Who was the first woman from India to become a Chess Grandmaster?

Introduction / Context:
India has produced several strong women chess players, and the title of Grandmaster is one of the highest achievements in the game. Knowing who was the first Indian woman to achieve this status is an important fact in both sports and general knowledge. This question checks your awareness of India progress in international chess, particularly in women events.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The focus is on the first Indian woman to become a Chess Grandmaster. • The options list well known women chess players and one less familiar name. • You must identify who achieved this milestone first.

Concept / Approach:
S. Vijayalakshmi is widely recognized as the first woman from India to achieve the Chess Grandmaster title. While Tania Sachdev and Harika Dronavalli are also strong Indian women chess players with significant titles and achievements, they attained their distinctions later. Richa Pujari is not known as the first woman Grandmaster. Remembering S. Vijayalakshmi pioneering role helps you identify the correct option quickly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Step 1: List famous Indian women chess players in your mind, such as S. Vijayalakshmi, Tania Sachdev and Harika Dronavalli. • Step 2: Recall that S. Vijayalakshmi is often mentioned as a trailblazer and pioneer in Indian women chess. • Step 3: Understand that she was the first Indian woman to reach the Grandmaster level. • Step 4: Recognize that while Tania Sachdev and Harika Dronavalli are highly accomplished, they were not the first. • Step 5: Select S. Vijayalakshmi as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Chess federation records and biographical sources identify S. Vijayalakshmi as India first woman Grandmaster. Articles on the history of Indian chess repeatedly mention her name when discussing the development of women chess in the country. In contrast, Tania Sachdev and Harika Dronavalli are described as later stars building on the foundation laid by players like Vijayalakshmi. These consistent references verify that she was indeed the first.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Tania Sachdev: A strong Indian woman International Master and commentator, but not the first woman Grandmaster from India. • Harika Dronavalli: A very successful Indian woman Grandmaster, but she achieved the title after S. Vijayalakshmi. • Richa Pujari: Not recognized in standard records as the first Indian woman Grandmaster.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to choose a more recently famous name like Harika Dronavalli because her achievements are fresher in memory. Some candidates also forget the chronological aspect of the question and pick any known Grandmaster. Always pay attention to words like “first”, “most recent” or “youngest” in such questions, because they change the requirement from mere recognition to remembering the order of achievements.

Final Answer:
The first Indian woman to become a Chess Grandmaster was S. Vijayalakshmi.