In a year where Indian chess has not had too much to celebrate so far from the usual quarters, heartening scenes were witnessed at Guwahati airport last week. In a video that has now gone viral on social media, Mayank Chakraborty, fresh from becoming India’s 94th grandmaster, can be seen being received by a large welcoming party at the airport. The throng of friends and relatives cover him with way too many marigold garlands and place not one but two traditional Assamese japi hats on the 16-year-old’s head as drumbeats mark his arrival at the airport.
The celebrations continue with the entourage accompanying the teenager and his mother all the way to their residence.
