Haryana child prodigy: Five-year-old who knows pretty much everything about the world

He is five-years-old, but has already become famous, surprising everyone with his vast knowledge of politics, economics and world geography, and answering questions with ease that would sound Greek to most children of his age.

Sonepat-born Kautilya Pandit, a child prodigy of Kohand village in Gharonda sub-tehsil in Karnal, is seen as an exceptional talent, who is busy hopping from one TV studio to another showing off his memory by answering questions on a range of topics, including population of countries, their GDP, culture, heritage and other things.

"I love reading books, they are fun. I want to know everything about my country and the world," the boy, who studies in Class I and dubbed 'memory prince' by the media, told PTI.

Noticing the special talent in the child, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has asked the family to meet him on October 4, the child's father Satish Sharma said. Asked about his son's talent, Sharma said, "He was talkative right from the age of two. Our family runs a school in Kuhand in Karnal, where 300 other children are also studying. Kautilya studies there too."

Sharma said the family resides on the second floor of the school building. "We noticed special talent in him in February this year. He accompanied me on a trip to Agra and started asking me about the signboards along the way. I was taken by surprise by his memory. In May-June, he started reading books and since then he has acquired vast knowledge," he said.

He said the child's IQ level had not been checked yet, but during a TV interview, a Delhi university professor had told him it should be around 150. The child's mother is also a teacher and Kautilya's two sisters, aged seven and nine, are also intelligent, but not quite a match for the prodigy, Sharma said.

He said government should provide incentives to children who show exceptional talent which will encourage them.