FIDE SOC Masterclass Explores "Chess as a Tool for Social Transformation" with IM Atanu Lahiri

The FIDE Social Commission recently hosted an inspiring and insightful masterclass, "Chess as a Tool for Social Transformation," led by the distinguished International Master and social reformer, Mr. Atanu Lahiri. The session provided a deep dive into how chess can transcend its traditional boundaries as a game to become a powerful vehicle for social change and community empowerment.

Mr. Lahiri, a Gold Medalist in the Commonwealth Chess Championship and a FIDE Trainer with decades of experience, brought a unique blend of elite competitive expertise and on-the-ground social work to the masterclass. He is the founder of the "Chess for Change Foundation" and the visionary behind "Mission Chess for Change," which he initiated with a singular goal: to use chess as a tool for social transformation.

Beyond his impressive competitive career, Mr. Lahiri has served as the National Coach for six countries, including India, Nepal, and Mongolia, and has mentored multiple National Champions and FIDE Grandmasters. His extensive administrative experience includes serving as Joint Secretary of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and as a Continental Member of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission.

However, it is his personal, self-funded mission that truly sets him apart. Working entirely alone without grants or institutional support, Mr. Lahiri has personally introduced chess programs to over 130 schools across six Indian states and Nepal. His work has taken him to tribal villages in Purulia, conflict-zone schools in Kashmir, plantation communities in Darjeeling, and remote mountain schools in Himachal Pradesh. In 2025 alone, he taught the basic rules of chess to more than 10,000 students, travelling over 60,000 kilometres to reach underserved communities.

During the masterclass, Mr. Lahiri shared this transformative journey, outlining a scalable model for using chess to address critical social issues. He presented a powerful framework for how chess can be utilized to combat challenges such as digital addiction, low attention spans, gender bias, and conflict.

Mr. Lahiri's presentation, "How to build a scalable impact model from scratch," highlighted the game's unique potential to foster patience, encourage long-term thinking, promote gender equality, and create a level playing field for disadvantaged communities. He emphasized the importance of a right mindset, starting small, creating local resources, and building partnerships to implement successful social chess programs. To ensure accessibility, he has created 90 step-by-step chess tutorials in three languages (English, Hindi, and Bengali) and has distributed free chess sets in every school he visited, removing the basic barrier to entry.

The intellectual foundation for his work is his book, Art of Thinking, which positions chess not just as a game, but as a cognitive discipline that develops patience, consequence-awareness, creative problem-solving, and emotional regulation.

"We are thrilled with the success of this masterclass, which aligns perfectly with the FIDE Social Commission's mission to use chess as a tool for social development, inclusion, and empowerment worldwide," said a Maria Tamkovich, secretary of the FIDE Social Commission. "Atanu's practical roadmap, inspiring stories, and proven track record provide a valuable blueprint for anyone looking to initiate similar projects in their communities. He is a true example of a champion serving society."

The recorded session, which covers the full depth of Mr. Lahiri's insights and methodology, is now available for those who wish to revisit the ideas or share them with their networks at FIDE SOC YouTube channel.