Year-long celebration for Dr T Ao’s 100th birth anniversary kicks off
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 28
A year-long celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of Nagaland’s sports icon Dr. Talimeren Ao, popularly known as Dr. T. Ao kicked started here today at Raj Bhavan with Nagaland Governor PB Acharya as the chief guest.
Dr. T Ao captained the Indian football team in the 1948 Summer Olympics London and was the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent.
Acharya felt that the birth centenary of Dr. T. Ao should be celebrated across the country with functions at Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati besides Nagaland. In an inaugural function, Acharya unveiled a portrait of the sporting icon and also released a commemorative postage stamp at Raj Bhavan.
As part of the celebration, the State Level Committee for the commemoration has announced junior football tournament to be held in all districts.
The Department of Health & Family Welfare and Youth Resources & Sports will visit institutions to highlight the importance and benefits of sports.
Other activities will include the Dr. T. Ao Inter District Football Tournament and laying of foundation stone for Dr. T. Ao Sports Academy and Dr. T. Ao Stadium. A documentary and coffee table book will also be released to mark the celebrations. Governor PB Acharya informed that the Raj Bhavan has instituted award in the name of Dr. T. Ao in the field of sports, academics and extra-curricular activities in several schools and colleges in Nagaland as well as in universities in other parts of India such as JNU, NITTE, Manipal and Mumbai.
“He is an iconic figure who hovers over the football history of free India, his footprints have encouraged and inspired and are resonant in the collective memory of Nagaland people and the football lovers,” he said. He urged the younger generation to emulate those ideals and set goals for their future.
He described Ao as a man who excelled not only in studies but also displayed a strong inclination towards sports and athletics activities. He also mentioned some of his achievements in the field of sports such as the best sportsperson trophy in the inter High school tournament in Jorhat in 1937; individual champion of Cotton College for 3 consecutive years; and individual champion in athletics at Calcutta University in 1946 and 1947.
The Governor informed that the Assam government is also organizing a centenary celebration and that a commemorative stamp would be released simultaneously in Assam as well. An exhibition football match between Assam Governor’s XI and Assam Chief Minister’s XI will also be played at Guwahati.
He added that a programme would also be conducted in Delhi to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary. Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) General Secretary T. Meren Paul said Dr. T. Ao is not only a household name but a legend. He was more popular in Bengal than in Nagaland as Bengal never forgot his contribution in transcending football to popularity in Bengal in general and Mohan Bagan in particular, he said.
Paul said Dr. T. Ao led the Indian football team to the 1948 Summer Olympics London as one of the 79 athletes representing India for the first time as an independent country. He captained the 18 member Indian football team which played against France at Cricketfield Stadium, Lynn Road, Ilford. India however lost the match 2-1.
India played spectacular football on the day but the bare footed Indian team could not overpower the European team who by then had started playing the game wearing football boots, Paul recalled. Dr . T Ao played as a center half in a 2-3-5 formation and wore Jersey No. 5, said Paul.
Er I Lanu Toy, a friend of Dr. T Ao said: “My close friendship with him was warm, close, intimate and most enjoyable and lifelong, began when I entered college in Calcutta in 1946, at a time his reputation as a footballer had become well known all over the country and certainly in every household in Calcutta.”
Toy remembered that while catching the tram cars, people would invariably recognize him and said: “I could hear them whispering to each other ‘T. Ao, T. Ao’ with all their attention and admiration directed towards him.”
“He had been a very well known footballer right from his high school days in Jorhat. His rapid improvement in the game continued when studying in the college in Gauhati and ultimately becoming the most important and popular player of the then prestigious Maharana team in Assam,” he said.
Toy recalled that Dr T Ao’s performance in other sports were also of equally high standards. He participated competitively in volleyball, badminton, basketball, hockey and table tennis. His performances in many athletic disciplines were particularly impressive. One of his best performances while still in Guwahati was in long jump, clearing 22 to 23 feet which was much higher than the then All India record.
Toy considered it unfortunate that Dr. T Ao’s achievements and contributions towards enhancement of the Naga image were not given sufficient recognition by Nagaland during his life time.
“It is gratifying that after his death, his achievements and his great life and contributions are now being gradually recognized and tributes are now being paid which he greatly deserved…May his exemplary life continue to inspire our youth in particular and may Nagaland produce many more T. Aos in the near future,” he added.
Anenla S. Longchari, Secretary for Youth Resources & Sports said that Dr. T Ao is still remembered and honoured across region, as he was posthumously awarded the Mohan Bagan Ratna in 2002, and has stadiums and tournaments named after him.
“Dr. T. Ao’s achievements stands testament that people from the margins of the nation can achieve great things,” she added. Thanking everyone for honouring and remembering his father, Er Indianoba Tally, youngest son of Dr. T Ao said: “We wish he were alive today to personally receive this honour but unfortunately it cannot be.” Tally hoped that his father’s stupendous achievements in the field of sports would ignite the minds of young upcoming sportspersons.
