The Spirit of Nachiketan
Nachiketan draws its name and spirit from Nachiketa, the young seeker of the Katha Upanishad, a child who dares to question Death itself. Nachiketa embodies courage without arrogance, inquiry without rebellion, and wisdom that is not bound by age. He does not reject tradition, but refines it through honest questioning.
Nachiketan, therefore, is not an institution in the conventional sense. It is a living space of inquiry - where learning unfolds through questions, observation, dialogue, and care. Knowledge is not reduced to subjects or outcomes, but approached as interconnected ways of understanding nature, life, and the self. Science and mathematics become tools of observation, stories and history mirrors of human experience, and philosophy a compass for meaning. Nachiketan is a quiet, deliberate movement toward learning that nurtures consciousness, compassion, and responsibility together.
Nachiketan has emerged from a long, personal journey of questioning, learning, and unlearning. From early curiosities about the world to years of engagement with science, mathematics, philosophy, and inner inquiry, this space reflects an ongoing search for truth and meaning. It is not built on achievements or authority, but on listening — to nature, to people, and to one’s own inner questions. The learning here is as much my own as it is shared.
This short video shares the inner journey that led to the creation of Nachiketan
A Fellow Seeker..
I am not an educator by training, nor a reformer by intent. I see myself as a Nachiketa in my own way — someone who has lived with questions for as long as I can remember, seeking meaning beyond achievement, clarity beyond information.
Over the years, my inner reflections have found expression through stories, writing, visuals, and quiet observation of life and learning. Nachiketan emerges not from a plan, but from this ongoing sādhanā — a need to create a space where questioning can remain honest, humane, and compassionate.
I have authored following two books. These works, like Nachiketan, are not answers — they are attempts to stay with the questions a little longer.
— Shailendra Mishra
Before you leave, you should know who is holding this space.
