Indian Chess Grand Master Gukesh Dommaraju: Tamil or Telugu? A cultural debate that captivates the nation
With chief ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu fighting to claim the 18-year-old prodigy as their own, Gukesh Dommaraju's historic victory in the World Chess Championship sparked a heated discussion about his Tamil-Telugu ancestry.
Tamil and Telugu Heritage Debate For Gukesh Dommaraju: A section of the Twitterverse quarreled over Gukesh Dommaraju's ancestry as India rejoiced in his historic achievement as the youngest-ever global chess champion. The 18-year-old chess prodigy's Tamil or Telugu ancestry sparked an internet argument that became a more significant conflict over language and ethnicity. Andhra Pradesh's and Tamil Nadu's chief ministers engaged in an online credit battle after Gukesh Dommaraju's historic victory in the World Chess Championship, claiming him as their own.
Who is Gukesh Dommaraju?
Credit: Instagram
Many people consider Indian chess grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju among the game's most promising young players. He became one of the youngest grandmasters ever at 12, having been born in Chennai, India, on May 29, 2006. Gukesh has become well-known for his aggressive and strategic style of play, regularly winning prestigious international competitions. He has beaten a number of highly regarded players and is still rising in the world chess rankings, solidifying his position as a major player in India's developing chess heritage. The new world chess champion is Gukesh Dommaraju, an 18-year-old Indian chess prodigy who defeated Ding Liren of China. After a close match that appeared to be headed to a draw between the two grandmasters, Dommaraju won Thursday in Singapore.
War of Words on X Over Gukesh is Tamil or Telegu?
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin started things off by praising Gukesh and writing, "Tamil Nadu is proud of you," in a post on X.
Congratulations to @DGukesh on becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at 18!
¡ª M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 12, 2024
Your remarkable achievement continues India's rich chess legacy and helps Chennai reaffirm its place as the global Chess Capital by producing yet another world-class champion.
Tamil Nadu is¡ pic.twitter.com/pQvyyRcmA1
However, an X user quickly responded that Gukesh was "from Andhra Pradesh." Swayam Tewari argued for Gukesh's Telugu ancestry by displaying a snapshot of his heritage as an X user.
Gukesh is from Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/xkQYahu0CC
¡ª Swayam Tiwari (@SwayamTewari) December 12, 2024
Another poster stated that the Indian grandmaster was not a "native Tamil Nadu person" and asserted that Gukesh was of Telugu ancestry.
He¡¯s not a native Tamil Nadu person! You know you hate people from other states don¡¯t you? His family is from from Andhra Pradesh.
¡ª JIX5A (@JIX5A) December 12, 2024
Tweet by Sports Minister Of Tamil Nadu
Udhayanidhi Stalin, the sports minister for Tamil Nadu, also referred to Gukesh as "our very own."
My heartfelt congratulations to our very own Grandmaster @DGukesh for emerging as the Champion at the World Chess Championship 2024 held in Singapore.
¡ª Udhay (@Udhaystalin) December 12, 2024
We are immensely proud that Gukesh, a distinguished player in SDAT¡¯s ELITE Players scheme, continues to bring home consistent¡ pic.twitter.com/2B2g0d5SOq
Some comparison postings also resulted from these posts by the two states' leaders.
??? ?? ??? ? pic.twitter.com/3e4qCGCq1y
¡ª Dr. ????? (@nikaran_tn) December 13, 2024
Tweet by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
Shortly after Stalin's tweet, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu claimed in an X post that Gukesh was a "Telugu boy," further intensifying the controversy about his ancestry. When Naidu posted on X, he became a member of the credit line. "Our very own Telugu boy deserves a hearty congratulations."
Hearty congratulations to our very own Telugu boy, Indian Grandmaster @DGukesh, on scripting history in Singapore by becoming the world's youngest chess champion at just 18! The entire nation celebrates your incredible achievement. Wishing you many more triumphs and accolades in¡ pic.twitter.com/TTAzV9CRbX
¡ª N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) December 12, 2024
In reply to Naidu's post, an X user wrote a cryptic opinion regarding staking claims on a victor.
Success has 1000 fathers, failure is an orphan.
¡ª Honest Dev (@Hon3stDev) December 12, 2024
But Naidu was criticized by another X user for asserting Gukesh's "caste." The user requested that the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh praise Gukesh on his skill.
You shouldn't congratulate him just because of a Telugu boy. Shame on you. He played well. Congratulate his talent not his caste
¡ª ?????? ???? ????? (@umakrishh) December 13, 2024
Meanwhile, someone criticized Naidu's assertion for its "inaccurate regionalism" and noted that Gukesh was born and reared in Chennai.
Isn¡¯t he born & brought up in Chennai? If u had been proud that he was an Indian it wd hv been better but u bring in inaccurate regionalism claiming he is telugu when he is a Madrasi tamilian. https://t.co/BNjXySiHMl
¡ª Godfrey .Y.P. (@godfreypy1) December 13, 2024
The chess champion acknowledged Udhayandhi Stalin amid all the claims to Gukesh's heritage.
Grateful for all the support @Udhaystalin sir? https://t.co/YUF89nyElw
¡ª Gukesh D (@DGukesh) November 11, 2024
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