Key Highlights * Ratusinh Na Muvada, a modest village in Mahisagar, Gujarat, has nurtured 16 FIDE‑rated chess players from a population of roughly 100 families. * Since 2021, mathematics teacher Sandip Upadhyay has guided nearly 200 children in chess, turning a recreational pastime into a structured training program. * The village is poised to host one of India’s largest government‑run chess schools, projected to be 8.5 times larger than the current facility. * Beyond chess, the initiative seeks to produce 50 grandmasters, 10 world‑champion prospects, and to prepare students for competitive exams such as GPSC and UPSC. * Gujarat Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara has been providing complimentary monthly coaching to the village’s youngsters for the past seven months. Detailed Insights Ratusinh Na Muvada’s transformation began when Sandip Upadhyay introduced chess to his students in 2021. What started as a simple diversion quickly attracted almost 200 children, many of whom come from daily‑wage and farming households that could not afford formal coaching. The program’s success is evident in the emergence of 16 FIDE‑rated players and the admission of 21 students to the Gujarat District Level Sports School (DLSS), where they receive both sporting and academic instruction in a boarding environment. The village’s current school occupies a modest cement‑roofed building with only five rooms, two of which are functional. To accommodate the growing cohort, the Mahisagar district administration is seeking government land to construct a new campus that will be 8.5 times larger and include a dedicated chess coaching hall. The project is slated to be executed under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan framework. Sandip Upadhyay’s vision extends beyond producing chess experts; he aims to create a platform that offers talented children from economically challenged backgrounds opportunities in both sports and education. His long‑term goal is to cultivate 50 grandmasters and 10 world‑champion candidates, while also preparing students for national competitive examinations. Gujarat Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara’s involvement has amplified the village’s profile. By offering free monthly coaching for seven consecutive months, he provides invaluable exposure to high‑level play and mentorship for children who otherwise lack access to elite training. Key Concepts * FIDE‑rated player – A chess competitor who has participated in officially recognized tournaments and has been assigned an international rating by the World Chess Federation. * Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan – An integrated education scheme launched by the Indian government to provide holistic learning from pre‑primary to higher secondary levels. * Gujarat District Level Sports School (DLSS) – A state‑run boarding institution that combines sports training with academic education for talented youth. * GPSC & UPSC – Competitive examinations conducted by the Government of Gujarat and the Union Public Service Commission, respectively, for recruitment into civil services. * Grandmaster – The highest title awarded by FIDE, signifying a player of exceptional skill and achievement.

ALT: a green and white chess board with black pieces

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