No school, no syllabus, no screens: Indian family leaves corporate life in Singapore to raise their child

September 6, 2026 - 00:47

An Indian couple has traded the high-rise apartments and relentless pace of Singapore for the quiet foothills of Uttarakhand, making a radical choice about how to raise their young son. Leaving behind well-paying corporate jobs, they have embraced a life of "unschooling," a philosophy that completely abandons formal syllabi, textbooks, and even screens in favor of letting the natural world be the teacher.

Their son, Vedas, now spends his days exploring the forest, observing insects, and learning to identify local plants. His parents believe that this immersive environment sparks a deeper, more genuine curiosity than any classroom could. They argue that the pressure-cooker education system, with its focus on grades and competition, often crushes a child's innate desire to discover. Instead, Vedas learns through hands-on projects, like helping to build a fence or cooking a meal, and through unstructured play that encourages problem-solving and resilience.

The decision was not made lightly. It meant giving up financial security and a familiar social structure. But for them, the reward is watching their son develop a sense of wonder and independence that feels increasingly rare. They see him thriving, not just academically, but emotionally and physically. The family's new life is a quiet experiment in slow living, proving that a meaningful childhood might not be found in a schedule, but in the open air, where every day is a lesson waiting to be discovered.