Have a look at the caste, religion and state of Gukesh D
Two southern states, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, are debating about the historic victory of Gukesh Dommaraju in the World Chess Championship on Thursday, which made him the youngest undisputed world chess champion at the age of 18.
Is Indian chess GM Gukesh Dommaraju (D) Telugu or Tamil, what is his religion, ethnicity, caste, origin and hometown birth place state
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
— Venkataramana Reddy (@tirumuru_87) December 12, 2024
The chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are claiming their state’s ancestral ties to the chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju. The two states, each keen to claim the young champion as their own, engaged in a fierce competition as word of Gukesh’s extraordinary accomplishment spread.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin posted on X, saying Gukesh’s “remarkable achievement, helps Chennai reaffirm its place as the global Chess Capital by producing yet another champion.”
Just after CM Stalin’s post, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Naidu tweeted, “Hearty congratulations to our very own Telugu boy. The entire nation celebrates your incredible achievement.
The Tamil Nadu government also announced Rs 5 crore to the chess prodigy.
Gukesh Dommaraju, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, trained in Chennai.
Gukesh is a Telugu by ethnicity, born to Telugu parents and is not a Tamilian. However, as a resident of Tamil Nadu, he is a Tamil Nadu domicile Telugu.
Despite having Telugu ancestry, Gukesh Dommaraju was born and raised in Chennai in a Hindu family. Both of his parents work in medicine. Although he took an interest in chess somewhat late, Gukesh’s aptitude quickly became apparent, and at the age of eight, he was rated by FIDE.
The Dommaraju is a family name from Andhra Pradesh that is associated with the Kshatriya caste, also known as the “Rajulu” caste. The term “Raju” is a Telugu variant of the Sanskrit word “Raja”, which means “monarch” or “princely ruler”.
Dear BJP Subservient Naidu @ncbn
Gukesh is a Tamilian.
If not, prove your capability by exceeding the ₹5 crore award given to Gukesh by the @CMOTamilnadu . https://t.co/HtJZMJrs1y
— Chirag Patel (@tuvter) December 13, 2024
Gukesh’s winning money is an astounding Rs 11.45 crore. Ding Liren, his rival, was given Rs 9.75 crore. Each game victory brought in Rs 1.69 crore according to the match rules, and Gukesh’s three victories (3rd, 11th, and 14th) brought him an extra Rs 5.07 crore. According to News18, he accumulated Rs 17 crore in just 17 days. Including his prizes from former tournaments and advertising money, Gukesh’s total earnings have now surpassed Rs 20 crore. He had already accumulated Rs 8.26 crore prior to this triumph, demonstrating his quick ascent in the chess world.
Reactions of netizens
An internet dispute over his origins and genealogy quickly turned into a bigger discussion over language and ethnicity, which is mostly a common past among the southern states.
Many noted that Tamil Nadu had given the chess star a substantial amount of financial support; one X user shared a screenshot of a news article from April stating that the government had given him ₹75 lakh.