Bhuvan Siripurapu: The teen who made his mark at ILO

(September 24, 2025) When Bhuvan Siripurapu landed in Taipei for the 22nd International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) in July this year, the city’s striking mix of ancient culture, modern innovation, and warm hospitality left a lasting impression on him.Yet it was his good performance at the IOL, an international academic event attracting some of the world’s sharpest young problem-solvers, that truly defined the trip. The experience made his visit to the foreign land all the more unforgettable.

The 15-year-old earned an honorable mention in the individual contest, a distinction awarded only to participants who score just below the medal range and place among the top performers globally. The Indian team also received an honorable mention in the team contest, ranking seventh worldwide after winning a gold and a bronze, marking one of India’s best overall results since its first participation in 2009.

The Indian team at 2025 International Linguistics Olympiad held in Taipei

“It definitely felt like a dream come true to represent India on an international stage. I would love to represent India again next year,” smiles Bhuvan, in a chat with Global Indian.

The spirit of the IOL

Each year, the International Linguistics Olympiad brings together talented students who push the boundaries of linguistic analysis, combining academic rigor with cultural exploration. Hosting the IOL in Taiwan—known for its linguistic diversity, shaped by indigenous languages, Chinese dialects, and global interactions, highlights the importance of language as a tool for connection and understanding across cultures.

The IOL is one of 12 international science Olympiads designed for high school students. Established in 2003, it challenges participants to apply logical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity to decode linguistic puzzles from various languages. Students analyze unfamiliar structures, including syntax, phonology, semantics, and writing systems, relying on pattern recognition to solve complex problems.

“The contest was definitely a blast; the problems were quite demanding, but I doubt most people even realized that six hours had passed, as the puzzles make you completely lose track of time,” says the Grade 11 student of Narayana Junior College, Hyderabad.

Bhuvan Siripurapu

The competition is divided into two categories: the Individual Contest, where participants work independently, and the Team Contest, where national teams collaborate on intricate puzzles. “The individual round consists of five problems to be solved in six hours. In the team round, one problem is to be solved in four hours,” Bhuvan explains. This year’s event was held at the prestigious National Taiwan University (NTU), known for its world-class facilities and academic excellence.

Favourite challenge: Kaqchikel

The final problem in the individual contest—Kaqchikel, stood out as Bhuvan’s favourite. “It involved neurolinguistics, which is not common in the Olympiad,” he shares.

The IOL not only encourages intellectual development but also fosters cultural awareness by introducing participants to lesser-known and endangered languages. Over the years, it has become a platform for promoting global understanding of language diversity and the role of linguistics in solving real-world problems.

Beyond the contest

For Bhuvan, the IOL was much more than a competition. From strolling through the vibrant night markets to visiting the impressive Taipei 101 skyscraper, it was an unforgettable experience. “It’s a meeting ground for high schoolers passionate about linguistics to meet, interact, and share ideas,” he says.

The week-long event featured excursions, treasure hunts, talks, and cultural showcases. “After the scheduled activities, we would explore the streets of Taipei with some of the other contestants or end up playing board games in the hotel late into the night,” recalls the teenager, who describes Taiwan as an “extremely scenic country with a fascinating culture” and hopes to visit again.

Bhuvan Siripurapu

Preparation and team effort

IOL was Bhuvan’s first international event, although he had earlier participated in several national and online competitions in Linguistics, Math, and Informatics. “In the two months leading up to the IOL, we had sessions almost every week, which involved analysis and team-solving sessions. This, combined with the amazing help we got from some of our mentors like Anshul and Faraz, who were previous Indian team members,” he says of the journey that led to India’s impressive performance. This was only the second time India won a team award, and its first gold in four years.

Education in Belgium and India

Bhuvan was born in Hyderabad. After his family moved to Belgium, he studied at the British International School of Brussels before returning to India in 2017 and continuing his education at Vista International School. He later joined Genesis International School, Madinaguda, for the first two years of high school. Both his parents work in the IT sector, while his sister is pursuing a medical degree at AIIMS Mangalagiri. “I’ve loved to play football all my life, and I was part of the school football and track team,” says Bhuvan.

Discovering linguistics

Interestingly, Bhuvan was never a fan of languages. “I find learning them quite difficult, and in India, it is essential to know two or even three languages, depending on where you live. I spent a lot of my time doing Math Olympiads in Grade 9, and that’s how I found out about Linguistics Olympiads,” he explains.

Linguistics Olympiads at the elementary level are primarily puzzle-based and don’t require prior knowledge of languages. “I noticed a couple of problems on the PLO website and found them quite enjoyable. This led me to write PLO in 9th grade, which exposed me to real linguistics,” he recalls.

It was then he realized that linguistics is not about learning different languages. “It’s much more than that; it’s about how languages are developed and how they work. It’s about the structure behind them. Knowing more than one language might help, but it is not necessary.”

Indian team at ILO 2025

Academic goals and passions

Looking ahead, Bhuvan is keen to pursue a course in Computer Science or Mathematics abroad. “Although I don’t have a particular university in mind at this moment,” he admits.

His passion lies in mathematics and linguistic problem solving. “I enjoy solving hard puzzles that require lots of problem-solving and logical deduction.” After school, Bhuvan spends most of his time immersed in math or linguistics, understanding language structures, decoding puzzles, working with lesser-known scripts, and improving his multilingual skills by reading different scripts.

Explaining its significance, he says that while global attention is on STEM and technology, accomplishments in linguistics and world languages show broad intellectual engagement. He believes linguistics helps preserve cultural and linguistic diversity while training logic and pattern-recognition skills. “I still take out time for my other hobbies, like playing football for an hour every day or jamming on my guitar.”

Bhuvan’s message to peers is simple yet profound: “Explore your interests and find something you are truly passionate about. When you love to do something, it becomes easier and you’ll end up exceeding your own expectations.”