No classmates for three years, yet Madhu scripts Telangana SSC success story
This story highlights the remarkable journey of Gunti Madhu, the only Class X student at ZPHS Mallapur in Peddapalli district, who studied without classmates for three years. Despite initial attempts to transfer, he persevered, walking 3 km daily to school, supported by teachers who motivated him.
Hyderabad: More than 4.97 lakh students recently celebrated their SSC Public Examinations results, but Gunti Madhu’s success story from Peddapalli district stands out.
The only Class X student of Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) in Mallapur village, Dharmaram mandal, Madhu had no classmates for the last three academic years. Yet, he scripted a success story not just for himself but also the school, scoring 429 out of 600 marks in Class X.
Madhu’s achievement helped the school join the list of 2,065 ZPHSs that secured 100 percent passes in the State. “I was really happy after checking the results,” Madhu told Telangana Today.
The school recorded six enrolments, with none in Class VI, one student in Class VII, two each in Class VIII and IX, and one in Class X student – Madhu – during the academic year 2025-26.
Initially, Madhu who had no classmates since Class VIII tried to take a transfer certificate (TC) and join another school. Given his class condition, his family also persuaded him to shift to another school.
After joining another school for a few days, Madhu returned to the ZPHS Mallapur and decided to continue his studies there. Despite knowing that he has no one to have conversation, play or have fun in the classroom, he walked about 3 km to the school and back every day.
“I have had no classmates since Class VIII. When I sought TC, the school management did not issue it. Still, I went to another school but I returned to the previous school. I made friends with my juniors and continued my school life,” said Madhu, whose family is into sheep rearing and farming.
Teachers did lay special focus on him. In fact, they visited the lone Class X student’s home when the latter failed to turn up at school and urged him to attend classes regularly. Like other students, he too was handed over some important questions to study for exams.
One of main reasons for low enrolment, according to the school management, is lack of feeding institutions in the surrounding areas.
“Since Madhu was the only Class X student, we took special care and used to motivate him a lot. We ensured that he came out with flying colours in the exams,” said Devi Ramesh, headmaster ZPHS Mallapur. The teenager is now planning to pursue MPC or BiPC from an intermediate college in Karimnagar town.
