The death of veteran sports administrator and former Mohun Bagan president Swapan Sadhan Bose, popularly known as Tutu Bose, has triggered an outpouring of grief across Bengal’s football and political circles. From Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Abhishek Banerjee, Biman Bose, football legends, and cultural personalities — tributes poured in throughout the day as admirers remembered Bose’s towering contribution to Mohun Bagan and Indian football.
Senior Left leader and former Left Front chairman Biman Bose visited Tutu Bose’s residence to pay his final respects and spent time with his son Srijoy Bose. Speaking to reporters, Biman Bose recalled Tutu Bose as a rare personality who combined influence with warmth and openness.
“It is difficult to even remember when I first met him. He always spoke with an open heart. That quality has become extremely rare today. Many people have wealth, but not generosity of mind. He had both,” Biman Bose said.
Former footballer Subrata Bhattacharya, who represented Mohun Bagan for years, described Bose’s death as a major loss for Bengal football.
“The way he served Mohun Bagan with sincerity and dedication can never be forgotten. His contribution to the club is immeasurable,” Bhattacharya said after visiting the Ballygunge residence of the late administrator.
Actor Munmun Sen and her daughter Raima Sen also paid tribute, along with BJP MLA Swapan Dasgupta and several sports personalities.
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya expressed condolences on social media, describing Tutu Bose as an unforgettable figure in Indian football and Mohun Bagan’s history. He praised Bose’s role in modernising the club while preserving its heritage and called his death an irreparable loss to Bengal’s sporting world.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, in a statement, said Mohun Bagan and Tutu Bose were inseparable. He praised Bose’s leadership, vision, and lifelong dedication to sports administration, saying his contribution would continue to inspire future generations.
Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also mourned his death, calling him one of Bengal’s most respected sports administrators and a former MP who left behind a lasting legacy in Indian football.
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee similarly expressed grief over the passing of the former Mohun Bagan president and parliamentarian.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who visited Bose’s residence, described him as a deeply affectionate and energetic personality who uplifted everyone around him.
“Whenever I felt low, meeting Tutu-da would instantly lift my spirits. It is painful to accept that he is no longer with us,” Hakim said.
The cricket fraternity also joined in mourning. Before the start of the CAB First Division Championship match between Mohun Bagan and Town Club at Salt Lake, players observed a minute’s silence in memory of Tutu Bose.
For generations of Mohun Bagan supporters, Tutu Bose was not merely an administrator — he symbolised an era of ambition, emotion, and unwavering commitment to Bengal football.
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