They left Singapore to raise their son in a Uttarakhand village: Why this couple chose 'unschooling', where nature has become his classroom

For many families, a good life can mean a stable corporate career, a comfortable home and access to the best schools. But for Garima and Aditya, the definition of a fulfilling childhood, and a fulfilling life, looked very different.

After years of living and working in Singapore, the couple decided to leave the corporate world behind and move to a quiet village in Uttarakhand. Their goal was to raise their son, Vedas, in a setting where nature, curiosity and everyday experiences could become part of his learning.

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A video shared on Instagram by @lifeofmaai has brought attention to the family’s unconventional approach to parenting and education.


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From corporate life in Singapore to a village in Uttarakhand

Aditya, who grew up in Shimla, moved to Delhi for college, where he studied fashion management and met Garima. After completing her studies, Garima took up a well-paying job that also gave her opportunities to travel overseas for work and training.

The couple married in 2015 and later moved to Singapore because of Aditya’s career. However, over time, the demands of corporate life made them question whether the conventional idea of success was what they wanted for their family.

Garima eventually left her job and began studying child psychology. Her studies changed the way the couple viewed childhood, education and parenting, encouraging them to think more deeply about how children learn and grow.

Eight years of planning before taking the leap

Their move to Uttarakhand was not an overnight decision. According to the family’s Instagram account, Garima and Aditya spent nearly eight years researching and planning their move before finally leaving Singapore. At the age of 33, Aditya quit his job and moved to Uttarakhand with Garima, who was expecting their child.

The couple became increasingly drawn to nature-based living, traditional knowledge and alternative approaches to education. They eventually settled in Basgaon, where they wanted to create a slower and more experiential childhood for their son.

No traditional school, fixed syllabus or report cards

According to The Better India, Vedas has never attended a conventional school.

Instead, much of his learning happens through everyday experiences. His days involve spending time outdoors, observing birds and insects, watching the weather, playing with stones, exploring plants and making up games.

He also helps with activities such as composting and has even experimented with painting using mud.

For his parents, these activities are not simply ways of keeping a child occupied. They believe they can also encourage observation, experimentation and curiosity, qualities they consider important to learning.

What is ‘unschooling’?

Garima and Aditya describe their approach as ‘unschooling’, an education philosophy that generally gives children greater freedom to explore their interests and learn at their own pace rather than following a rigid academic structure.

However, the couple does not say that children should never use textbooks or undergo formal education.

“We’re just against forcing them too early, too often, and too blindly,” they said, as quoted by The Better India.

Their approach is therefore less about rejecting education and more about questioning when and how academic pressure should be introduced.

For Vedas, nature becomes part of the classroom

The family’s lifestyle offers a sharp contrast to the conventional routine of school, homework, examinations and report cards.

Instead of spending most of his day inside a classroom, Vedas gets opportunities to explore the environment around his home. A walk outdoors can become an opportunity to observe plants, insects or weather, while playing can involve creating games and solving problems.

The idea is to allow learning to emerge naturally from curiosity rather than making every activity part of a predetermined syllabus.

A different idea of childhood

The family’s decision has attracted attention online, with many people finding their move away from corporate life and towards nature inspiring.

Their story also highlights a broader debate around childhood and education: how much structure does a child need, and how much freedom should they have to explore?

Garima and Aditya’s choices may not work for every family, and unschooling is not a one-size-fits-all approach. But their journey shows one family choosing to rethink the traditional path.

For Vedas, the mountains around his home are more than a backdrop. They are where he plays, explores, observes and learns, making everyday life an important part of his childhood education.


Inputs from TOI