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Former Naxalites Ace SSC Exam: Geeta, Arjun, Santosh's Inspiring Journey from Guns to Books
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News18•01-10-2026, 09:58
Former Naxalites Ace SSC Exam: Geeta, Arjun, Santosh's Inspiring Journey from Guns to Books
- •Seven former Maoists, part of 210 who surrendered last year, successfully cleared the Chhattisgarh Open School's SSC examination, with three achieving first-class marks.
- •Geeta Narote, known as 'Dr. Champa' within the organization, passed the SSC exam at 35 after her father was murdered by Maoists when she was 10; she now aspires to be a nurse.
- •Arjun Oyam and Santosh Achala, also former rebels, overcame challenging pasts and personal tragedies, with Arjun studying at night while learning vocational skills.
- •Modern technology like tablets and WhatsApp, along with support from friends, police, and teachers, facilitated their studies, making it easier to adapt to an academic environment.
- •Their success highlights the positive change possible through rehabilitation, education, and societal support, offering a powerful message that true liberation lies in education, not violence.
Key Questions Answered
Out of 210 Maoists who surrendered last year, 7 achieved success in the Chhattisgarh Open School's SSC examination, with three of them passing with first-class marks.
The former rebels used digital gadgets like tablets to read online chapters and PDFs, while peers assisted them by sending notes and explaining difficult questions via WhatsApp.
Geeta Narote, a resident of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, lost her father to Maoists at age 10 and joined the movement where she was known as 'Dr. Champa' for treating comrades. After abandoning violence last year, she passed the SSC exam at 35 and now aims to become a nurse.
