India’s Asian Games gold medalist footballer and Olympian Tulsidas Balram died here on Thursday due to prolonged illness. He was 85 years old. Sources close to his family gave this information. Balram was part of the golden generation of Indian football in the 1950s and 1960s, playing alongside legends like Chuni Goswami and PK Banerjee, earning them the sobriquet of the ‘Holy Trinity’. Balram did not marry, he lived in a flat on the banks of the river Hooghly in Uttarpara, West Bengal.
He was admitted to the hospital on December 26 last year. The 1962 Asiad champion was being treated for a urinary tract infection and a stomach ailment. A source close to the family said, “His condition did not improve and he breathed his last at around 2 pm today. Balaram, who has been awarded the Arjuna Award, was born on October 4, 1937 in Ammuguda village in Secunderabad. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) declared a three-day mourning as a mark of respect to the legendary footballer.
“During this period (three days), the federation will fly its tricolor at half mast and a minute’s silence will be observed before the start of all competitive matches in India,” the AIFF said. His performance at the 1960 Rome Olympics cannot be forgotten. India, then included in the ‘Group of Death’ along with Hungary, France and Peru, lost 1-2 to Hungary in the first match but Balram scored his own name in the pages of history by scoring a goal in the 79th minute. He was also successful in scoring a goal in the match against Peru.
India came close to pulling off an upset by defeating France a few days later, in which Balram’s performance was also impressive. India won the gold medal by defeating South Korea 2-1 in the final of the Jakarta Asian Games. It was the country’s second title win in the multi-discipline continental competition and since then the feat has not been replicated. He mostly played as a ‘centre forward’ or ‘left winger’. But due to ill health, he decided to retire from the sport in 1963.
His career spanned eight years between 1955 and 1963 before he had to end his career at the age of 27 due to tuberculosis. Balaram made his international debut against Yugoslavia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. India finished fourth in this Olympics. He played 36 matches for the country and scored 10 goals, including four goals in the Asian Games. He was also a part of the Indian team in the 1958 Asiad and 1959 Merdeka Cup. At the domestic level, Balram represented Bengal and Hyderabad in the Santosh Trophy and enjoyed success with both the states.
After his retirement as an active footballer, Balram coached the Calcutta Mayor’s team and also worked as a ‘talent spotter’ for the AIFF. AIFF President Kalyan Choubey in his condolence message said, “He (Balram) was a blessed child. Balram da has returned to God only. He said, “He was truly part of a golden generation of Indian football.
He was one of the best Indian footballers we all have seen. My condolences with his family. AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran said, “The entire Indian football fraternity is saddened and heartbroken by the passing away of Tulsidas Balram. My condolences are with his family. May his soul rest in peace.
