Tulsidas Balaram
Tulsidas Balaram, also known as Tulsidas Balaraman, is a retired footballer from India who had represented the country in international competitions including Olympic Games. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football strikers, India has ever produced. Balaram made his mark playing football for the East Bengal F.C., Kolkata. He was one of the best players of the golden age of Indian football of the 1950s and 1960s. His playing position was as a center forward or as a left winger.
Career
Balaram's performances against International teams are no less spectacular. He was one of the prime components of India's Gold winning team of 1962. He played every single game and scored goals against Thailand and Japan.Balaram came during Rome Olympics anticipated his pass to make the scoreline 2-1. India didn't defeat
Hungary but almost upset ’58 World Cup semi-finalists France few days
later. Balaram was again unstoppable as India held on to a 1-0 lead deep
into second half. Sadly, a mistake from Ram Bahadur denied India a famous victory.
According to Balaram’s best game for India came against Hong Kong in 1958 Asian Games. The match went into extra time after the scoreline was 2-2 during normal time. Balaram showed peak
performance in extra time, assisting two goals and scoring once as India
ran out 5-2 victors.
Famous journalist Ajay Basu described Balaram as superb inside forward. Basu further said that his
improvisation, industriousness and ability to hit curling shots were
second to none. While Chuni Goswami had more flair in his play, Balaram had more variety and versatility.
Former India International and eminent
defender Arun Ghosh described Balaram as a man who had two eyes on the
back of his head – so good was his ball distribution. He was also the
heart of his teams, directing every attacking move.
In 1961 Balaram was selected as East Bengal captain – he led from the front and played one of his best ever
seasons. He top scored with 23 goals, won the league’s best player award
and also led his club to do a double over Mohun Bagan. His popularity
among the Red & Golds faithful knew no bounds. In early 60s, Mohun Bagan’s Dhiren De once tried hard to sign Balaram for the club.
Balaram retired in 1963 owing to health related issues. His absence was strongly felt by the Indian team in Asian Cup the following year.
For a footballer whose popularity and performances in all versions of the game has few parallels, Balaram’s life is full with far too many cases of shoddy treatment. Some of it took place during his playing days, incredibly.
Selected international goals
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition | Goals |
| 26 May 1958 | Korakuen Velodrome, Tokyo | 3–2 | 1958 Asian Games | 1 | |
| 30 May 1958 | Tokyo Football Stadium, Tokyo | 5–2 | 1958 Asian Games | 1 | |
| 1 June 1958 | National Stadium, Tokyo | 1–4 | 1958 Asian Games | 1 | |
| 31 August 1959 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaya | 2–0 | 1959 Merdeka Tournament | 1 | |
| 26 August 1960 | L'Aquila, Italy | 1–2 | Olympic Football Tournament Rome 1960 | 1 | |
| 1 September 1960 | Pescara, Italy | 1–3 | Olympic Football Tournament Rome 1960 | 1 | |
| 28 August 1962 | Senayan Stadium, Jakarta | 4–1 | 1962 Asian Games | 1 | |
| 29 August 1962 | Senayan Stadium, Jakarta | 2–0 | 1962 Asian Games | 1 |