Chess park in Humnabad brings strategy to rural communities | Hubballi News

Bidar: Maniknagar gram panchayat (GP) in Humnabad taluk has set up Kalyana Karnataka’s first outdoor Chess Theme Park. The park features playing tables, a central gazebo with a life-sized chessboard, green lawns, and boards showcasing Indian and global chess legends. Named after Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, the project is designed to inspire rural children to embrace chess as a tool for cognitive growth.GP president Panchasheela Siddappa and Panchayat Development Office Rajashekhar Bulla told TOI that chess competitions are held across rural libraries, culminating in taluk- and district-level matches led by various GPs. “However, our Maniknagar GP distinguished itself by going beyond events and creating a permanent chess-themed public infrastructure, a first for the region. The game of chess improves memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills, qualities that are essential for the holistic development of children and young adults. In rural contexts, where structured learning spaces can be limited, such innovations bridge critical educational gaps and open new possibilities. The park is built at the cost of Rs 3 lakh at a 40×40 feet area and was inaugurated recently. The idea was inspired by a theme park in Uttara Kannada district,” they added.Deepika B Naikar, Executive Officer, Taluk Panchayat, Humnabad, remarked that chess is a game that sharpens the mind and teaches discipline, patience, and strategy. “Villagers, especially the youth and school children, should make use of this wonderful facility. Maniknagar inspires a rural chess revolution across the region,” she commented.Darshan RS, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Fellow, Humnabad Taluk, noted that this park is more than a recreational space. “As it is adjacent to a cricket ground and basketball court, it’s attracting children and youth of Humnabad and surrounding villages. It shows how the convergence of ideas, leadership, and local enthusiasm can lead to community assets even in small villages,” he asserted.Dr Girish Dilip Badole, Chief Executive Officer, Bidar Zilla Panchayat, who visited the park recently, said that the collaborative efforts of the GP and TP make the Chess Theme Park an inspiring example of how rural public spaces can be transformed into hubs of intellectual and recreational activity. “Such models should be replicated across other panchayats and encouraged GPs to draw inspiration from Maniknagar and the innovative spirit of Humnabad Taluk,” he emphasised.