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Checkmating AIDS

As Viswanathan Anand becomes an ambassador for HIV-AIDS awareness, he speaks about his game plan

PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

MASTERSTROKE Viswanathan Anand has studied the situation before taking up the job

Soon after he became the top-ranked chess player in the world, Viswanathan Anand has turned his celebrity status to a worthy cause.

Undoubtedly the greatest sports icon India has ever produced, he has become Avahan HIV-AIDS ambassador in the country. For the uninitiated, Avahan is the Indian chapter of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The 200 million dollar-initiative focuses on the six high prevalence States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Manipur and Nagaland. And as always the grandmaster has his moves ready.

Involving youth

"It is necessary for all sections of society to work together to contain the epidemic," says Anand,speaking from his home in Spain.

Outlining his job as the ambassador, Anand states that besides creating an international awareness about the damage that HIV-AIDS has caused in India, he would work at the ground level as well.

"It is basically three-pronged. To create an understanding of the problem by telling people facts about HIV-AIDS, involving people in the campaign by creating a compassionate environment, and then work towards the eradication."

Being an NIIT ambassador as well, Anand says he would also try to involve the youth from the NIIT centres, particularly in Tamil Nadu, his home State. "Then, given that I spend most of the time outside the country, I would try to mobilise NRI support." His brief also includes engaging the industry leaders and Anand says he will discuss the cause with his fellow sportspersons. "If any sportsperson wants to be part of it, he or she is welcome."

Agreeing with Ashok Alexander, Director, Avahan, who says societal leaders can play a significant role in creating awareness about HIV-AIDS, Anand says he has done proper study before taking up the job. "Besides going through the material on the infection and disease, I know a few cases personally as well."

Refusing to comment on whether celebrities without much knowledge of the issues they espouse dilute the cause, Anand shares his understanding of the issue close to his heart. "My understanding of the problem is that there are still lots of prejudices attached to the disease - like the difference between HIV and AIDS. Years after the detection of the virus in the country, sex comes across as the only cause. What about sharing of needles, what about transmission from mother to the child. All this should be highlighted."

Indicating the size of the population we have could soon result in the viral infection becoming an epidemic, he says, "Attempt should be made towards increasing the general awareness about the magnitude of the problem and instilling a sense of urgency in checking the problem."

Anand holds there is no direct link between conservative society and AIDS. "The first HIV case in India was discovered in Tamil Nadu, (supposedly a conservative society). And the cases swelled at an alarming rate. At the same time, one of the best HIV-AIDS campaigns has been run in the same State and the problem has stabilised. Youth should be the prime target for creating awareness and taking the message forward."

He doesn't want to dilute the conversation with the talk of chess, but mention of the young has always made Anand go beyond his brief, whether it's motivating them about life or educating them in the game by playing with 70-odd opponents — something he has done quite a few times — at one go. So ask him about the rise of so many young names in the field both in India and abroad that has turned him in his 30s to a veteran, and he relents: "The mental age of the game is going down; it's good for the game."

Having already won two tournaments this year, besides crossed the coveted 2800 ELO points barrier, Anand says: "This has been a great year and I want to continue the good form with Mtel Masters in Sofia next month." Best wishes, Master!

ANUJ KUMAR

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