Assam has honoured its first Grandmaster! GM Mayank Chakraborty has been selected for the Asom Gaurav Award 2025 for his contribution to chess. The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved one of state's highest civilian awards at its meeting on Friday, 23rd of October 2026. The awards will be presented in December.
The boy from Guwahati
When Mayank became India's 94th GM in March 2026, he did something no player from Assam or the Northeast had done before. He became the first GM from the region and mind you, he is just 17! Now his state has recognised it. This means a lot more than one award for one player. When a child in Guwahati, Dibrugarh or Silchar sees a chess player honoured alongside the state's most respected names, they understand that chess is a path worth taking. Hats off to the Government of Assam for that!
What is the Asom Gaurav?
The Government of Assam started the Assam Civilian Awards in 2022. They are the state's highest civilian honours, modelled on the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Awards, and come in three categories: Asom Baibhav (the highest), Asom Saurabh and Asom Gaurav. The Asom Gaurav carries a citation, a medal and Rs.3 lakh, along with benefits such as free medical treatment in government hospitals and stays in state circuit houses and Assam Bhawans.
For 2025, ophthalmologist Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee has been selected for the Asom Baibhav. Four personalities will get the Asom Saurabh, and ten individuals and two organisations the Asom Gaurav. Mayank has been named in the Sports (Chess) category.
Learn from Mayank
A few days ago we had Mayank at the Temple of Chess giving a lecture on his best game from the Asian Juniors 2026. Check out the amazing lecture.
