Age No Bar: Former Maoist Leader Tippiri Thirupati Returns to Studies After 40 Years
HYDERABAD: After spending more than four decades underground as a senior Maoist leader, Tippiri Thirupati alias Devuji appeared for the Intermediate second year Telugu examination in Korutla town on Wednesday.
He wrote the examination at a centre in his native Korutla as part of the ongoing Intermediate supplementary examinations.
Former rebel returns to academics after four decades
Sources close to the family said Thirupati studied MPC at the Government Junior College in Korutla between 1981 and 1983. During his student years, he was actively associated with the Radical Students Union (RSU).
Family members said he could not appear for the Intermediate second year Telugu examination in 1983 due to unspecified reasons.
Later, he joined the then Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People’s War Group and went underground. He returned to the mainstream in February this year after spending more than 40 years in the forests as part of the Maoist movement.
Appears calm while writing exam with younger students
The former Maoist leader wrote the examination alongside younger students at the centre in his hometown.
A staff member at the centre said Thirupati appeared calm and focused during the exam.
“He appeared confident and showed a flair for writing,” the staff member said.
Move inspires others to continue education
A close relative said Thirupati’s decision to complete his studies proved that age was not a barrier to education.
“It is a welcome initiative and will inspire others to pursue education and realise the transformative power of education,” the relative said.
Speaking to reporters after the examination, Thirupati said, “I appeared for the Inter Telugu exam on Wednesday. I could not write the exam in 1983 due to some reasons and have now taken it to continue my studies.”
