Mani Shankar Iyer, Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, will felicitate World chess champion Viswanathan Anand at a grand function, in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Naidu, that will match the status of the achievements of the chess ace.
In a letter to Anand, Mani regretted his inability to attend an earlier function in his honour because of an illness.
"I have to deny myself the opportunity of joining millions of my countrymen and women in congratulating you on your utterly remarkable achievement of emerging as the world's No 1 chess champion," Iyer wrote, explaining his absence.
Describing Anand's achievement as without any parallel, Iyer said, ''As I am the Member of Parliament for Mayiladuthurai, I join all my constituents in felicitating ourselves on your having been born and brought up amongst us before you went into the wide world to secure fame and glory for our country. I trust we can make up for my not being with you this evening by organizing a felicitation in your honour in Mayiladuthurai.''
The date for the felicitation will fixed at Anand's convenience.