He was just another aam admi a year ago, but his life took a sharp turn when he joined the party and was elected MLA from the Model Town Assembly seat. Twenty nine-year-old Akhileshpati Tripathi says that even after his huge victory, nothing much has changed in his life and he still prefers living the way he used to before he became a political leader.
He was born in Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, into a humble family where his father, a primary school headmaster, and his mother, a housewife, stressed on the importance of good education. The family values were passed on to him, and he now firmly believes that education is the only way to strengthen the society. “I think the most effective way to transform our society is through education. If we educate people, they will be aware of their rights and will automatically speak up for themselves,” he says.
After his schooling in Mehdwal, he went to Allahabad for his graduation and Masters in history.
In 2007, he moved to New Delhi to prepare for the IAS, but all along he was involved in social work and participated in Anna Hazare’s campaign last year.
Tripathi, who came into the limelight after exposing the ration mafia of Lalbagh in Azadpur, was jailed and beaten severely by hoarders involved in ration trafficking; however, he was determined to fight back and that was the first time his social work was recognised and supported by local residents. Speaking about his mantra in life, he says, “In college, I read a poem by Sarveshwar Dayal Saxena that changed my life. It taught me how those who live in fear can never succeed, and if one has to achieve something in life one must face fears and win over them.”
