Tulsidas Balaram

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Tulsidas Balaram (30 November 1936 – 16 February 2023), also known as Tulsidas Balaraman, was an Indian footballer. Balaram represented India in multiple international tournaments, including the Asian Games, the Mederka Cup and the Olympics. Along with P. K. Banerjee and Chuni Goswami, Balaram was part of an acclaimed trio of players that helped propel India into what is widely regarded as its golden age of football during the 1950s and 60s.

Balaram made his mark playing football for the East Bengal of Kolkata, and captained the team in 1961–62. He predominantly played as a center or left-wing forward In 1962, he received Arjuna Award from the Government of India.

He retired after playing for eight years due to a tuberculosis diagnosis at the age of 27. on October 4, 1936, in Ammuguda, a village near Secunderabad in British-occupied Hyderabad. Despite being born into poverty, Balaram showed interest in football from a young age. He recalls getting his first pair of football boots by convincing a cobbler to repurpose an old pair of torn police shoes. When he was 19, he was encouraged by Syed Abdul Rahim to try out for the Hyderabad team for the 1956 Santosh Trophy. Rahim provided Balaram with a monthly allowance for a bicycle so that he could commute from his village to practice in Hyderabad.

Club career After his parents migrated to Secundrabad, Balaram started playing football at the Lallaguda workshop ground, and practised Hyderabadi style of one-touch football. He became the highest paid player in the club at that time with a salary amount of Rs. 3,500. In the 1959 CFL season, he finished as second highest goalscorer with 23 goals. He also played for Bengal Nagpur Railway with Arun Ghosh.

International career "Golden Trio" of Indian football, Balaram in extreme right, along with Goswami (in left) and PK Banerjee, at the 1962 Asian Games. Balaram played a total of 33 matches for India and scored 12 goals in international tournaments. India almost upset 1958 World Cup semi-finalists France a few days later, with Balaram playing a pivotal role in the 1–0 lead deep into second half. Balaram was the Indian team's only scorer in their final match of the tournament, a 3–1 loss to Peru.

One of the more popular and widely recognized moments in his career came when India won the gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. Balaram played every game and scored two goals, one each against Thailand and Japan. This marked the second time India has come in first place for football at the Asian games.

Coaching career After retirement, Balaram went on to manage one of the prestigious multi-sports clubs in Kolkata, Bengal Nagpur Railway. When a youth team under his coaching got an invitation to play in Germany, his visa was denied by Indian Govt. His team eventually played in Berlin, remaining unbeaten in four games. Balaram also worked as advisor of the Dum Dum Municipality's Kingston–Nikhil Nandy Football Academy.

Reception and legacy Balaram (in left) being felicitated by M. S. Gill and Ajay Maken in April 2011

Indian sports journalist Ajay Basu described Balaram as a "superb inside forward". Basu further praised Balaram's improvisation, industriousness and ability to hit curling shots, stating that "while Chuni Goswami had more flair in his play, Balaram had more variety and versatility."

Balaram retired from playing in 1963 due to a tuberculosis diagnosis.

Later life and death After leaving Secunderabad permanently, Balaram became resident of Uttarpara, Hooghly. He later worked as senior welfare officer in South Eastern Railway.

On 26 December 2022, he was admitted to a hospital in Kolkata with abdominal distension and other age-related problems. Balaram died on 16 February 2023, at the age of 86.

International statistics International 'A' Matches

Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Goals 26 May 1958 Korakuen Velodrome, Tokyo 1958 Asian Games 1 30 May 1958 Tokyo Football Stadium, Tokyo 1958 Asian Games 1 14 April 1960 Calcutta, India 1960 Olympics Qualifier 1 21 August 1960 Rome, Italy International Friendly 2 26 August 1960 L'Aquila, Italy 1960 Olympic Games 1 1 September 1960 Pescara, Italy 1960 Olympic Games 1 28 August 1962 Senayan Stadium, Jakarta 1962 Asian Games 1 29 August 1962 Senayan Stadium, Jakarta 1962 Asian Games 1

Honours

India Asian Games Gold medal: 1962

East Bengal IFA Shield: 1958, 1961 Calcutta Football League: 1961 Durand Cup: 1960

Hyderabad Santosh Trophy: 1956–57 Bengal 1959–60, 1962–63

Bengal Nagpur Railway IFA Shield: 1963 Rovers Cup: 1964

Hyderabad City Police/AP Police Rovers Cup: 1962

Individual Arjuna Award: 1962 Calcutta Football League top scorer: 1961 Best Player Award by the Kolkata Veterans Club: 1961 Sportskeeda All time Indian Football XI