Rashid Mughal – A Tribute to a Chess Journalist
Today, this article is written to remember and celebrate the life of Rashid Mughal, a writer, editor, thinker, and a man whose quiet brilliance touched many worlds. Rashid was best known to many of us as a journalist of rare depth and integrity.
He began his distinguished career at the Daily Nation in Nairobi, where his sharp editorial mind and elegant prose quickly stood out. Among the many columns he authored, his chess writing held a special place for chess players like myself in the pre-Internet days. To readers of the 1970s, he was not just reporting on chess; he was inviting them into its beauty and discipline.
His journey in publishing took him on to become editor-in-chief at Viva and several other publications, where his leadership helped shape voices and ideas long before their time. Viva was a prominent Kenyan women’s magazine, particularly influential during the 1970s, that focused on women’s rights, political issues, and societal change, founded by journalist Salim Lone.
In 1988, Rashid Mughal immigrated to Canada, but distance never dulled his passion for writing. He continued to write, to think, and to learn until his final days — a lifelong student who, even at the tender age of 79, was still taking courses, still curious, still moving forward.
Meeting Boris Spassky
Beyond his work as a journalist, Rashid’s love for chess perfectly reflected who he was—disciplined yet imaginative, respectful of tradition yet unafraid to challenge it.
In one memorable story, he recalled playing former World Champion Boris Spassky in a simultaneous exhibition in Guelph, Ontario, in 1995. When Spassky offered him a draw on move 34 of his Pirc Defence, Rashid said he “jumped six feet.” Later, when Spassky autographed his copy of Modern Chess Openings, he admired Rashid’s fountain pen. Rashid offered it to him, and Spassky, with quiet elegance, insisted on exchanging it for a Russian-made ballpoint pen. Rashid concluded the story simply: “Quite an aristocrat and a gentleman.”
Sample Articles
Family
He was the beloved son of the late Habiba Begum and Abdul Ghafur Mughal; a devoted husband to Sadiqa; a loving father to Farhan (late), Tehmina, and Imran; and a proud grandfather to Nyla, Nadine, and Natasha. He was a brother to Saeed, Hanif, and Kosar (late), and a friend and mentor to many whose lives he quietly shaped.
