Kids like Arjun Prajapati are not born everyday. When most children are just starting to recognise letters and small words, five-year-old Arjun Prajapati, a Gujarati-origin boy living in Canada, was already exploring the world of books written on the origins of the universe! The little boy began reading independently when he was only 18 months and has since read more than 3,000 books spanning mathematics, astronomy, genetics, microbiology and human physiology.Who is Arjun Prajapati
Arjun, Little child prodigy (PC: BNS News)
Arjun is from a family with roots in Vadodara, Gujarat. He has attracted global attention for his advanced learning abilities which has left the world shocked and amazed. He was just four, when he qualified for membership of Mensa International and Intertel, two organisations known for people with exceptionally high scores on recognised intelligence tests.IQ: 141As per Toronto Star reports, a Stanford-Binet intelligence assessment recorded his full-scale IQ at 141, placing him around the 99.7th percentile.An early love for booksAs per reports, at around 18 months, he began reading and by the age of two, he was said to be making sense of everyday written material, including road signs, restaurant menus and maps. His reading interests extend well beyond childhood stories. He also explored subjects like mathematics, astronomy, history, human biology, genetics and microbiology feature among the subjects he explores.According to the reports, his parents carry eight to 10 books in their car so that he always has something to read. That habit offers a glimpse into what drives Arjun’s learning. His love for mathematics is also mention-worthy. He enjoys numerical patterns and multiplication tables. He is also curious about black holes and the human immune system.Scholarship and a formal message from Canadian Prime Minister
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
Arjun has reportedly qualified for the Davidson Young Scholars programme, which supports profoundly gifted young people.As per reports, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford sent a formal letter of congratulations to Arjun. He has also visited Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and was invited for special recognition at Ontario’s Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park on October 29, 2026.Interest beyond booksArjun’s activities are not just restricted to books and school. He loves playing football, basketball, swimming, yoga and painting. He also enjoys playing the piano and is learning French and Spanish.The young boy already knows that he wants to become a physician-scientist when he grows up, combining medicine with scientific research. At five, however, this is an interest rather than a fixed career plan.Parenting approach
Arjun playing piano (PC: BNS News)
Arjun’s father, Dr Vishal V. Prajapati, is a physician and clinical researcher from Vadodara while his mother, Mahitha, is a lawyer. Raising a gifted child can have its own challenges. Arjun’s parents, as per reports, want to avoid any expectations to overshadow his everyday childhood experiences. Their priority is to give him opportunities to learn while allowing him to pursue hobbies.For now, Arjun’s story is still very young and writing his story. His reported IQ score and early reading ability are a gift. Getting membership of two high-IQ societies just adds to his learning journey. But it’s still early to determine what he will eventually become.What stands out is the environment in which his curiosity is encouraged. He is also blessed with a set of parents who want him to lead a normal childhood while answering all his questions. With books close at hand, opportunities to explore different disciplines and parents who are conscious of the need to avoid excessive pressure, he has room to continue asking questions at five.Whether his interests eventually lead him towards medicine, scientific research or an entirely different field remains to be seen. For the moment, there are more books to discover, new subjects to explore and questions about the universe waiting for answers.
