Soon after the marriage he was not only the world number one but also became World Champion multiple times. Neither John’s parents nor Aruna’s played any part in bringing them together. Strongly opposing the match, Aruna’s parents pressed her to seek separation and return home. 'Anand has a great sense of humour' Behind every successful man is a woman, it is said. And exemplifying the adage is World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and his wife Aruna.

For him, she is his manager, confidante, friend, guide and, last but not the least, a life partner. Aruna’s nickname for Anand in the early years of their marriage was ‘Lord of the Rings’ because he kept losing his wedding ring. Having been working alongside Anand, coping with the successes wasn’t easy for Aruna but they both enjoyed a lovely roller-coaster ride. Aruna Shende lived with her parents in the slums of Madras, India, until the day that mysterious men took her parents from their home, and never returned. Anand once bought Aruna a saree because he thought the colour would “look brilliant in hi-resolution on the computer screen.” Aruna Anand, in a chat with Nandini Narayanan, gives us a glimpse into what makes her marriage tick. Aruna married Anand in 1996 when he had yet to become a world champion. Anand married Aruna in 1996 and has a son, Akhil, born on 9 April 2011, and is named in the traditional patronymic way Anand Akhil. Interview with Aruna Anand.

The iron lady is one of the key reasons for Anand’s success in the world of chess.

This story originally appeared on ChessBase India and is republished with kind permission… Indian chess would have been much different if, on the 27th of June 1996, Vishy Anand had not tied the knot with Aruna Anand.

His family moved to Chennai shortly thereafter, where he grew up. [20] In August 2010, Anand joined the board of directors of Olympic Gold Quest , a foundation for promoting and supporting India's elite sportspersons and potential young talent. Her parents replaced it for him three times until he asked them to stop. We prayed and just knew this was God’s will for uniting us. Viswanathan Anand, a former World Chess Champion, was born on 11 December 1969 at Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuthurai. In one city Shende overheard a conversation about film making, and joined the cast and crew. Aruna, then known as Shende, traveled from city to city, stealing food when work was unavailable.

And that’s what happened on May 31, 1969. Said Aruna, “It was definitely the gift of the Spirit and the guidance from His Spirit.