Himachal: 7-year-old Rohru student publishes two storybooks, dreams of becoming prolific young author
Shimla, August 2
In a remarkable display of creativity and imagination, seven-year-old Vanya Chauhan, a Grade 3 student of the Foundation Years School, Rohru, has authored and published two original storybooks, emerging as one of the youngest published student authors in the region.
The young author's books School Trip and The Royal Birthday Party reflect her vivid imagination while promoting important values such as friendship, kindness, teamwork, responsibility and compassion through simple yet engaging storytelling.
Her first book, School Trip, follows an exciting school excursion where the characters learn the importance of cooperation, helping one another and being responsible. The story introduces young readers to life lessons through relatable situations and colourful characters.
Her second publication, The Royal Birthday Party, is an imaginative tale built around celebration, friendship and positive values, encouraging children to appreciate kindness and togetherness.
Expressing her excitement over becoming a published author at such a young age, Vanya said she feels proud every time she sees her name printed on the covers of her books.
"I feel glad seeing my name on these two books. I want my name on many more books," she said, revealing her dream of writing many more stories in the years ahead.
Asked about her plans, Vanya displayed maturity beyond her years.
"I can't say anything about my future plans because children's aims keep changing while they grow. But reading and writing will always remain my hobby," she said.
Speaking about the people who inspired her journey, the young author credited both her school and her grandfather for nurturing her talent.
"I give the credit for this achievement to my school and my grandfather. I have been studying in this school since 2022. If I am able to confidently give this interview today, it is because of my school. My grandfather always inspires me to do my best," she said.
School Headmistress Ridhima Thakur said Vanya's accomplishment is a reflection of the school's child-centric educational philosophy, where creativity, curiosity and independent thinking are encouraged alongside academics.
She said TFYS follows an experiential and inquiry-based learning model that allows students to explore ideas beyond textbooks through storytelling, project-based learning, creative expression and critical thinking.
Congratulating the young author, Thakur said Vanya's achievement demonstrates that children can produce extraordinary work when they are provided with encouragement, confidence and a nurturing environment.
"Creativity flourishes when children are given the freedom to observe, imagine and express their ideas confidently rather than being confined to rote learning. Every child has a unique story to tell, and our role as educators is to help them discover their voice," she said.
According to the school, Vanya has already begun working on her third storybook, which is expected to be published in the near future, signalling that her literary journey has only just begun.
Teachers and parents have welcomed the young student's achievement, describing it as an inspiring example of how early exposure to reading, storytelling and creative writing can build confidence, imagination, communication skills and a lifelong love for learning.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Amazing! But I can't help feeling a little envious of kids today—when I was in Grade 3, I was just memorising tables and not getting this kind of exposure. It shows how education is changing in India, especially in hill states. Kudos to the school for promoting creativity over rote learning! 🙌
What a bright little star! Vanya's answer about future plans is so mature—it's a lesson for all of us to live in the moment. I hope parents around India are inspired to nurture their children's interests beyond academics. This also proves that good things are happening in smaller schools too, not just in metro cities.
While I congratulate Vanya, I can't help but wonder—is there too much pressure on kids these days? Publishing books at 7, giving interviews... It's wonderful, but I hope she gets to just be a child too. Still, if she's happy and it comes naturally, then more power to her! Both parents and schools should make sure childhood isn't lost in the rush of achievements.
Incredible to see this kind of initiative in Himachal's smaller towns! The Foundation Years School seems to be doing something right with its experiential learning model. We need more such schools that value imagination alongside academics. Wishing Vanya all the best for her third book. A star is born! 🌟📚
So proud of this little achiever! As a teacher, I can relate to what her headmistress said about early exposure to storytelling. Even in our classrooms, we see how much children blossom when we let their imagination run free. Vanya's books sound
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