 draw in Calcutta.[19]

With Mohun Bagan, Umapati Kumar won Coochbehar Trophy six times and a host of other trophies. He was also the captain of the side which reached the 1923 IFA Shield final.[5] After retirement, he remained closely associated with Mohun Bagan till his death, serving in a number of positions such as secretary, general secretary, treasurer and vice-president.[17]

Playing style

Umapati Kumar was one of the most skillful players of his generation and was well known for his passing range. He is often considered to be the first Indian footballer to have perfected the art of through passes.[20] He was an intelligent, elegant footballer who was supremely fit. Despite playing without boots, kneecaps or anklets for most of his career Umapati Kumar never suffered from a long term injury. Amrita Bazar Patrika once remarked that Kumar's skills and crafts were "as smooth as muslin".

Post-playing career

After retiring from football, Kumar went on to began his administrative career in his club Mohun Bagan and served as both the football secretary and president.[4] He later joined the governing body of the Indian Football Association (IFA) and also served as president of the Calcutta Referees' Association.[4]

Death and legacy

Kumar died on 20 November 1992 in Calcutta, aged 94.[4] The Kolkata Municipal Corporation paid tribute to him by renaming a road "Umapati Kumar Sarani".[4]

Honours

Mohun Bagan[21] [22]

Individual

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mohun Bagan: Blaze of Glory. Kapadia. Novy. 7 June 2015. indianexpress.com. The Indian Express. 4 March 2016. 22 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160222151228/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/mohun-bagan-blaze-of-glory/.
  2. Web site: Era of Legends – 1930 to 1939 . 2022-05-05 . Mohun Bagan Club . en-US . 5 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220505232956/http://www.mohunbaganclub.com/history/history-1930-1939/ .
  3. News: Mohun Bagan to honour legend Karuna Bhattacharya . 6 May 2022 . Business Standard . 12 July 2015 . 6 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220506103740/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/mohun-bagan-to-honour-legend-karuna-bhattacharya-115071200728_1.html .
  4. Web site: Mohun Bagan Athletic Club: Umapati Kumar. https://web.archive.org/web/20160428162211/http://mohunbagangorbo.com/mohun-bagan-ac/legends-corner/indian-players/umapati-kumar/. 28 April 2016. 26 January 2015. mohunbagangorbo.com. Kolkata.
  5. Some Alumni of Scottish Church College in 175th Year Commemoration Volume. Scottish Church College, April 2008. p. 591.
  6. Web site: ভাইপোকে পোস্টে বেঁধে লাথি মেরে ছিলেন স্যার দুখিরাম মজুমদার…. Xtratime Bangla. Webdesk. xtratimebangla.in. Xtratime Bangla. bn. Sir Dukhiram Majumdar tied his nephew to a post and kicked him.... Kolkata. 21 April 2020. 21 October 2022. 21 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221021061329/https://xtratimebangla.in/sir-dukhiram-majumder-kicked-his-nephew-by-tieing-up-with-a-lamp-post/.
  7. Web site: A 19th century visionary: The legend behind one of India's first football scouts. Atanu. Mitra. scroll.in. Scroll. en. Kolkata. 9 October 2017. 21 October 2022. 23 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023142230/https://scroll.in/field/852994/a-19th-century-visionary-the-legend-behind-one-of-indias-first-football-scouts.
  8. Web site: The Golden Years of Indian Football. www.chaseyoursport.com. Chase Your Sport. Kolkata. Rounak. Majumdar. 22 April 2019. 28 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107230046/https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Football/The-Golden-Years-of-Indian-Football/659. 7 November 2020.
  9. Web site: Gostha Pal – IFAWB: biography. ifa.org. Indian Football Association. 2 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220922012801/https://ifawb.org/gostha-pal/. 22 September 2022.
  10. Web site: Balai Das Chatterjee is Mohun Bagan Ratna 2013. 26 February 2020. 26 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200226015358/http://www.mohunbaganclub.com/Balai-Das-Chatterjeea/. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club.
  11. Web site: Balaidas Chatterjee. 26 February 2020. 26 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200226015358/https://themohunbaganac.com/jarnail-singh-2/. themohunbaganac.com.
  12. News: Mohun Bagan to honour legend Karuna Bhattacharya . 6 May 2022 . Business Standard . 12 July 2015 . 6 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220506103740/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/mohun-bagan-to-honour-legend-karuna-bhattacharya-115071200728_1.html .
  13. Web site: Era of Legends – 1930 to 1939 . 2022-05-05 . Mohun Bagan Club . en-US . 5 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220505232956/http://www.mohunbaganclub.com/history/history-1930-1939/ .
  14. Web site: SAMAD: FOOTBALL WIZARD OF INDIA. 2020. 7 November 2022. S. A.. Nasar. Booksie. 29 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929235552/https://www.booksie.com/557024-samad-football-wizard-of-india.
  15. Web site: The Absorption of Hydrocarbon Gases by Non-aqueous Liquids - Alonzo Simpson McDaniel . 2015-09-20 . McDaniel . Alonzo Simpson . 1990 . 31 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220331175106/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mq1mAAAAMAAJ&q=umapati+kumar+mohun+bagan&pg=PA318 . live .
  16. Web site: Mohun Bagan Ratna — Late Balaidas Chatterjee to receive the award posthumously. www.mohunbaganac.com. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. 26 July 2013. 28 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035503/http://www.mohunbaganac.com/interview-detail/mohun-bagan-ratna-late-balaidas-chatterjee-to-receive-the-award-posthumousl. 4 March 2016. dead.
  17. Book: Majumdar, Boria, Bandyopadhyay, Kausik . 1 February 2006 . Goalless: The Story of a Unique Footballing Nation . . . 9780670058747 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220408140616/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Goalless_the_Story_of_a_Unique_Footballi.html?id=i55oAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y . 8 April 2022.
  18. Web site: Barefoot tourists, 1934 . PressReader . The Mercury . 6 May 2022 . 6 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220506102238/https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-mercury-south-africa/20180214/281822874264111 .
  19. Web site: INDIA FOOTBALL. 13 March 2015. 2018-08-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20180815232827/https://eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com/tag/india-football/. 15 August 2018.
  20. History of Indian Football - Nirmal Nath, Page 115
  21. Web site: Creation of History – 1910 to 1919 . Mohun Bagan Athletic Club . 5 May 2022 . 5 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220505210601/http://www.mohunbaganclub.com/history/632-2/ .
  22. Web site: Countrywide success – 1920 to 1929 . 2022-05-05 . Mohun Bagan Athletic Club . en-US . 5 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220505224747/http://www.mohunbaganclub.com/history/history-1920-1929/ .
  23. Web site: Mohun Bagan Ratna – The Jewels of Mohun Bagan . dead . Mohunbaganac.com . 2015-09-20 . 9 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150909184150/http://www.mohunbaganac.com/mmb-ratna-day .

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