It is a pleasant winter afternoon in Bengaluru. The city is the newest entrants in the I-League through Bengaluru FC. The Blues play host to Kolkata giants East Bengal in an important league encounter. The visitors having already won the reverse fixture 2-0 in Kolkata came into the game as favourites. James Moga weaves his magic and the hosts turn out to be no pushovers. East Bengal take the game 2-0 in Bengaluru in front of more than 8000 fans. However, the home fans were not the ones under the spotlight on that day. A group of 50-odd East Bengal fans in the Away stand were on top of their voice. They shouted and chanted ‘East Bengal’ and comfortably silenced the hapless home fans. This was the day, East Bengal Ultras (also known as Bangal Brigade) came into formation.
The East Bengal Ultras is no ordinary Indian football fans group. Despite the presence of hundreds of fan clubs based in Kolkata, the Ultras are the defacto representatives of the ever passionate, aggressive and fierce East Bengal fanbase. Taking a cue from South America, Eastern Europe and East Asia, the East Bengal Ultras are on a mission. They are on their way to change the mentality of Indian football fans and boy have they did over the last six years.
The Ultras took centre stage in an I-League 2015-16 game. A giant jersey tifo was unfurled in the East Bengal stands which attracted immediate attention in a Kolkata Derby tie. A huge 2500 sq ft. East Bengal Jersey with the #12 at the back signifying the fans acting as the 12th man of the team. The success of the giant tifo laid down a pedestal for more coordinations to come.
Corteos, Mosaics, Smokebombs and Pyroshows became a regular occurrence in East Bengal home games ever since. The intimidating atmosphere in East Bengal games inspired other fan movements in the country like West Block Blues, Manjappada, Orange Army, Dynamos Ultras, West Coast Brigade, B-Stand Blues, Highlander Brigade and Mariners Base Camp to follow the queue. Eventually, the entire country was gripped by the Ultras culture, led by East Bengal Ultras.
However, despite inspiring so many new fan groups with the might and weight of the Ultras, East Bengal Ultras always stood one step forward. Fueled by the pro-refugee and anti-establishment ideals, East Bengal Ultras have often come out bravely and unapologetically about their migrant roots. The natives have been ridiculing them for decades on the migrant issue toppled by the recent anti-refugee politics grappling India. The Ultras have come out with tifos establishing their pride in their migrant identity by using subtle humour and wit on a number of occasions during the all elusive Kolkata Derby which is often all about the migrant versus refugees issue.
The Ultras have also been at the forefront of the anti-corruption movement during the football club was going through one of the worst phases in terms of finances. Banners, Boycotts and Protests by the Ultras attracted support from rest of the Indian football fraternity as they stood up against club officials who refused to be accountable and transparent. The movement resulted in a success as East Bengal Football Club have had changes in football team ownerships over the last three seasons, ousting the club officials accused of power misappropriation.
The East Bengal Ultras got their chance to show the National Team fans, the prowess of their movement. India played an international game after 9 years in Kolkata against Bangladesh. The Ultras stole the show in the stands with a tifo with the message of dreaming about the future of football in the country. The ultimate dream of seeing India play the FIFA World Cup. The gigantic and magnificent tifo made its way on the front page of the Indian National Daily, The Times of India. East Bengal Ultras have made a brand out of themselves over the last six years and it is harmless to say that they have surely revolutionalised the culture of the Indian football fans.