The story dates back to 1994. A World Cup quarter-final was underway, and the moment Bulgaria knocked Germany out of the tournament, a man sitting in Assam was left heartbroken. Swept up in anger and emotion, he immediately bought an expensive bottle of ‘Passport Scotch’ and made a vow: until his beloved team Germany lifted the World Cup again, no one would so much as touch that bottle. He then dug up the courtyard of his home and buried the bottle deep in the ground.
Today, with the buzz of the football World Cup spreading across the world, this story from the town of ‘Diphu’ in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district is creating a stir on the internet. Putul has been celebrating every World Cup like a festival since 1986. This time, he is hosting a live screening of the World Cup at his home for the 11th consecutive time.
Scene 1: A 20-Year Wait and That Historic Dig (2014)
The story may have begun with a broken heart, but its climax was nothing short of spectacular. The bottle buried in the ground in 1994 did not stay there for just a year or two — it lay beneath the soil for a full 20 years. In the meantime, the World Cups of 1998, 2002 (where Germany lost the final), 2006 and 2010 came and went. Each time, hope stirred in Putul’s heart, but the celebration kept getting postponed.
Finally, the moment arrived. In 2014, when Germany beat Argentina on the back of Mario Götze’s extra-time goal to win the World Cup for the fourth time, the digging began in the courtyard of Putul’s home in Diphu. Putul pulled out that 20-year-old bottle of Scotch and fulfilled his vow. This single episode turned him into a ‘living legend’ among Indian football fans overnight.
Scene 2: The First Love of 1986 That Even Changed His Name
Today, Putul Deka is known less by his real name and more as ‘Putul German’. His obsession began with the 1986 World Cup. Back then, he watched the West Germany team play and became a devoted fan. In football, fans often keep switching teams, but Putul’s loyalty has not wavered across the last 11 World Cups right up to today. Whether Germany wins or loses, his heart beats only for his ‘Mannschaft’ — the German team.
Scene 3: The Home Courtyard Became the ‘German Stadium’
A true fan’s devotion does not stop at taking a vow. Putul has turned his passion into a festival for the entire town. He has transformed the courtyard of his home into a proper football-viewing arena that people lovingly call the ‘German Stadium’. Big screens have been set up here for the World Cup matches, the flags of participating nations flutter all around, and posters of football greats adorn every corner. This time, through his decorations, Putul has also paid a special tribute to Assam’s famous singer and football lover Zubeen Garg.
Scene 4: The World Cup Opening Night, 250 Guests and a Puri-Sabzi Feast
On the opening night of the World Cup, the celebration at Putul’s ‘German Stadium’ rose to an entirely different level. Entry was at 6:30 PM. In the evening, a former national footballer arrived as the chief guest. A gleaming 4-foot-tall replica of the World Cup trophy was unveiled before the fans, and cultural programmes got underway.
At 8:30 PM, the feasting began. At this grand festival of football, there is a full arrangement for the appetite too. A community kitchen serving piping-hot puri and sabzi has been laid out for the roughly 250 guests invited to Putul’s home.
At 10:30 PM, the game was on. The moment the first whistle of the World Cup pierces the silence of the night on the TV screen, the fans tucking into their puri-sabzi straighten their jerseys and plant themselves in front of the screen.
The story of Putul German shows that football is not merely a 90-minute game. It is an addiction so powerful that a person can bury a bottle of Scotch in the ground for 20 years and turn his home into a stadium for the whole town.
