Ramkrishna Mission Ashram fueling a football revolution in Chhattisgarh's Narainpur

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Narainpur, a small town in southern Chhattisgarh, is not typically known for its sports enthusiasm. Previously part of the Bastar district, it has often been associated with reports of Naxal insurgencies.

However, Narainpur is now witnessing an unexpected transformation through football. The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama in Narainpur is leading this change, driven by the efforts of All India Football Federation President Shri Kalyan Chaubey.

Football's Role in Promoting Peace

The Abujhmarh Peace Marathon began in 2019 to promote peace in the region. Recently, football has captivated the area, with the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's National Football Championship marking a significant shift.

Swami Vyaptananda, Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, believes football can foster peace in this insurgency-affected area.

"Narainpur has experienced left-insurgencies in the past, which is why people are often afraid to come here. But the fact that we have successfully hosted the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's NFC has broken those perceptions about this town," said Swami Vyaptananda.

Hosting National Championships

The town recently hosted another national event-the Junior Boys' National Football Championship for the B.C. Roy Trophy. This event brought 15 teams from across India to Narainpur.

"We hosted around 32 teams at the RKM Ashrama during the U20 championship, and now we have 15 teams playing here. These teams are from all over the country, and now that people are seeing that, the perceptions are changing," added Swami Vyaptananda.

The RKM Ashrama inaugurated an artificial turf within their campus in December 2023. This development sparked their interest in hosting more football tournaments.

Community Impact and Future Prospects

Chhattisgarh Football Association Assistant General Secretary Mr. Mohan Lal sees this as a chance to bring more local kids into professional football.

"The facilities that the RKM Ashrama has built in Narainpur are commendable indeed," he said.

"When we send our teams to other states to play, only those 22 kids get to watch how other teams play. Now, all the kids in the district can come and watch such teams as we are hosting the events. They watch, they learn, and they grow. In the end, football in Chhattisgarh gets to grow," Mr. Mohan Lal explained.

Swami Vyaptananda also highlighted how involving children in sports can keep them engaged positively. "Such insurgent movements do tend to affect kids of a certain age in the area. But we are hopeful that the more we can involve them in sports, the more we can keep them occupied in such activities, they will develop healthy habits both in terms of body and mind," he said.

Plans for hosting junior NFCs at RKM Ashrama were made after reaching out to Chhattisgarh Football Association and All India Football Federation.

"We have always wanted to host a tournament in Swami Ji's (Vivekananda) name. We initially thought we would start small, but we received a positive response from AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey, and finally we would hold a national championship in Swami ji's name," said Swami Vyapptananda.

Though national-level tournaments began only recently in 2024, football has long been popular among locals. This newfound focus on sports promises a brighter future for Narainpur's youth and community.