Guwahati: Pawns to Kings, a youth-led non-profit founded by teenage chess champions Vihaan Upadhyay and Viraj Upadhyay, has announced the expansion of its "From Screens to Squares" campaign, which promotes balanced screen habits and chess-based learning among children.
The announcement was made on International Chess Day at an event held at the Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre in Guwahati.
The programme was attended by Pallav Gopal Jha, IAS, Secretary to the Government of Assam's Social Justice and Empowerment Department, as chief guest.
Oinam Sarankumar Singh, IAS, Secretary to the Government of Assam's Water Resources Department; Aayush Garg, IAS, Mission Director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan; and clinical psychologist Mythili Hazarika, founder of Mynd Foundation, attended as guests of honour.
The campaign, launched last month, seeks to encourage children to move beyond passive screen consumption and take up activities that promote critical thinking, creativity and real-world engagement.
Pawns to Kings said it does not advocate discouraging technology but promotes responsible and balanced use of digital devices.
Over the past two years, the organisation has conducted chess workshops, school engagement programmes, tournaments and community outreach through initiatives including Project Ujjibon and Project CHILD. According to the organisation, these initiatives have reached children in orphanages, rehabilitation centres and flood shelters across Assam.
The group said chess is being promoted as an educational tool that can help develop concentration, patience, analytical thinking, confidence and decision-making skills.
A key feature of the International Chess Day programme was the launch of the Pawns to Kings Chess Training Book for Children, a comic-style learning resource designed to make chess more accessible for young learners.
The book uses illustrations, storytelling and characters to introduce chess pieces and lessons. It is supported by animated video lessons and multilingual resources in English, Hindi, Assamese and other regional languages.
Pawns to Kings also announced a collaboration with The Mynd Foundation to expand the "From Screens to Squares" campaign across Assam. The partnership aims to reach nearly 200 schools through awareness programmes, workshops and chess-learning sessions.
The organisation said it also plans to extend its outreach to Manipur, particularly among children in rehabilitation and relief centres who have faced disruptions to education and daily life. It aims to use chess education and interactive learning resources to help children build focus, resilience, confidence and hope.
The founders said the campaign was intended to go beyond chess and create opportunities for children to think independently, strengthen family bonds and rediscover learning beyond screens.
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