Barefoot Boys

Konkona | Luminary

In 1911, just three decades after the sport of football came to India, a group of Bengali men sent shockwaves across the entire British Empire. The Amor Ekadosh, or “Immortal Eleven,” competing in one of the oldest football tournaments in the world, did so without boots on their feet. Unafraid to go toe-to-toe with their colonisers, they showed a country what freedom felt like–long before its citizens were free. Konkona Sen Sharma brings the remarkable story, once erased from history, to life.

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Top 10 Barefoot Boys Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Barefoot Boys episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Barefoot Boys for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Barefoot Boys episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

The Barefoot Boys

Barefoot Boys

11/07/23 • 17 min

Mohun Bagan is the toast of Calcutta. The city burns with nationalist fervour and the British shift the capital to Delhi—away from the “bomb-wielding nationalists and barefooted footballers of Bengal.”

The 1911 IFA Shield

Barefoot Boys

10/24/23 • 18 min

No longer content with winning tournaments like the Trades Cup, Mohun Bagan set their eyes on the real prize: the IFA Shield. Sailen Bose scours the gullies of North Calcutta to identify talent, and captain Shibdas Bhaduri proposes an audacious tactical overhaul.

The Amor Ekadosh Level Up (Again)

Barefoot Boys

10/17/23 • 18 min

The Bomb Heard 'Round Bengal

Barefoot Boys

10/10/23 • 18 min

A revolutionary terrorist bomb attack on a British magistrate in Muzzafarpur goes horribly wrong. A fired-up Mohun Bagan wins their way into the IFA Shield; politics can’t help but spill onto the field.

The Bhaduri Brothers

Barefoot Boys

10/03/23 • 16 min

With the help of the Bhaduri Brothers, the Immortal Eleven ascend the ranks—all the way to the 1905 Gladstone Cup. Bengalis from all over travel to Chinsurah in the hopes of witnessing a victory against the British neatly packaged into a football tournament.

Kicked Into Shape

Barefoot Boys

09/26/23 • 17 min

Former army man Sailen Bose shakes things up at Mohun Bagan, kicking (literally) the players into shape. The British decide to partition Bengal, in furtherance of the strategy of ‘Divide and Rule,’ but Bengal rises in protest. For inspiration, people begin to look to indigenous scientific innovators, nationalist writers and...footballers.

Mohun Bagan's Palatial Origins

Barefoot Boys

09/19/23 • 19 min

Three royal families set out to find a proper setting for a football club, and find it in the Mohun Bagan marble palace. Bagan’s start is rocky, but the winds of change—sporting and political—start to gather speed.

No Boots? No Problem

Barefoot Boys

09/12/23 • 15 min

Nagendra marries into the Sovabazaar family, and starts a football club in its name. The British are baffled when the Indians show up...barefoot.

The Father of Indian Football

Barefoot Boys

09/05/23 • 19 min

We meet Nagendraprasad Sarbadhikari, founding father of Indian football. He showed Indians that they could not only express their masculinity, but also beat the British at their own sport.

British Conceptions

Barefoot Boys

08/29/23 • 19 min

It’s 1857. British soldiers play football in the barracks of Bengal, but Bengalis—with their “delicate limbs”—aren’t welcome to play ball. How could India come to be known as “the Brazil of Asia”? In this episode, we meet the Immortal Eleven.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Barefoot Boys have?

Barefoot Boys currently has 15 episodes available.

What topics does Barefoot Boys cover?

The podcast is about India, History, Podcasts, Sports and Soccer.

What is the most popular episode on Barefoot Boys?

The episode title 'The Barefoot Boys' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Barefoot Boys?

The average episode length on Barefoot Boys is 17 minutes.

How often are episodes of Barefoot Boys released?

Episodes of Barefoot Boys are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.

When was the first episode of Barefoot Boys?

The first episode of Barefoot Boys was released on Aug 29, 2023.

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Barefoot Boys

Konkona | Luminary

Top 10 Barefoot Boys Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Barefoot Boys have?

What topics does Barefoot Boys cover?

What is the most popular episode on Barefoot Boys?

What is the average episode length on Barefoot Boys?

How often are episodes of Barefoot Boys released?

When was the first episode of Barefoot Boys?

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