In rural Hooghly, West Bengal, a quiet football revolution led by an Adivasi couple is challenging patriarchy, poverty, and prejudice, as young girls chase sporting dreams once considered impossible in their villages.
On dusty grounds in Shyamnagar and Bhandarhati villages of Hooghly district, a sight once unimaginable has become routine: young Adivasi girls sprinting across the field, calling for passes, debating tactics, and speaking confidently about professional football.
In communities where girls were traditionally encouraged to stay indoors and marriage often took precedence over education or sport, football is now a language of aspiration and freedom.
This transformation has not been driven by any large government scheme or corporate-backed programme. Instead, it has grown from the resolve of Raju Oraon and his wife Lalita Oraon, an Adivasi couple who refused to accept that football was “only for boys”.
Their belief, persistence, and personal sacrifice have given dozens of girls the confidence to imagine lives beyond rigid social boundaries.
The Oraons’ Leap of Faith
Raju and Lalita’s journey began nearly a decade ago when they noticed that girls in their villages would watch boys play football from a distance but were rarely allowed to participate.
Determined to change this, the couple began informal coaching sessions, encouraging girls to join despite strong resistance from families and neighbours.
The decision came at a heavy personal cost. Both left their jobs to focus on training, often surviving on meagre meals. To buy footballs, jerseys, and basic equipment, Lalita sold her gold jewellery-an asset often regarded as a woman’s most secure financial safeguard in rural India.
“People laughed at us and said girls would never play football seriously,” Raju has recalled. “But we believed that if they were given a chance, they would surprise everyone.”
Sanctuaries of Possibility
Over time, these informal sessions evolved into structured grassroots academies-the Shyamnagar Unite Adivasi Football Academy and the Bhandarhati Adivasi Sporting Club.
Today, nearly 70 to 80 girls train regularly across age groups, alongside boys from neighbouring villages. Training sessions focus not only on fitness and skills but also on discipline, teamwork, and self-belief.
For many girls, these grounds have become sanctuaries-spaces where they can speak freely, move confidently, and be seen as athletes rather than liabilities. Parents who once opposed their daughters’ participation now attend matches, cheering from the sidelines.
“Earlier, we were told football would ruin our future,” said one trainee. “Now our families see that it has given us confidence and respect.”
Breaking Barriers, Match by Match
The academies’ impact soon extended beyond village boundaries. Teams from Shyamnagar and Bhandarhati began participating in district-level tournaments and youth competitions, including the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports circuit.
For the girls, playing 20 or more competitive matches in a year was a turning point, offering exposure that rural athletes rarely receive.
Some players have progressed to higher trials, with a few competing in regional leagues linked to the Indian Women’s League pathway.
Coaches associated with the academies, including former professional footballers, say the talent pool is deep but often overlooked due to lack of access and infrastructure. Local sports officials have acknowledged that such community-driven initiatives play a crucial role in expanding the base of women’s football in West Bengal.
Women’s Football at a Crossroads in India
The rise of these grassroots academies comes at a time when women’s football in India is experiencing both promise and uncertainty. On one hand, milestones such as the Indian Under-20 women’s team qualifying for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup have highlighted the growing depth of talent.
On the other, domestic football continues to face administrative and financial instability, affecting even historic clubs and leagues.
This contrast underscores the importance of sustainable grassroots development. While elite-level challenges dominate headlines, stories from rural Hooghly demonstrate that the future of Indian football-especially women’s football-may well depend on nurturing talent at the community level, where access and encouragement remain the biggest hurdles.
More Than a Game
For the Oraons and their students, football is about far more than trophies or professional contracts. It is a tool for social change. Girls who once hesitated to speak in public now negotiate with confidence.
Those expected to conform quietly now assert their right to dream. Education, health awareness, and mutual support have grown alongside sporting ambition.
Yet challenges persist. The academies operate with minimal funding, limited facilities, and no assured institutional backing. Equipment is shared, travel to tournaments is often uncertain, and the future depends largely on donations and goodwill.
Despite this, the couple remains committed. “If even a few girls can change their lives through football, our struggle is worth it,” Lalita has said.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The story from Hooghly is a powerful reminder that social change often begins at the margins, driven by empathy, courage, and collective belief rather than policy alone. When communities invest in girls’ dreams, they do not just create athletes-they build confidence, equality, and hope.
As India debates the future of its sporting ecosystem, it must also ask how such grassroots revolutions can be supported, sustained, and scaled.
