Meeting Viswanathan Anand is always a lesson in calm and composure, among innumerable takeaways. The iconic chess champ dropped by The Saturday Club for Rendezvous with GM Viswanathan Anand presented by the Wood Street club in association with The Telegraph, on Friday. We hopped into his car, headed for Taj Bengal, post-session, for some life lessons.
When you said you blanked out for a minute in a match, we humans could relate to Viswanathan Anand. So, you are as human as us?
Yes, chess players do have blackouts and all and that was strange because normally I am a very fast player. So nobody could understand why on move four, I was wasting so much time.
So, you also have your moments?
Yes, of course. I have far too many. (Laughs)
How do you calm down and what do you tell yourself?
It helps if you have done it once before because then you remember... wait, the last time I didn’t do anything to change the situation and it led to a defeat. This time, let see me... some sort of self-control... if I get up and walk for two minutes or drink some tea... you need to do something to break the routine because clearly something is going wrong and you try to arrest that and come back.... The sooner your objectivity asserts itself the better for you. Then you are making decisions based on the position.
The club celebrated Anand’s birthday in advance with a chessboard-themed cake
How good are you at acceptance of a situation?
Generally I am quite reasonable at this. Let’s say I try not to have fanciful scenarios. So, then reality becomes easier to deal with and I even maybe have a slightly fatalistic streak. That helps.
What are the chess learnings that you have applied in your life?
Sometimes you need to understand more about something before taking a decision. That it’s easy to feel that you are an expert at something, but you are not. And, that it’s always possible to learn something new.
How do you deal with anxious thoughts?
It’s a natural part of life. If possible, take a break from whatever you are doing... take a week off, two weeks off... go for a holiday. Change the subject. Clearly, when you are frustrated and angry, you are losing emotional control. Go to a neutral subject. It allows you to calm down a bit and sometimes the passage of time clears things up.
Try to stop because you realise that you are breaking down. Sometimes, you cannot do that. Just try to imagine what’s the worst that could happen.
The Saturday Club president Rahul Johri felicitated Anand
Who are your anchors in life?
Typically, my family... my parents, nowadays my wife (Aruna). She supported me through my entire career. That’s also been a big thing. She becomes almost a target for all the things in your head. (Smiles) And, she puts up with it patiently, but she knows that we have an understanding, that’s easier for me to recover like that.
How much is gratitude a part of your everyday life?
It’s a very healthy attitude to have because almost always you can think before you complain — of course it is not always possible— that someone else is having it much worse. Even when things are going badly, it could have been worse. It’s always a question of perspective. Everything is relative. And sometimes if you want to feel sorry for yourself, go ahead and do it.
What has changed in your life in the last three years?
I have gotten to spend way more time than I used to. I am generally travelling a lot. This had the benefit that he’s (son Akhil) gotten to see me a lot at home and that’s in fact been a kind of blessing. If I were to look back at the situation of the pandemic, it’s easier to accept it as some event over which you had no control and just say: ‘I am going to enjoy the benefits’. It is hard to blame yourself for anything because the whole world shut down. What are you supposed to do?
This bonding with your son must have been precious. How much has he got to know you and you him?
Definitely. I think a lot. The main thing was we got this time with each other and so what was a bad thing for the world, turned out to have a silver lining.
Viswanathan Anand in conversation with Jeet Banerjee at Rendezvous with GM Viswanathan Anand
What is Akhil like?
He is a very affectionate kid. He paints and thinks a lot about maths and science, but mostly a very loving kid. Literally weeks on end I was at home and that has almost never been the case.
Does he have an inkling about your fame?
By now he does. He is 11 and he knows that people recognise me often. Maybe what he hasn’t fully experienced is because obviously, you don’t get to try two dads... he doesn’t understand that maybe there are a lot of dads who are not famous. For him, I am also a playmate.
How are you bringing him up?
I just want him to be happy. He is already kind, thoughtful and empathetic.
Aruna has been your rock-solid support. How has the relationship evolved with her beyond the marital relationship? Is she your closest confidante?
Closest confidante and she ended up being my manager. We have separated many things. A lot of things she is good at, I don’t question it. That’s given me the freedom to do chess a lot. I try to help her in whatever way I can and she does (too).
Just trying to understand the man behind this composure. Do you ever break down?
Hmm... yes. In private, it’s even quite a relief. Sometimes when I think about my parents, it overwhelms me, but in private you let it out and a bit later, you are back to normal.
How old are you in your head?
I am pretty sure I will feel 18 all my life but then you realise that your body doesn’t agree with you (laughs). There are a few other details and other people look at you strangely, especially when you have your class reunions and you meet your class friends from school, then you are back to 12!
Are you in touch with most of them?
‘Most’ is too strong but there is a nice group. We had our 20th reunion and then our 25th and at both of those we got to reconnect... definitely made a lot of friends again.
How have you remained this humble?
In the end, I just try to be myself. I also genuinely believe it makes no sense to... what is fame really? It is one component of life. I was lucky to have fame. It’s in the nature of what I do. I could be just as good in some other profession, but it might not bring fame with it, but success in some other measure. I am happy that people recognise me. They appreciate what I do. It is a compliment and I leave it at that.
You are going to have success and failure in life. Enjoy the success and don’t take it for granted.
Are you enjoying your role as an administrator, as the deputy president of FIDE (world chess federation)?
Very much. It’s a nice new experience and I am fortunate to have the chance because the FIDE president asked me to come directly on his ticket as a deputy president. I realise that I am lucky to have that. I try to do the best for the sport.
We saw you signing so many books patiently...
Generally, when I am with fans, to some degree it is easy to say it’s too much and complain. When you have none, what are you going to do as well?
While talking to you one gets the feeling that you never take things for granted...
Yes, but there is a bit of acting. There are situations where I may feel differently, but I exercise self-control. It’s not other peoples’ problem and you shouldn’t burden them with it. I have a certain way of behaving in public and then I get back to a private space and then I am different.
It’s been a great life, right?
Yes, I can’t complain, like I said. You realise you’ve been fortunate and you enjoy it while appreciating it.
Finally, what are your birthday plans (on December 11)?
I don’t know. We’ll do something at home or we’ll go out... we’ll have some fun for sure (smiles).
