Diehard German Fan To Commemorate 2014 FIFA World Cup Win

Diphu June 30: Do you remember Putul Borah, the diehard German fan in Assam’s Diphu town? Borah stole media attention during the last FIFA world cup with a buried bottle of Passport Scotch whisky. Eventually, tehre was a German victory on Jul 13, 2014, when Mario Gotze scored a dramatic extra-time goal to take the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final in Germany’s favour. That crowned the Europeans as champions with a 1-0 victory over Argentina at the Maracana.

To commemorate this special day of his beloved team’s triumph, Putul Borah decided to arrange a long march from his Police Reserve residence in Diphu town to the border of Nagaon district near Parakhowa town. The march traveled via the inter district check gate, covering around 75 KM on July 14 by the early hours of the morning.

“I have decided to observe the event with a long programme and as part of this line-up. There will be a walk for peace and fairness with friends and well wishers has been arranged to send the message of peace and indignity amongst the domiciles of the universe through the game of football. Let us make it successful. See this game played an ably supportive role in unifying the divided east and west Germans in 1990. I suppose many people will join me on that day to up hold their sportsman spirit particularly the youths. I will feel myself abundantly rewarded if my march becomes the starting point of spreading a message for peace and fairness among the youths and the sports lovers of the world” Putul Bora said.

14 7 14 Germany Argentina

At the beginning of the 2014 FIFA World Cup once while interacting with this reporter, Borah said it was an action-packed day when the united Germany lost to Bulgaria 2 – 1 in the quarter final. Borah was disappointed beyond limit, in his own words, “with intense sorrow in my heart, I buried the Passport Scotch bottle which I brought from Kolkata to celebrate Germany’s victory at a spot in the flower garden in my house. I resolved to take out the Scotch bottle only when Germany becomes world champion for the fourth time.”

Almost one year has gone by since he made that pledge.

The Passport Scotch whisky which was exhumed from a 3 ft depth is still resting in Borah’s residence, Putul Borah is still undecided about the future of the Scotch. One can, with no trouble, imagine that Borah has made it a talisman for another German victory.

Sushanta Roy
Sushanta Roy is a journalist in Assam, India, who photographs and writes about the people, animals and flora of Assam, and the things that affect them.