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By:

Prithvi Asthana

20 August 2025 at 5:20:30 pm

From Wheels to Wings

After a life-changing accident, Priya Sharma turned pain into purpose through sport and dance, building a nationwide community for women with disabilities. Para athletes inspire the world with their performances, but few know their backstories. Even less attention is paid to the thousands of others with disabilities who continue to struggle every day. Priya Sharma, a para-athlete from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, is trying to change that — not just for herself, but for many girls across...

From Wheels to Wings

After a life-changing accident, Priya Sharma turned pain into purpose through sport and dance, building a nationwide community for women with disabilities. Para athletes inspire the world with their performances, but few know their backstories. Even less attention is paid to the thousands of others with disabilities who continue to struggle every day. Priya Sharma, a para-athlete from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, is trying to change that — not just for herself, but for many girls across India. Through  Dance with Wheels  (DWW), she has created a platform where people with disabilities can dance, turning struggle into strength and inspiration. Setback to Strength Priya Sharma, once a trainer under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna, saw her life change after a road accident in 2018. While returning from a 10-day training camp in Indore, the car she was travelling in met with an accident that permanently injured her spinal cord. Her lower body was paralysed, and unable to cope with her disability, Priya slipped into depression. During the Covid-19 period, when TikTok was still legal, she spent hours watching videos of wheelchair users dancing with their upper bodies — and found inspiration. The turning point came when Priya heard Paralympic medallist Deepa Malik’s story on the TV show  Kaun Banega Crorepati . She realised that if Deepa could achieve so much despite similar challenges, she could too. Slowly, she returned to sport and connected with disabled women dancers on TikTok. A sportsperson since school, she resolved to become a para-athlete and win a medal for India. In 2023, she won the state championship in javelin throw and was selected for the national meet in Pune, where she finished in the top 10. In 2025, she won gold in javelin and silver in shot put at the 15th MP State Para Athletics meet. After 2023, Priya began thinking about other women like her—with disabilities, struggling mentally and unsure where to turn. That led to the birth of  Dance with Wheels . What began as a small virtual group of two or three people has now expanded across 16 states, bringing people with disabilities together online through dance. Though Priya had no formal background in dance, she started it simply to empower women like herself. Today, it has grown into a nationwide community. Dancing Beyond Limits During 2025-26, the initiative engaged 37 women with disabilities and held 55 sessions. Its first offline event,  Astitva , took place in Jaipur on December 17, 2025, bringing together dancers from 16 states. The event aimed to bring women with disabilities out of their homes and help them feel empowered. Nine wheelchair dancers delivered a galvanising performance before an audience of over 350, proving that with the right support, people with disabilities can overcome immense challenges. Because travelling with a wheelchair is never easy, Priya Sharma also held special sessions to prepare participants. She taught them how to fold their chairs and care for their bodies during long journeys. Some travelled 20 to 22 hours to attend. All of it grew from Priya’s vision to change the lives of women like herself. Looking ahead, she said, "I want these dancers to compete for India in Paralympic Dance Sport, win gold for our country, and show the world that we are no less than anyone else.”

Innovation that helps in maintaining environment

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

nnovation that helps in maintaining environment

In the heart of what is now known as Nano Cellulose Valley, a groundbreaking development is taking shape that promises to revolutionize the packaging industry. I successfully led the team at the University of Maine, United States, and addressed one of the industry’s most critical challenges: achieving sustainability through biopolymers while significantly reducing costs.

The persistent problem of plastic waste has long been a driving force behind the search for eco-friendly alternatives. Biopolymers such as starch, cellulose nanofibers (CNF), polylactic acid, and many more have emerged as potential solutions. Among these, CNF stands out due to its sustainable and natural derivation. However, its commercial use has been hindered by high water content and prolonged drying times, making it less viable for widespread application.

Transporting CNF slurry, with such a low concentration of solid content, is not only inefficient but also costly, as the bulk of the weight being moved is water. Additionally, handling and processing these dilute slurries require substantial energy and infrastructure, further increasing the costs. Efficient water removal of CNF slurry is therefore crucial. By reducing the water content, the volume and weight of the CNF material are significantly decreased, making transportation and handling more economical and environmentally friendly. This process also facilitates easier incorporation of CNF into various industrial applications, as less water needs to be removed during the final stages of production.

This pioneering research introduces a game-changing solution. The invention of “Electrostatic Contact Dewatering technique”. This innovative technique utilizes the electrostatic attraction between negatively charged CNF and positively charged precipitated calcium carbonate particles. By making this composite, the dewatering process accelerates fivefold, significantly reducing drying time and enhancing the cost-efficiency of CNF films.

The implications of this breakthrough are far-reaching. With high solids slurries of CNF now producible more efficiently, various industries can incorporate CNF-composites into their products. Potential applications span coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biomedical fields, electronics, and, notably, packaging.

The research, detailed in the paper “Influence of Electrostatic Interactions on the Dewatering and Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Nanofiber/Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Composite Films,” published in the Cellulose Journal, reveals that these sustainable composite materials also exhibit exceptional strength. The strength of these films surpasses that of polypropylene, a commonly used plastic, making this composite a revolutionary development for packaging and other industries. This exceptional and extraordinary research was also presented as an invited talk at the International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials in Helsinki, Finland. The research represents a significant leap forward in our quest for a greener, more sustainable future.

As industries strive to reduce their environmental footprint, the advancements provide a beacon of hope. By harnessing the power of natural materials and innovative processes, the path toward sustainable and cost-effective biobased packaging is clearer than ever. The future of packaging, and indeed many other sectors, looks bright with nanocellulose leading the charge.


(The writer is an environmental expert. Views personal)

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