Retired commerce teacher R. Baskaran and international chess player Hari Hara Sudhan have teamed up to offer free chess coaching to underprivileged children in Chennai. Through the Manitham Charitable Trust, founded by Baskaran in 2019, they provide chess training to children aged 3 to 15, emphasizing the game’s strategic and cognitive benefits.
Their initiative, which began in August 2022, includes significant programs like those at Discovery Book Palace in K.K. Nagar and Circular Library in Ashok Nagar. Open to all students, these programs aim to foster critical thinking and concentration, culminating in certificate and award ceremonies. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for mid-July in K.K. Nagar and T. Nagar, in collaboration with local government schools.