Five-year-old Arjun Prajapati, who has read 3,000 books, to be honoured in Ontario legislature

Most five-year-olds today watch mobiles or are just beginning to read and write. The story of Arjun Prajapati, who is of Indian origin, is different. At this age he has read more than 3,000 books. He began reading at just 18 months.

Arjun scored 141 on a standardised IQ test, which places him in the 99.7th percentile of those who took the test. He has also been found eligible for membership of two high-IQ societies, Mensa and Intertel.

Arjun's family originally belongs to Vadodara in Gujarat, while his parents live in Canada. His father, Dr Vishal V. Prajapati, is a doctor and clinical researcher. His mother, Mahita, is a lawyer. Arjun began showing interest in books at about 18 months. Gradually his interests grew to include mathematics, astronomy, history, the human body, genetics and microbiology.

His attachment to books is such that his parents keep eight to ten books even in the car. Arjun says that if he is bored on the way, he should have a book to read. His questions are also of an unusual kind. He once asked what would happen if the Earth were cut through the middle. He does not want merely to know about something, but also to understand the reason behind it.

In the beginning, Arjun was given books that had English letters printed alongside pictures. His mother then taught him to recognise the sounds of letters and to count. His parents make special time to answer the questions that arise in his mind.

When Arjun was about four, a special test was held to assess his thinking and understanding. The fifth version of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale was used. According to information provided by the family, Arjun's full-scale IQ score was 141. His non-verbal IQ score was 149, his reasoning score 144 and his score for retaining and using information 146.

In simple terms, an IQ test tries to gauge how well a person reasons, how they understand new information and how capable they are of solving problems. However, an IQ score cannot give the full picture of a child or predict future success. A child's interests, effort, creativity and opportunities to learn are just as important.

Arjun has also received congratulations from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. He has visited Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has been invited to the Ontario legislature for a special honour on October 29, 2026.

Arjun is also interested in the human body and medical science. He reads about blood cells, immunity and infection. Once, after an injury, he asked doctors about taking an X-ray. Even so, his father says the family has never decided that Arjun must become a doctor.

In mathematics, Arjun likes multiplication tables, squares, cubes and number patterns. He also wants to know about black holes, galaxies, dinosaurs and the structure of the Earth. He is also interested in music, painting and foreign languages.

His parents let Arjun learn and grow according to his own choices. They put no pressure on him to study more or to build a career in any particular field. What matters to them is that, along with studies, Arjun plays, spends time with friends and stays happy.

Dr Prajapati believes a sharp mind alone is not enough, and that a desire to learn new things, hard work and helping others are also important. The parents want Arjun to choose his own field when he grows up. Whether he wants a career in mathematics, medicine, science or anything else, they hope he will have the freedom to decide according to his interest. For now, Arjun likes reading books and finding answers to new questions.