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Chess · Shared learning · Research

A million minds,engaged through chess.

One board. Many possibilities.

Mukund Agarwal is bringing chess into school communities through shared lessons, hands-on practice and explanations in a familiar local language. What has begun with children is part of a wider ambition: to engage one million minds through meaningful play.

Bring chess to your schoolSee the sessions
Founded by Mukund Agarwal, FIDE MasterBased in India, open to partners worldwide
Mukund stands at a table with chess pieces in front of a blackboard while students sit on a striped mat facing him.
A shared demonstration brings the class together before practice.

Already underway

The work is already underway.

Million Minds is growing through in-person chess sessions with schoolchildren: group instruction, shared boards and guidance during practice.

School students seated on a striped mat with chessboards, facing the teaching area.
Students gather around chessboards during a school chess session.

Activity story

Learning chess together in school

Children gather with physical chessboards for a shared learning session. A demonstration brings the group together; smaller groups then have space to explore the game, with Mukund offering guidance at the board.

Mukund reports that his wider work has already engaged hundreds of children across different age groups.A verified, dated participant count will be published once attendance records are reconciled.

See photos and video from the sessions

Teaching method

Explain together. Practise together. Learn at the board.

The classroom approach combines shared instruction with time to try ideas on a real chessboard.

  1. Make the idea accessible

    Explain in a familiar local language so children can follow and take part.

  2. Show it to the group

    Use a shared demonstration to introduce an idea before children try it.

  3. Let children practise together

    Bring children around physical boards to explore moves with their peers.

  4. Offer guidance nearby

    Spend time alongside smaller groups to help them work through a position.

A short classroom demonstration during a school chess session. 19 seconds.

Original classroom audio. Captions and an English translation will be added after review.

Programs by audience

A program for every age at the board.

School sessions are running now. Programs for other ages and communities are pilot designs we will build with suitable partners.

Children 6–9In schools now

First Moves

Format
30 min · 6–8 weeks
Setting
School groups and small groups

Play, piece recognition, taking turns and short puzzles.

Request this program
Young people 10–17In schools now

Think Ahead

Format
60 min · 8 weeks
Setting
School or parent coordinated

Planning, decision-making, practice games and reflection.

Request this program
Adults 18–59Planned · enquire

Open Board

Format
60 min · 6–8 weeks
Setting
In person or online

Beginner learning, an enjoyable challenge and social play.

Request this program

See all programs

How participation works

From first message to first move.

A request starts a conversation. A coordinator checks suitability and capacity, then proposes a time that works in your timezone.

  1. Request

    Pick your role and program, then send a short request by WhatsApp.

  2. Review

    A coordinator checks the fit, group size, language and location.

  3. Propose

    We suggest a 30 or 60 minute slot, shown in your local time.

  4. Confirm

    You accept, and our team confirms the session.

  5. Play

    The session runs at your school, venue, home or online.

  6. Reflect

    Attendance and feedback are recorded so the program keeps improving.

Sending a request does not book a session. Nothing is confirmed until a coordinator replies with a time and you accept it.

Mukund Agarwal crouches beside students at a chessboard during a school session.
Mukund Agarwal guiding students during a school session.

The founder

A chess player sharing the game

Mukund Agarwal, a FIDE Master, wants more people to experience chess as a way to learn, connect and enjoy a thoughtful challenge. His current school work is the starting point for a wider community initiative.

About Mukund

Learning from every program

We study the work as we grow it.

Healthy minds are our aspiration. Research is how we find out what actually helps, starting with participation and feasibility before any claims about outcomes.

What is known

Practice at the board is real practice

Chess gives structured practice in planning, attention and decision-making under rules.

What is uncertain

Transfer beyond the game

Whether gains carry over to school results, memory or wellbeing is an open research question.

What we will investigate

Starting with feasibility

Who attends, who returns, what gets in the way, and how consistently sessions are delivered.

Read our research approach

Bring a session to your community

Are you a school, parent, community group or coach? Tell us whom you would like to involve and where. We can discuss a suitable session.

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