123456 The chaos and cacophony of central Kolkata stumble upon an island of green quite abruptly where the cityscape seems to fade away and space becomes abundant. The Maidan springs up like a pleasant surprise in the middle of mayhem and the surrounding disorder. Here, peace rules, the noise and the pollution turn distant and the city suddenly looks different and tranquil. Spread across 400 acres with the majestic Fort William on its south and the regal Raj Bhavan hemming its northern limit, the Maidan has been serving as the city's lungs for nearly 250 years. Its rich history can be traced back to the British rule when it was turned into an army parade ground from a jungle. Over the years, the sprawling green space has survived the onslaught of rampant urbanization. It has turned into a recreational space with several sports grounds and historic monuments but remains under the ownership of Indian Army. While the Maidan greens serve as an open space where one can laze around, it is also home to Kolkata's sports clubs and has been upholding the city's sporting tradition for more than a century. From football, cricket, hockey and basketball to polo and kabaddi, each sport has its marked-out grounds and clubs.
| Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in KolkataTo the passionate sports-lover, the sweet sound of the willow striking the cherry on an unfenced Maidan ground is a source of great joy. Equally enthralling is the sight of young footballers sweating it out on the slushy fields on a rainy afternoon. The dream of graduating to the Eden Gardens and the Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting grounds are sowed here.
Steeped in history It has witnessed conflicts, historic gatherings and political meetings that shaped history and even a duel. In 1780, Warren Hastings, the then governor-general of Fort William, fought a duel with Philip Francis, a member of the Supreme Council of Bengal. Hastings won it though the latter survived the bullet injury.
The development of the Maidan was closely linked to the Fort William that was the centre of power of the burgeoning East India Company, which led to the relocation of the original village of Gobindapur. The fort, however, was originally located at the site where the GPO now stands at BBD Bag. It was burnt down by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula's army who defeated the East India forces in 1756. A year later, Siraj-ud-Daula was defeated in the battle of Plassey. "In 1758, Lord Clive started building a new Fort William at its present Maidan location. It took about 12 years to be built and became the nerve-centre of the East India company's rule. It was from here that the British not only ruled India but almost the whole of Asia," said heritage expert Kunal Guha. A century later, Nawab Wajed Ali Shah, who had been exiled to Kolkata, was held under a house arrest at Fort William for two years during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The majestic Victoria Memorial — built between 1906 and 1921 as a tribute to the Queen — still stands as the jewel in the Maidan's crown. The Ochterlony Monument, renamed Shahid Minar is as much a symbol of Kolkata and its political churnings as the Victoria Memorial. In 1943, the Maidan hosted a major rally of the Indian National Army led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Mahatma Gandhi addressed the masses at the Maidan during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
Rally GroundThe Maidan has been the site of significant political rallies, cultural events, and intellectual movements often spurred by politics, playing a vital role in Kolkata's history. It was here that almost all of India's leaders — from Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji to Indira Gandhi — addressed rallies. It was at a rally at the Maidan in 1970 that Mujibur Rehman gave his clarion call to liberate Bangladesh, leading to the war with Pakistan a year later and the creation of Bangladesh. The Left parties held numerous rallies with thousands converging on the Maidan over four decades from the Fifties, a norm that has been followed by several other parties that used them as a show of strength. They often turned violent and spilled on to the streets. Processions leading to the Maidan came to symbolize the political turmoil of Bengal through the 1960s to 1990s. While environmental norms have curbed the mauling of Maidan and restrictions on rallies have reduced their frequency, it remains a hotbed of political activity.
Sporting Legacy The iconic Eden Gardens continues to be the sporting face of Maidan. But it's not the only iconic ground here. Eden has been witness to countless memorable matches including the one between Cosmos Club and Mohun Bagan in 1977 that saw the legendary Pele in action. Three years later, 16 people were killed in a stampede during an East Bengal-Mohun Bagan match at the same venue. In 1987, Eden Gardens hosted the cricket World Cup final between Australia and England, the first time it had been played outside Lord's. The Mohun Bagan ground nearby is no less in terms of history. It was here in 1911 that Mohun Bagan defeated the British team East York to lift the IFA Shield. Maidan has a unique, intoxicating smell, says former Bengal cricket captain and national selector Sambaran Banerjee. "Having played at the Maidan grounds for over three decades I share a unique bond with it. No other city has such a vast expanse of green where every sport is played," said Banerjee.
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