Chaturang Diaries by Aditi Shrivastava is not a book that teaches chess in the usual way. It invites you to feel it. To slow down. To listen to the quiet intelligence of the board, where every move carries intention and every piece has a voice. This is chess not as competition alone, but as narrative, rhythm, and reflection.
Recognized with the 21st Century Emily Dickinson Award, this poetry collection positions itself far from instruction manuals or rigid coaching guides. Instead of diagrams and drills, the book offers verses. Through rhyme and storytelling, it transforms openings, tactics, and endgames into lived experiences. Learning becomes gentle. Strategy becomes memorable. The game unfolds as art.
At its heart, Chaturang Diaries celebrates the individuality of each chess piece. The Pawn is no longer humble or expendable. The Queen is not merely powerful. Every piece is given emotional depth and purpose through poetry, allowing readers to understand chess intuitively rather than mechanically. The board becomes a stage where patience, courage, sacrifice, and foresight quietly interact.
What makes this book particularly distinctive is its emotional origin. The inspiration traces back to the author’s mother, Savita Shrivastava, who introduced Aditi to chess with warmth and storytelling. Those early lessons shaped not just how the game was learned, but how it was felt. Chess became something nurturing rather than intimidating. Alongside this influence stands her father, Ravi Shrivastava, whose steady belief encouraged Aditi to pursue both chess and creativity without compromise. The book carries this inheritance of care and encouragement throughout its pages.
The poetry does not simplify chess by reducing its depth. Instead, it reframes complexity in a way that feels accessible. Concepts that often overwhelm beginners are softened through metaphor and rhythm, while experienced players discover a fresh lens through which to revisit familiar ideas. Chess here is both intellectual and emotional, analytical and imaginative.
While the book naturally resonates with chess learners and enthusiasts, its reach extends further. At a deeper level, Chaturang Diaries reflects on decision making, patience, resilience, and growth. Each move mirrors life choices. Each game becomes a lesson in awareness. The poetry quietly suggests that how we play reveals how we think.
Aditi Shrivastava’s background as a chess player and coach is evident in the clarity of thought behind each verse. Yet her identity as a storyteller ensures the book never feels instructional. The language remains inviting, reflective, and sincere. There is no urgency to perform, only an invitation to understand.
This is not a book meant to be rushed through. Like a thoughtful game of chess, it rewards attention. A poem may linger in the mind long after reading, reshaping how one approaches both the board and life beyond it. The book does not aim to produce instant mastery. It offers perspective.
Ultimately, Chaturang Diaries is a tribute to learning done with care and curiosity. It reminds us that strategy can be gentle, teaching can be poetic, and discipline can coexist with imagination. In giving chess a lyrical voice, the book restores wonder to a game often seen only through logic.
📖 Title: Chaturang Diaries
📍 Location: Bhopal, MP, India
📚 Genre: Poetry
🏆 Award: 21st Century Emily Dickinson Award
