By Sanjay Pinto
It’s quite a feeling to have something in common with
Viswanathan Anand. I do. Not that I know much about chess. But
Vishy, as we affectionately call him, was my school mate at Don Bosco,
Egmore. A senior who has been most appropriately held up as a role
model for every new batch of students; year after year, with every new
title he would win and defend. And it’s not just for his incredible feats
but for the sort of person that he is.
Vishy belongs to the `87 batch of Don Bosco; four years my senior.
We didn’t get to see much of him, except during exams as he used to
travel extensively. The school was admittedly a big support and would not
merely give him attendance but also re-schedule exams for him. One
of our teachers and former Asst.Headmaster Michael
Sundar often recalls how “Vishy would never take privileges for
granted. If he missed classes, he would work overtime to complete his notes and
homework.” That’s bang on. Which is why not a single student ever grudged
those special allowances made for the chess champion.
I do faintly remember an incident while playing the DB patented sport –
crocker (half cricket, half baseball, with a half out!) A juicy full toss on my
leg stump was way too tempting to resist pulling over mid wicket. The ball
landed on Vishy’s bench and missed his lunch box full of curd rice by a
whisker. I was ordered by the bowler to get the ball back. With considerable
trepidation, I walked up to Vishy and even before I could apologise, he gave me
the ball and said: “Hey nice shot. Sorry you missed a four because of me.” He
obviously didn’t know my name but we all knew him – as a world chess champion.
And yes, a wonderful human being.
For a school that was better known for State ranks and centums, cricket
and table tennis, to make a mark in a relatively less glamorous sport
like chess, called for nothing short of world class standards. Just into
his teens, Vishy was World No.3 in the sub junior category. Well before the
newspapers had pictures of the State Toppers in the Class 10 exam, Vishy made
headlines as the Govt Of India had decided to honour this 15 year old
student with the Arjuna award for being an ‘Outstanding Sportsperson’.
The laurels kept flowing in and no quiz competition was ever
complete without a question or two on Vishy’s latest victories! Talking of quiz
contests, I must tell you about Vishy’s ‘disqualification’ from a
competition in the Phillipines! As this boy wonder was collaring every
prize for solving the most complicated puzzles, the organizers asked him to
stop participating! The prizes were books. So they told Vishy to take as many
books as he could possibly carry but to give the others a chance!
If he comes across as serious in interviews, well, I for one, know that
Vishy is very different with his family and friends. Susheela Aunty still
chuckles when she tells us about a prank Vishy played on her in Spain many
years ago. He had taught her a few mischievous words in Spanish and the
poor lady got to know about the real meaning only after trying it out on her
maid!
We’ve all heard of alumni going back as Chief Guests to their Alma
Mater. Vishy was one of the few students to have been invited as a Guest Of
Honour at the Independence Day function when he was in Class 12. I still
vividly admiring this affable senior sitting on the stage in a striped T.Shirt,
next to his father, who incidentally was the General Manager of Southern
Railway and the Chief Guest that year.
After my sit down interview with Vishy on Sunday, we chatted
briefly about our old school, as cameraperson Sukumar took
what we call ‘cut away shots’ in TV jargon. “ I’m planning to
attend the silver jubilee of my `87 batch in August”, he said quite excitedly.
I’m sure the World Chess Champion will be the Chief Guest at the event.
But as the President of the Don Bosco past Pupils Association Ashwin
Rajagopalan put it: “whether he is the Chief Guest or not, the warmth Vishy
exudes with everyone around is just the same.” I’m not a great follower
of chess. But this quality is what endears Vishy the most to all his friends .
Simplicity is his middle name. Because the Viswanathan Anand of Class 8-C is
the same as the Viswanathan Anand, five time World Chess Champion. And
I’m sure nothing will change even after the Bharat Ratna!
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