Gadchiroli | Correspondent: Bhupati’s New Journey, alias Bhupati, once counted among the top leaders of the Maoist organization, will now discuss laws, rights, and democratic institutions with students and the tribal community at a university. Having surrendered at the age of 71 after spending nearly 45 years in the forests and remaining associated with the Maoist movement for a long period, Bhupati has now chosen a new direction for his life.

He has been entrusted with the responsibility of 'Panchayat Coordinator' for a program associated with Gondwana University. His role will involve raising awareness among Gram Sabhas (village councils) regarding their constitutional and legal rights. He will work with the tribal community on issues specifically related to the PESA Act, the Forest Rights Act, government schemes, and the role of the Gram Sabha.

This transformation in Bhupati’s life is significant because his past is linked to the most influential phase of the Maoist movement.

Venugopal, once counted among the key Maoist leaders by security agencies, is now responsible for conveying the laws and rights of that very democratic system to the people.

From student politics to the Maoist movement

Hailing from the then Karimnagar region of Telangana, Venugopal came from an educated family; his father was a freedom fighter associated with the Congress party. During his student days, he was deeply influenced by issues concerning social inequality and the prevailing system. Subsequently, he transitioned from radical student politics to joining the Naxalite movement.

He had completed his education up to the B.Com level. His elder brother, Kishanji, was also a prominent leader in the Maoist movement and was later killed in West Bengal.

Over time, Venugopal rose through the ranks of the organization. He played a pivotal role in the Dandakaranya region and eventually reached the Maoist Politburo and the central military structure. Within the organization, he was regarded as a leader possessing both ideological depth and extensive experience in armed struggle.

Surrender in October 2025

A decisive turning point in the life of Venugopal, alias Bhupati, occurred in October 2025. He surrendered, along with 60 other Maoists, in Gadchiroli in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

His decision to surrender at the age of 71 became a significant example of the process of returning to the mainstream from the Maoist movement.

However, the real challenge for him began thereafter: how to move forward and start a new life, having broken away from the lifestyle and ideology he had been part of for over four decades.

Bhupati decided to leverage his past experience in his new role.

Experience in the forest to benefit Gram Sabhas

Upon learning about a university program focused on tribal studies and *Gram Sabhas* (village councils), Bhupati applied for it. Following an interview, he was selected as a Panchayat Coordinator.

His responsibility now is to inform Gram Sabhas about their rights. This includes topics such as rights granted under the PESA Act and the Forest Rights Act, access to government schemes, necessary documentation, claims related to forest rights, and the role of the Gram Sabha vis-à-vis the administration.

Bhupati believes that his nearly 45 years of experience among tribal communities have given him an understanding of ground-level realities and local issues in the villages. He views this new responsibility with the university as a fresh start in his life.

A journey from the gun to the Constitution

It would be insufficient to view Bhupati’s story merely as the rehabilitation of a former Maoist. It also illustrates a transformation wherein an individual returning from armed struggle is assigned a new role within the democratic system based on their experience and skills.

Bhupati is an extraordinary example of this process. He is returning to the very region and community where he spent decades-this time armed with knowledge of the law and rights, not as a representative of a Maoist organization, but as part of a university program linked to the democratic system.

Bhupati’s transition to the university after spending 45 years in the forest symbolizes the transformation in his life.