Please don’t call me Sirji ! Why did Biren Singh said so to Sukhpal Bisht ?

Rajendra Sajwan
A few months ago, the country’s football state Manipur was slowly smoldering. Then suddenly it started burning and hundreds of lives were lost due to the violence.

People had to leave their homes. Though the situation is still not completely under control, the government claims that the mutual hostility and deadly attacks between the Kuki and Meitei communities have been brought under control for now.

Very few know that at the centre of the state’s activities sits a footballer, whose defensive policy has once again made Manipur struggle for peace.

This footballer is none other than former Border Security Force (BSF) player and state Chief Minister Biren Singh Mongthombam.

Biren Singh was the left-back of the BSF team that created a stir in all the big tournaments of the country and won big tournaments like Durand and DCM by defeating Mohun Bagan, GCT, East Bengal and many other famous clubs. Today’s CM was then the left-back of the Border Security Force and it was not easy to overcome him.

At that time, BSF was captained by Sukhpal Singh Bisht, who later also became the coach of the team during the tenure of Biren Singh.

Retired former captains and coaches say about CM Biren Singh that he was an impenetrable defensive player and even experienced forwards could not stand before the rough-and-tough player Biren.

According to Sukhpal Bisht, he played well from 1980 to 1983 and played a role in departmental victories.

After playing for two-three years, he suddenly disappeared and jumped into politics. But apart from being a strong footballer, he is also a great human being. His greatness is visible even after years.
According to Bisht, “When I greeted the CM on the new year calling him Sir, I got the reply, Sir it is you.

I have played football under your captaincy and coaching. Please don’t call me Sir, Sirji.” Bisht hopes that Biren will soon bring Manipur back on the path of progress. After retiring from the Border Security Force, he has also been the coach of Delhi’s champion club Garhwal Heroes.