Gostha Pal
Encyclopedia
Gostha Behari Pal (Bangla: গোষ্ঠ পাল) was an India
n professional football
player. He was born in Bhojeswar, Faridpore
, Bengal Presidency
(currently located in Bangladesh
). He moved to Kolkata
when he was an infant and lived there till his very last days.
He started playing for Kumartuli A.C.
aged 11, and joined Mohun Bagan at the age of 16. In 1921, Gostho Pal was honored with the captaincy of the Mohun Bagan football team, and he remained as the club captain for next 5 years. In 1924, he was also appointed as the captain of the Indian national football team. He retired in 1935.
He was the first Indian footballer to be honoured with the Padma Shri
, on April 27, 1962. (The second was Sailen Manna
in 1970).
A statue was erected In his memory in 1984 on the Gostho Pal Sarani in Kolkata
.
Mohun Bagan awarded him the Mohun Bagan Ratna posthumously, which is given to former greats of that club, in 2004. An archive was launched in his honour and named the Gostho Pal Archive, inside the Mohun Bagan club premises.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. He was born in Bhojeswar, Faridpore
Faridpur District
Faridpur is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division. Faridpur District has a population of over 1.7 million people and is situated on the banks of the Padma river . It is bordered by Madaripur, Narail, Rajbari, Magura, Shariatpur, Gopalgonj, Dhaka and Manikganj...
, Bengal Presidency
Bengal Presidency
The Bengal Presidency originally comprising east and west Bengal, was a colonial region of the British Empire in South-Asia and beyond it. It comprised areas which are now within Bangladesh, and the present day Indian States of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Orissa and Tripura.Penang and...
(currently located in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
). He moved to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
when he was an infant and lived there till his very last days.
He started playing for Kumartuli A.C.
Kumortuli
Kumortuli is a traditionally potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata , the capital of the east Indian state of West Bengal. By virtue of their artistic productions these potters have moved from obscurity to prominence...
aged 11, and joined Mohun Bagan at the age of 16. In 1921, Gostho Pal was honored with the captaincy of the Mohun Bagan football team, and he remained as the club captain for next 5 years. In 1924, he was also appointed as the captain of the Indian national football team. He retired in 1935.
He was the first Indian footballer to be honoured with the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
, on April 27, 1962. (The second was Sailen Manna
Sailen Manna
Sailendra Nath Manna , known popularly as Sailen Manna, is an Indian International Footballer and is considered to be one of the best defenders India has ever produced. He has represented and captained India in different international competitions including Olympics and Asian Games...
in 1970).
A statue was erected In his memory in 1984 on the Gostho Pal Sarani in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
.
Mohun Bagan awarded him the Mohun Bagan Ratna posthumously, which is given to former greats of that club, in 2004. An archive was launched in his honour and named the Gostho Pal Archive, inside the Mohun Bagan club premises.