Chess to help slum kids in Rajasthan

Jaipur: A 64-square chequered board changed the life of several children living in urban slums of two districts in Rajasthan after they were introduced to the game of king, queen and pawns.

Deepak Sevta, a 14-year-old minor living in an urban slum of Hanumangarh district, is one such prodigy among the hundreds of children living such slums, whose life transformed after they hooked to the mental sport on an 8x8 chessboard.

“Chess has changed my life. I feel more patient and focused in studies and my result (has) improved significantly. I started playing in 2014 and, since then, I have been a consistent player,” said Sevta, whose father works at a saw machine in Hanumangarh, around 400km from Jaipur.

 Suraj Indora and Bajrang are two other children, who have started utilising their free time in playing chess, than being part of any wrong company.