To promote equality and inclusivity in the chess community, the Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC) is hosting the inaugural All Bengal Rapid Chess Tournament for Visually and Hearing-Impaired Chess Players on International Chess Day.

This tournament, which is being hosted by the Kolkata District Chess Association and the Nadia District Chess Association under the auspices of Sara Bangla DabaSangstha, aims to give visually and hearing-impaired students of all ages a chance to compete at a high level and demonstrate that everyone can enjoy the game, regardless of physical limitations. The main participants in the tournament are students from Nawadip APC Blind School, Voice of World, Jadavpur University, and other institutions. KCC guarantees eye-catching awards and medals for the best 10 players, unique rewards for particular age categories, and a healthy, welcoming atmosphere for all competitors and aficionados. More than 80 entries were received.

The Guest of Honour at this event was Grandmaster DibyenduBarua.   

Additionally, the KCC Braille Library on the first level was inaugurated on this day. Their mission is to tear down barriers and create a more equal world where everyone can engage in cultural and artistic activities. The basis of their vision is based on the principle of inclusivity and strive to achieve this by making art accessible to persons with visual impairments. They work hard to bring people tactile representations of artwork and thorough Braille descriptions so they can interact meaningfully and fully with the art.

Empathy and optimism inspire KCC’s program design, which embodies diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusiveness (DEAI). All of their facilities have wheelchair-accessibility features such as elevators, special viewing sections, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms. Their seminars are designed to fit the demands of a broad spectrum of participants by customizing materials and procedures. For the blind and visually challenged, they also provide tactile replicas of classic artworks and Braille art books. They collaborate with top industry players to strengthen their inclusion programming, and they always aim to improve their accessibility protocols.

Priyanka Dutta