17-Year-Old Student Takes Philosophy to Mumbai Schools: Pehla Prashn Encourages Critical Thinking
Published: October 16, 2026
A 17-year-old student, Neel Tripathi, is bringing philosophical inquiry into Mumbai schools through a student-led initiative called Pehla Prashn. The programme encourages children to question everyday experiences, explore different viewpoints and develop independent thinking rather than simply memorising facts. The initiative is reaching classrooms across Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), public and aided schools, highlighting a creative approach to school education and critical thinking.
What Is Pehla Prashn?
Pehla Prashn, which means “first question,” is an educational initiative built around the idea that children can explore complex questions from an early age. Founded by Neel Tripathi, a student of philosophy, history and literature, the programme introduces philosophical discussions into school classrooms through accessible activities and open-ended questions.
Instead of beginning with the names of famous philosophers or complicated academic terminology, the initiative encourages students to examine familiar experiences. Questions about dreams, colours and reality help children explore how they understand the world and why they believe something to be true.
How the Programme Encourages Critical Thinking
Tripathi designed a two-session curriculum focusing on dreams and colour. During these sessions, students are invited to explain their reasoning, listen to classmates and reconsider their assumptions. Discussions may also lead to written responses, drawings and creative activities.
For example, children discuss whether dreams can be distinguished from reality and whether colours exist independently of human perception. These questions encourage students to develop arguments rather than simply search for a textbook answer.
The programme is deliberately non-competitive. It does not rely on marks, rankings or a single correct answer. Instead, it creates space for curiosity, respectful disagreement, explanation and independent thought.
More Than 400 Students Reached Through Philosophy Sessions
According to the report published by Hindustan Times on October 16, 2026, Tripathi has personally conducted sessions for more than 400 students and mentored over 40 schoolteachers to continue the programme in their classrooms.
The initiative has also collaborated with the NGO Yuva Unstoppable to expand its reach across BMC public and aided schools in Mumbai. Student volunteers support the work, while teacher mentoring offers a way to continue philosophical discussions beyond the initial sessions.
Why Philosophy Education Matters in Schools
Philosophy education can help children practise reasoning, communicate ideas clearly and consider perspectives different from their own. Open-ended classroom discussions can also encourage creativity, thoughtful questioning and a willingness to examine assumptions.
For schools, initiatives such as Pehla Prashn offer an alternative to purely examination-focused learning. They create opportunities for students to participate actively in discussions instead of receiving information passively. Such activities may complement regular subjects by strengthening analytical thinking and communication skills.
What Makes Pehla Prashn Different?
- Student-led initiative: Founded by 17-year-old Neel Tripathi.
- Classroom reach: Conducted sessions for more than 400 students.
- Teacher participation: More than 40 teachers have been mentored.
- Learning approach: Uses questions, discussions, writing and art.
- Expansion: Works with Yuva Unstoppable to reach more Mumbai schools.
- Assessment style: Emphasises curiosity and reasoning rather than marks or rankings.
What This Means for the Future of School Education
Pehla Prashn demonstrates how student-led educational initiatives can introduce new ways of learning into school classrooms. By giving children opportunities to ask questions and defend their ideas, the programme aims to make learning more participatory and reflective.
As the initiative expands, its teacher-mentoring model could help sustain philosophical discussions across additional classrooms. The project also highlights a broader educational question: how can schools create more room for curiosity, reasoning and independent thought alongside academic achievement?
The central idea behind Pehla Prashn is simple: children do not need to know every answer before they begin asking meaningful questions. Encouraging them to think, explain and listen may be an important step towards developing stronger critical-thinking skills.
