History of Chess Wiki in Hindi: Chess is a game that is considered a symbol of intellectual prowess and strategic ability. This game is famous all over the world today. But it started in India. The history of chess is about 1500 years old. It reached its modern form after passing through different civilizations and cultures.
Chess was very popular among the kings and emperors in ancient times in India. In that period, kings not only played it as entertainment but also strengthened their mental capacity and strategic skills through it. In this game, two sides have pieces, whose main objective is to defeat the king of the opposing side. To play chess, players have to be mentally alert and clever. The special thing about this game is that the queen is the most powerful piece, which plays an important role in changing the direction of the game.
Origins of Chess: Rise of Chaturanga
Chess originated in India in the 6th century, where it was known as ‘Chaturanga’. In Sanskrit, ‘Chaturanga’ means ‘four limbs’. The game was based on the structure of the ancient Indian army, which consisted of four major units—padati (foot soldiers), ashwarohi (horsemen), rath (chariot soldiers) and gaja (elephant).
These units gave rise to the early form of chess pieces. Chaturanga was a strategic game played by two or four players. The game was based on the concept of protecting the king and his kingdom, in which the main objective was to save the king and defeat the opponent.
Expansion of Chess to Persia: Birth of Chess
From India, this game reached Persia (modern Iran), where it was called ‘Shatrang’. In Persian language ‘Shah’ means king, and ‘Maat’ means defeat. It was from here that the word ‘Checkmate’ started coming into use. In Persia, it was customary to play this game in the royal courts and elite classes.
This game was considered a symbol of strategy and warfare. Persian civilization linked chess with art and literature. This is why chess is mentioned in Persian poems and paintings.
Global expansion of chess through the Arabs
Chess took a new direction with the expansion of the Islamic Empire in the 7th and 8th centuries. The Arabs learned this game from Persia and called it ‘Chess’. The Arabs made some improvements in the rules of chess and developed it into a systematic game.
Arab writers and scholars wrote many books on chess, describing it as a game of intelligence and mental acumen. He researched chess moves and strategies, making the game more sophisticated.
The entry of chess into Europe and the Renaissance period
Chess reached Europe in the 9th and 10th centuries via the Arabs. Through Spain and Italy the game became popular among the royal courts and aristocracy of Europe. In Europe it was called ‘chess’. By the 15th century, major changes were made to the rules and structure of chess. The queen and bishop were made more powerful.
This change was made to make chess faster and more competitive. This new form was called ‘Modern Chess’. In Europe, chess was made a part of art and literature. Many rulers and artists considered it a symbol of intellectual and cultural superiority.
The rise of modern chess: competitive format
Chess began to emerge as an organized sport in the 19th century. The first international chess competition was held in London in 1851. This game was no longer limited to the elite class only, but became popular among the general public as well.
The rules and structure of chess were formalized in the 20th century. In 1924, FIDE i.e. ‘World Chess Federation’ was established, which organized chess at the global level. After this the World Chess Championship started.
Renaissance of chess in India
Chess originated in India. But during the colonial period this game lagged a bit behind here. Indian Grandmasters gave the game recognition on the global stage in the 20th century. India’s Vishwanathan Anand won the Grandmaster title in 1988 and became world champion five times.
After him, a new generation of Indian chess players emerged, who took the game to new heights. Today India has become a major power in the field of chess.
Cultural and mental impact of chess
Chess is not only a game, but it is a medium for mental development and strategic thinking. This game enhances patience, discipline, and problem-solving abilities. It is also called the ‘gym of the mind’. The cultural impact of chess is so deep that it even affects art, literature, and films.
Many books and films have depicted chess as a symbol of intellectual conflict and strategic skill.
importance of playing chess
Chess is not just a game; It is a medium that enhances a person’s intellectual development, decision-making abilities, and problem-solving skills. The importance of chess lies in several aspects:
When playing chess, players have to anticipate future moves and strategies. It develops their analytical and logical thinking. This game enhances mathematical and pattern recognition abilities. In chess, every step has to be taken thoughtfully.
This develops patience and restraint in the person. It teaches that instead of taking hasty decisions, one should work by planning. Many times during the game, the player has to face difficult situations. This develops the art of finding solutions to problems. The player learns to maintain his emotional balance in case of winning or losing the game. Chess promotes self-control and mental strength.
India’s leading chess players
1. Vishwanathan Anand – Became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988. World champion five times – 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012. He gave recognition to Indian chess on the global stage. Anand is called ‘Lightning Kid’ due to his ability to make fast moves.
2. Koneru Humpy-Indian Women Grandmaster in Chess. Won the Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship in 2020.
3. Praggnananda Rameshbabu-Young Indian chess prodigy, who won several international tournaments at a young age. In 2022, he made headlines by defeating world champion Magnus Carlsen.
4. Pantala Harikrishna-One of the leading Grandmasters of India. Has made a place among the top 10 chess players in the world.
5. Divya Deshmukh and Vaishali Rameshbabu – Young Indian women players have also shown impressive performance in chess in recent years.
Recently D Gukesh has become the youngest world champion. He got prize money of Rs 11.45 crore for winning.
Effect of chess on the brain
While playing chess, players have to remember previous moves. This improves their memory power. The game trains the brain to be better focused and alert. Both logic and creativity are required when playing chess. It activates the left (reasoning) and right (creativity) parts of the brain. This game helps in reducing stress and depression. A person playing chess develops self-confidence and positive thinking. Every move in chess is a problem. There are problems, the solution of which requires mental skills. It sharpens a person’s decision-making ability. Playing chess helps in keeping the brain active, thereby reducing the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
How does chess work?
Chess is played on a square board with 64 squares. Each player has 16 pieces—1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 rooks, and 8 pawns. Each piece has a different move and role. Game Starts with white pieces. Both players take turns in making moves. The main objective of the game is to ‘shah-mate’ your opponent’s king. ‘Shah-mate’ occurs when No move can save the king. In chess, the opening, middle game, and endgame are very important. To win the game, one has to adopt the right strategy at the right time.
The history of chess testifies to its journey as a game. The game, which started as ‘Chaturanga’ in India, became a global game, passing through the civilizations of Persia, Arabia, and Europe. Today chess is not only a means of entertainment, but it is also a symbol of mental development and cultural exchange.
It is a matter of pride for India that chess started from here. Today this game has created its own identity in the whole world. India gave birth to chess and today there are many Indian players in this game who have hoisted their flag in the world. Chess is a symbol of intelligence and cultural heritage, which inspires every person to think and learn.