Dear Members EX- WBCA

Welcome to the website of defunct West Bengal Chess Association or what is left of it. All chess  lovers  of  West Bengal know that All India Chess Federation has been forced to  dissolve the FIFTY year old WBCA and replaced it with an Ad-Hoc Committee of three  persons namely  Atanu Lahiri,Debashish Barua and one Tarun Banerjee to run the affairs of chess in West Bengal. I must comment about the sad state of affairs of Ex- WBCA Est. 1959. Let me begin by a short history of chess of Modern India and West Bengal. I hope I will be able to do a good job.

The game of Chess ‘Shatranj or Chaturanga ’as it is called dates back to the Middle Ages and its origin is still hotly debated. Chess in Modern India took shape in the year 1951 with the birth of All India Chess Federation in Mumbai. Chess in those days was generally played at homes of the affluent, joint families, private & exclusive clubs or any private exclusive place such as a rundown pump house or a quiet corner of a park or lane, by the lake, under the bridge, by the sea, under a tree etc.  In 1951, foundation was laid for AICF with headquarters in Bombay. In 1956, with the efforts of the then Honorary Secretary, Late V.K. Raman Menon (Bombay), an Indian Team, was sent to Moscow to participate in the 12th World Chess Olympiad. In January 1957, with the election of Mr. M.R. Parameswaran was Honorary Secretary, the headquarters of the federation was shifted to Madras and Dr.B.V.Keskar, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting was elected President in August 1958, S.K.Narasimhan took over the Secretary-ship of the Federation and the constitution was finalized, registered and re-affiliated to the World Chess Body - FIDE. Now state associations and regional associations were formed in various states and affiliated to the Federation.

Before the year 1959 chess in West Bengal was generally played by chess lovers at their residence or any private place. There was no organized tournament as such.  In 1959 a group of chess lovers with the help of All India Chess Federation (AICF) established West Bengal Chess Association (WBCA). God Father of chess in West Bengal Late Shri Pran Krishna Kundu was elected President, Shri Shib Shankar Roy was elected Secretary, Late Shri C.K.Sukul was elected Asst. Secretary and Late Shri Sailen Dutta was elected as Treasurer. Hence WBCA was established in 1959 in affiliation with AICF which in time had about 100 members or so. They may be called the 100 original members with power to vote and elect executive committee of WBCA. In 1959 WBCA held their 1st All Bengal State Championship and Late Shri Pran Krishna Kundu emerged as the 1st State Champion of West Bengal. This Governing Body from 1959 to late 1970 was primarily responsible   for the development of Chess in West Bengal in association with AICF.  I salute these great chess lovers. They gave all for the love of the game.  In 1969, WBCA had an office at Netaji Subhas Institute at Sealdah, Kolkata.

In the year 1977 the Left Front Government came to political power in West Bengal. Smt.Ramala Chakraborty wife of Late Shri Subash Chakraborty then Hono’ble Minister Of Sports, West Bengal became the President of WBCA or was cajoled to do so. She handpicked a few foolish people to run the affairs of chess in West Bengal and soon realized her folly. The very people she trusted in turn cheated her. The legit elected body of WBCA was forced to move to Court of Law and was able to register a case against Smt.Chakraborty.This case is still pending in court. Having very little choice Smt. Chakraborty appointed then young Udayan Kanti Ghosh as Organizing Secretary of WBCA. Udyan Ghosh tried his best to resolve the case but the true chess lovers were adamant. Hence went on the history of chess in West Bengal. The 100 original members of WBCA with voting powers out of which only a few are alive today are still resolute in their belief. They are to be revered in the name of chess. I personally do not know Shri Shib Shankar Roy or Mr. Charles V Gomes but sirs I salute you.

Come 1990   WBCA gets a swank new address at  Room No.28,Netaji Indoor Stadium, Eden Gardens, Kolkata – 700 001. As far as I know this is still the registered address of WBCA with West Bengal government and with AICF maybe Fide. WBCA did have a bank account but I have little knowledge of their banker. Maybe Atanu Lahiri can fill us in? As of the swank address it only on paper. By 1995 WBCA claims to have a full pledged lending library and a computer centre of which I am yet to see. Grants from the Sports Council of West Bengal were well utilized. Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, Eden Gardens, Kolkata -700 001 now the office of West Bengal Chess AD-HOC COMMITTEE was  a gift from then Minister of Sports Late Shri Subash Chakraborty to Udyan Kanti Ghosh. I wonder who pays for the rent, or electricity or telephone etc. May be Udyan Kanti Ghosh or Atanu Lahari will enlighten us.

