SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 15: Founder president of the Jharkhand State Chess Association, C D Kamath, passed away at his residence in Mangalore, Karnataka. He was 80.
East Singhbhum District Chess Association (ESDCA) general secretary N K Tiwari said Kamath became the first president of the Jharkhand State Chess Association in 2000 after the bifurcation of Bihar and continued in the role until 2009, laying a strong foundation for organised chess in the new state.
Long association with Jharkhand chess
Kamath also served as president of the East Singhbhum District Chess Association for a record 22 years, from 1987 to 2009. Under his leadership, district and state-level chess structures gained stability and recognition.
Professionally, Kamath was Assistant General Manager at Tata Steel and later served as Managing Director of Tata Refractories Limited. After his retirement in 2009, he settled in Mangalore.
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Architect of chess development
Expressing deep shock over his demise, N K Tiwari described Kamath as a key developer of chess in undivided Bihar, a promoter of young talent and an outstanding sports administrator. He said Kamath’s vision left a lasting impact on the game across the region.
Tiwari recalled that in the 1990s, then Bihar Chess Association secretary A R Khan was so impressed by Kamath’s ideas that he frequently travelled from Patna to Jamshedpur to seek his guidance.
Nurturing top players
“CD Kamath being president of district chess association not only developed organization but also brought national–international repute players like IM Varghese Koshy, IM Neeraj Mishra and GM Dibyendu Barua,” Tiwari said.
Several other prominent players, including Pritam Singh, Dolan Champa Bose, Vishal Sareen, brothers Rohan and Rahul Sandilya, Alka Das and Abhishek Das, rose to prominence under his tenure.
His son, R K Kamath, now based in the US, had won a bronze medal in the Under-12 World Championship in 1989.
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Tributes from the chess fraternity
International Master Neeraj Mishra termed Kamath a pillar of chess in the state. “CD Kamath was pillar of state chess whom people of chess fraternity will never forget. Today Jharkhand is on whatever position at national level credit goes to CD Kamath,” he said.
International Arbiter Jayant Bhuyan said Kamath remained closely connected with Jamshedpur’s chess activities even in recent years. “He was in constant touch with me till last and guided me in writing book on Varghese Koshy,” Bhuyan said.
