Chess village

Can a game change a life?

Fifty years ago, alcohol and gambling dominated leisure time in the northern India village of Marottichal. A villager, Unnikrishnan, opened his own teashop and started teaching his customers how to play a game he learned in a nearby town. The game was chess - and it went viral.

"Miraculously, the game’s popularity flourished while drinking and gambling declined."

“Chess improves concentration, builds character and creates community . . . We don’t watch television here; we play chess and talk to each other.” 😇

They figure at least one person per household plays chess.