Synopsis
Five-year-old Arjun Prajapati has drawn attention for his exceptional learning abilities, scoring 141 on an IQ test and qualifying for Mensa International and Intertel at the age of four. He reportedly began reading independently at 18 months and has explored more than 3,000 books on subjects including mathematics, astronomy, genetics and human physiology. Despite his advanced interests, his parents want him to learn at his own pace and enjoy his childhood without academic pressure.
AgenciesMeet Arjun Prajapati, the five-year-old who started reading at 18 months, explored 3,000 books and earned Mensa and Intertel membership with an IQ of 141.
When most children are beginning to read words and numbers, five-year-old Arjun Prajapati is already asking questions about infinity, black holes and the origins of the universe. He wants to know what happened before the Big Bang and why certain mathematical problems have no straightforward answers.The young boy's appetite for knowledge has taken him far beyond what is usually expected at his age. Arjun reportedly started reading independently at around 18 months and has explored more than 3,000 books covering subjects ranging from mathematics and astronomy to genetics, microbiology and human physiology.
His abilities have also earned him membership of Mensa International and Intertel, two organisations for people who score highly on recognised intelligence tests. Arjun qualified for both at the age of four, placing him among a small group of children with exceptional cognitive abilities. However, his story is not just about intelligence scores. His parents say they want him to follow his interests without allowing academic achievements to overshadow his childhood.
Arjun Prajapati's IQ score and Mensa membership
Arjun recorded a Full Scale IQ score of 141 on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition (SB5), according to details shared about his assessment. The score places him at approximately the 99.7th percentile, meaning his performance was higher than that of around 99.7% of the reference population. The assessment also recorded a Working Memory Index of 146 and a Nonverbal IQ score of 149. His testing was conducted by licensed clinical psychologists in Canada.
Mensa generally accepts people who score within the top 2% on an accepted intelligence test. Intertel has a more restrictive entry threshold, typically requiring a score within the top 1%.
Arjun's qualification for both societies at such a young age has drawn attention to his abilities. He has also qualified for the Davidson Young Scholars programme, which supports profoundly gifted young people.
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His parents have received congratulations from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Arjun has also been invited for special recognition at Ontario's Legislative Assembly at Queen's Park on October 29, 2026.
Reading began before he turned two
Arjun's interest in books emerged well before he started formal schooling. By the time he was around 18 months old, he had begun reading on his own. At two, he was reportedly making sense of road signs, restaurant menus and maps.
Books have remained a constant presence in his life. His collection spans several subjects, including astronomy, mathematics, human biology, genetics, history and microbiology. His parents even carry eight to 10 books in the family car so that he has something to read during journeys.
Mathematics is among his favourite subjects. He enjoys numerical patterns, multiplication tables up to 20 and concepts that are generally introduced to older schoolchildren. Rather than simply memorising answers, he likes exploring the reasoning behind them. Questions about infinity and the behaviour of numbers are part of his everyday curiosity. His interests also extend to black holes, the human immune system and the movement of oxygen through the body.
From gifted education to Harvard and MIT
Arjun's learning has extended beyond the books he reads at home. He is enrolled in gifted education coursework through Northwestern University, where he studies topics including cellular biology and human physiology. He has also visited Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), two of the world's best-known academic institutions.
Despite his strong academic interests, his routine is not limited to studying. He enjoys football, basketball, swimming, yoga, painting and playing the piano. He is also learning French and Spanish. His parents say they want to provide opportunities for him to explore different subjects rather than push him towards a particular academic path.
Parents want Arjun to enjoy his childhood
Arjun's father, Dr Vishal V. Prajapati, is a physician and clinical researcher originally from Vadodara. His mother, Mahitha, is a lawyer who studied at the National Law School of India and later earned a Master of Laws degree in the US. The couple say their approach to raising Arjun centres on encouraging his curiosity without forcing him to meet expectations created by his abilities. Arjun has expressed an interest in becoming a physician-scientist in the future, a career that would combine medicine and scientific research. Whether he eventually follows that path remains to be seen.
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