Football gives a new lease of life to children in Sonagachhi

For many children growing up in Sonagachhi, the playground at Rabindra Kanan in North Kolkata’s Beadon Square is a place to be every morning. It is the space where they can be free from social stigma and stay away from the derision that they often face in their neighbourhood.

These 30-odd children — who come for football training under Milan Sarkar, or Milanda, of Amra Padatik and Babluda, the senior coach — are from the red-light area in Girish Park. Being children of sex workers, they often face the contempt of the so-called honourable men in society. However, Amra Padatik, an NGO for the children of sex workers of Sonagachhi, is helping them find a way to cope with the everyday stress through football.

Sarkar, who is also the son of a sex worker in Sonagachhi, said it was not easy growing up in the dark alleys of the city. “People would taunt me, and passers-by would make derogatory comments. That made me feel really depressed about my life,” the 26-year-old coach told Sunday Monitor before the day’s football training started at Rabindra Kanan.

Amra Padatik embraced him and counselled him. He started training in football under Babluda. “When I look back at life, I do not feel bad anymore. My perspective has changed, and I have outgrown the contemptuous attitude of the society around me. Now, I have no qualms in telling people that I am the son of a sex worker,” said Sarkar, who works with a food delivery company.

As a member of Amra Padatik and an outreach worker for a Health Department programme on HIV, Sarkar now helps other children in the locality get through the hardships.

Coach & father figure

Ajit Gupta, lovingly called Babluda by his students, has been coaching youngsters in the area for 40 years now. He is more than a coach to many youths coming to Rabindra Kanan for training. He is a father figure who is aware of everyone’s problems and is ever-ready to help them.

“I have never discriminated among my students. When they are on the ground, they are sportspeople, and it does not matter to me where they are,” said the 64-year-old coach.

The senior coach said some of the children coming from Sonagachhi are “really talented”.

“In the past, some talented youths from the locality had done well. One player went to Manchester. So, I am hoping that if these kids keep up their good work, they can go places,” he said.

Babluda wanted Sunday Monitor to mention that none of his students who do not belong to Sonagachhi have ever discriminated among trainers and tried to support them in every way.

Changing lives

Football has not only helped the children from the red-light area find a way to showcase their talent but also improve the quality of their lives.

According to Sarkar, many children would be irregular for the training in the beginning. “They would go to bed late and wake up late, and often miss the morning sessions. Now, that has changed. They are taking the sport seriously and rarely miss a session. This is because they enjoy those few hours here before heading off to school,” he added.

Dev started playing about five years ago. He had been to Jharkhand for trials. The 16-year-old goalkeeper admires Lionel Messi.

“I look forward to the training every morning. Our coaches, Milanda and Babluda, are our guiding stars and train us in a way so that we can compete at all levels,” said the student of Scottish Church School.

For Adi, the 12-year-old left-wing player, age and height are barely any deterrents. He is among the fastest runners and finest shooters, according to Babluda. No wonder his favourite is Cristiano Ronaldo.

Amra Padatik also runs a football training centre at Baruipur, where several girls attend the daily sessions.

The claustrophobic alleys of Sonagachhi and the din of incoherent banter, quarrels, and honking and screaming of vehicles may not be the right environment for a child to nurture a dream. But these children are learning to overcome the barriers and dream of a future in the sport.