Tamil paiyaṉ or Telugu pride? Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu battle it out over Gukesh

New Delhi: Eighteen-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju’s victory at World Chess Championship on Thursday was historic as he became the youngest ever chess champion. However, his landmark win has triggered a dispute, with the chief ministers of both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu claiming him as their own.

The row began after Tamil Nadu’s MK Stalin took to X at 7.25 pm on Thursday and posted that Gukesh’s “remarkable achievement… helps Chennai reaffirm its place as the global Chess Capital by producing yet another champion”.. “Tamil Nadu is proud of you,” the DMK leader said, as he shared a photograph of himself putting a gold medal around the Gukesh’s neck.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s post came only two minutes later. The TDP leader wrote: “Hearty congratulations to our very own Telugu boy…”

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Naidu added: “The entire nation celebrates your incredible achievement. Wishing you many more triumphs and accolades in the decades to come.”

Who is Gukesh Dommaraju?

Gukesh Dommaraju belongs from a Telugu background but was born and raised in Chennai. According to reports, both his parents are medical professionals. Although his interest in chess developed later, his talent quickly became apparent, and at just eight years old, he became a FIDE-rated player.

Battle over Gukesh’s origin, ancestry

A row over his origin and ancestry has triggered online, fast snowballing into a broader debate on ethnicity and language, much of which is rooted in the shared history of the southern states.

Many of the X users underlined that Tamil Nadu had offered significant financial support to the chess star; one X user shared a screenshot of an April news report stating that the government had presented him Rs 75 lakh.

The user handle ‘Cyborg’ said sharing the image: “Gotta appreciate your audacity to even ask this question. This is only one example of what the Tamilnadu government did for gukesh.”

Another user on X pointed out: “Gukesh Dommaraju, a Telugu grandmaster in chess, was backed by the proactive state of Tamil Nadu, which supported his career. Now Telugu states should start replicating what Tamils do to nourish talent…”

A third user backed Tamil Nadu’s claim over Mukesh, saying, “Gukesh is a Tamilian. Just like i am one. Tamil Nadu’s chess culture, Tamil Nadu’s infra and Tamil Nadu was instrumental in his success. No other state can take credit. Not that it matters. He is an indian. But finding his ancestry and caste in some part of the country is funny.”

One user challenged it, saying, “State is not equal to ethnicity of language… U r a Telugu from Tamil Nadu, so is Gukesh…” X handle ‘The Telugu Collective’ defended Gukesh as a Telugu.

Meanwhile, one user said: “Gukesh is a Telugu or Tamil guy… isse farak padta hai (what difference does this make) … He won a medal for India…” Another one said: “Gukesh is like Telugu Ganga… Originated in Telugu Lands & Satiating thirst of Tamil Capital Chennai… moreover, he’s an Indian first – So let’s all take pride in his victory.”