May I take a break, eat a kit kat, sip some tea etc.
The story of an Idealist. At about this time enter a young Idealist in West Bengal Chess. He needs no introduction. He is till today at all time great chess player. He is none other than our very own KUNAL CHATTERJEE or Kunal Da as we all call him. Champion u r. He can, I know has a lot more to say. Wise men are rare. He wanted to do well to Bengal chess but soon found out there were others better things to do. He understood and quit.
We think Mr. Kunal Chatterjee will make a fine Secretary of West Bengal Chess Association.

The story of WBCA is far from over. The Golden age of Chess in West Bengal year 2000 till current time minus some no good selfish idiots.  This story about you and me. We play chess. We love chess. In time around year 2005 Gariahat Chess Club was coming to shape and had its first tournament in 2006.

Mr.Kunal Chatterjee was declared 1st Champion of Gariahat Chess Club. GM Didyendu Barua graced our tournament. Udyan Ghosh at VOCALS (mike). Gariahat Chess club soon became the Mecca of Chess in south Kolkata. Far and wide did players travel to play chess in Gariahat as they still do today. More and more tournaments were organized from Baraipur to Hoogly from Tamluk, Nandakumar to Halisahar. We have spent some of our happiest moments playing chess there.

In this period WBCA produced a host of GM.s & IM.s such as  GM  Surya  Sehkhar  Ganguly,  GM Sandipan Chanda, GM Nilotpal Das, IM  Sankar Roy, IM Subhrajit Saha, IM Roktim Bandyapadhya, IM Atanu Lahiri, IM Saptarshi Roy,  IM  Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury,  IM  Arghyadip Das, WGM  Mary Ann Gomes, WGM Nisha Mohota and many more budding players like Joydeep Dutta, Diptayan Ghosh, Sayantan Das, Somak Palit etc.

One fine morning WBCA shut shop. Welcome WEST BENGAL CHESS AD-HOC COMMITTEE.

I was approached by several chess players, lovers, coaches, parents and guardians. Save WBCA and CHESS.

Hold “free and fair election” and restore WBCA to its lost glory was their only demand. On behalf of all the Members of Ex-WBCA I wrote several letters to Mr. J.C.D.Prabhakar, President, AICF and Mr. Bharat Singh Chauhan, Secretary, AICF. On 14.02.2012 not only Mr. Bharat Singh, Secretary AICF but also Mr. D.V.Sundar, Vice – President, FIDE called a press conference in Kolkata. Details of the same can be had from GM Dibyendu Barya, IM Atanu Lahiri, Shri. Udyan Kanti Ghosh and maybe Shri. Tarun Banerjee.

My letters to AICF can be found in www.gariahatchessclub.org and www.wbca.co.in

I am also hearing chess gossip that elections will be held Shorty for a new State Chess Association.

“Bengal chess Association” to replace WBCA with a body of 11 elected executive members. No member of Ex – WBCA can contest the election and no member of Ex – WBCA can cast their vote. Elections will be held with the help or 12 or so Affiliated District Chess Associations. GM Dibyendy Barua as President, IM Atanu Lahiri as Secretary, Shri.Udyan Kanti Ghosh & Debasish Barua as Vice- Presidents, Dilip Das as Treasurer and Shri. Tarun Banejree as Co- Treasurer etc. I wish them best of luck. Lets good happen for the game of chess. Old poison in a new bottle is all can be said. What good will comes out it is anyone’s guess. Chess players will suffer and so will chess.  The venues for the upcoming tournaments suggest of the treatment players are going to expect.

What more can an ordinary member say. Do visit and read my message in www.gariahatchessclub.org and let’s get along with the game or email to gorabasu@gmail.com .

With Warm regards,

For the glory of CHESS

Debashis Basu

[Ex-WBCA Registration No. D/0174]
[President Gariahat Chess Club]
Mobile: +91 98300 47054
Kolkata DT. 22.02.2012