Mohun Bagan’s heartbeat for decades, Swapan Sadhan Bose — affectionately known as Tutu Bose — passed away late Tuesday night, bringing down the curtain on one of the most influential chapters in Indian football administration. The former Mohun Bagan president and veteran sports administrator was 78. Revered by generations of football lovers, Bose had remained synonymous with the green-and-maroon club for over three decades and was widely regarded as one of the architects of modern Mohun Bagan.
Bose had suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday evening and was admitted to a private hospital in South Kolkata, where he was placed on ventilator support. Despite continuous medical attention, he breathed his last late Tuesday night. His death has sent shockwaves across Bengal’s football fraternity and political circles alike.
On Tuesday, West Bengal Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik visited the hospital to check on his condition. He was accompanied by All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had also enquired about Bose’s health as concern mounted over the veteran administrator’s condition.
Few individuals shaped Mohun Bagan’s modern identity the way Tutu Bose did. Between 1991 and 1995, he served as the club’s secretary before taking over as president, a position he held until 2018. He later returned as secretary in 2018 and served for two more years before once again being elected president for consecutive terms between 2020 and 2025. Ahead of last year’s club elections, he stepped away from the president’s post.
Under his stewardship, Mohun Bagan witnessed some of the most defining moments in its history. Perhaps the most transformative — and controversial — decision came when industrialist Sanjiv Goenka took over the club’s football operations, leading to the addition of “ATK” to Mohun Bagan’s name. The move sparked intense emotional debate among supporters but also reshaped the club’s future in Indian football.
Long before that, Bose had already altered the landscape of Kolkata football with another landmark decision. At a time when foreign footballers were virtually unheard of at Mohun Bagan, he signed Nigerian striker Chima Okorie, making him the club’s first overseas player. The move revolutionized recruitment thinking in Indian club football and remains one of the boldest administrative calls in Maidan history.
Beyond football, Bose wore several hats. He was a businessman, media owner and former Rajya Sabha MP representing the Trinamool Congress. Though ill health had restricted his public appearances in recent years — he had become largely dependent on a wheelchair — his stature within Mohun Bagan never diminished.
For supporters, Tutu Bose remained the club’s ultimate guardian figure. During last year’s Mohun Bagan Day celebrations, he emerged as the emotional centerpiece of the event. Ironically, it was during his administrative tenure that the prestigious “Mohun Bagan Ratna” award was introduced. Last year, the same honour was bestowed upon him in a glittering ceremony attended by legends including Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan, Jose Barreto and Subrata Bhattacharya.
With his passing, Mohun Bagan loses not just a former president, but a towering personality who defined an era of ambition, emotion and transformation in Indian football.
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