Padma Bhushan For Dr N.Mahalingam

By Arvind Aaron

Dr N Mahalingam, Patron of the All India Chess Federation, President of the AICF from 1985 to 1989 and the biggest supporter of chess received the Padma Bhushan from the Central Government on Republic Day. Though the award was
for his immense contribution under "Trade and Industry" we know of his multi pronged contribution to society in many other sectors like Sports, Education, Medicine, Oriental Research, Religion, Farmers' welfare, etc.  The AICF and the Chess Fraternity congratulates him on this major recognition.

Dr Mahalingan as President of the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association instituted awards for chess players who became International Masters and Grand Masters long, long before the Central Government came up with the same scheme. First, it was meant for Tamil Nadu players and when he became President of AICF, players from all over India benefited from his ideas for chess development.

He supports chess on various fronts and has made available his educational Institutions in Pollachi and Coimbatore to stage major events like the National B Championship in May 1978. His companies Sakthi Sugars and Sakthi Finance have sponsored many FIDE-Rated tournaments as well as International Master and Grandmaster tournaments in Chennai and Coimbatore. V.Anand got his first FIDE-Rating from the 1983 Mariammal Mahalingam Rating Tournament  at  Coimbatore and his final GM norm from the Sakthi Finance Grandmaster tournament at Coimbatore in 1987.
 
The first National Under-10, 12, 14 boys and girls event was sponsored by him through his bottling company and called the Limca Nationals. It was held at IIT, Madras in May 1988.

His business interests are diverse. He has sugar companies in various states of India. His group is into Transport, Finance, Automobile, Foundry,Textiles, Granites, etc.

In November 2002, N Ravi, the then editor of 'The Hindu', while felicitating him at a public function, praised his contribution in making Tamil Nadu a world leader in chess.

In the 1980s he helped unemployed, promising young chess players from Tamil Nadu with monthly cash grants to enable them to live decently and pursue their chess career. At least two such beneficiaries became International Masters. He has helped various needy chess players requiring medical help.

It is difficult to list the contributions of 84-year old Dr Mahalingam in an article like this one. He served in various organisations on boards of various prestigious institutions across the country. He was also an MLA for 15 years from Pollachi from the Congress party. He also has honorary doctrates from various Universities. 

 

Mahalingam continues to be the guiding spirit behind Indian chess.