The two boys are Biswajit Nandi, a student of class 12, and Surajit Bhattacharya, who is in 1st year in college. They have been playing football for years. Then an organization called Slum Soccer based in Jamshedpur arrived in Kolkata hunting for talent for the Homeless World Cup. They approached Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), which is a unique cooperative of sex workers. DMSC pointed to the two boys who lived in a home it runs for sex workers’ children on Kolkata’s southern fringe.

The two boys are Biswajit Nandi, a student of class 12, and Surajit Bhattacharya, who is in 1st year in college. They have been playing football for years. Then an organization called Slum Soccer based in Jamshedpur arrived in Kolkata hunting for talent for the Homeless World Cup. They approached Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), which is a unique cooperative of sex workers. DMSC pointed to the two boys who lived in a home it runs for sex workers’ children on Kolkata’s southern fringe.

Then two months ago, Biswajit and they were selected for the Indian team going for the Homeless World Cup. And suddenly their dream was within their grasp, the dream to make their mothers proud and tell the world that they were sex workers’ sons and not ashamed of it. “As the child of a sex worker, I want to prove to all those who look down upon me that I can do something. Through this game I want to show the world that I am best and that I am no less than others,” said Biswajit. Adds Surajit, “My mother has really struggled to bring me up. Today she is very proud that I am going abroad to play, something that not everyone has been able to do.”

But money is a problem. “We need minimum one lakh fifty thousand rupees, out of which we need 80,000 immediately, that means by June 30 so that we can process their visa by buying tickets and submit it to the consulate,’ says Dr Smarajit Jana of DMSC. The boys are fine tuning their football skills and keeping their fingers crossed. So is their coach. “This is the first time a sex worker’s son is going to play abroad representing India,” says coach Biswajit Majumdar. “It is a very proud moment for the sex worker community.” For the two young footballers, the championship in Poland could be life changing. “After playing in Poland, maybe I can play for India. If I can play for India, my life will really change,” says Biswajit. “Since we are going abroad, there will be many foreign teams and their officials. If they like my game, they may even sign me on. I really hope so,” says Surajit. A door of opportunity has opened for Biswajit and Surajit. The entry ticket is one and a half lakh rupees. For them it is a princely sum. But for a nation of football lovers, surely not?

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