Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveA ‘voter-gait’ to create true democracy: Lawyer-activist Chaitanya Prabhu raps for rights

A ‘voter-gait’ to create true democracy: Lawyer-activist Chaitanya Prabhu raps for rights

Written by: Amrita Priya

(April 1, 2022) In 2018 while searching the internet for a new (coloured) voter id, Chaitanya Prabhu discovered that all the processes to register and upgrade were simple and swift. Yet, enquiring if his friends had their new and improved voter id, he was shocked to learn that many had not even registered to vote, and thus were unaware of the simple online process. It left him flabbergasted.

Determined to help his friends get a voter id done, he started a movement. “What started as a small action slowly took the shape of the Mark Your Presence campaign. By word of mouth the information spread, and many people started approaching me for their voter ids,” says Chaitanya in a conversation with Global Indian. The campaign evolved as a result of what people wanted. The need came from the masses and his movement gained impetus. It became so impactful that the Mumbai-based 23-year-old advocate at the Bombay High Court was awarded the UN India Award and Diana Award 2021 for his humanitarian efforts. For the then law student starting such a campaign in 2018, has reaped great rewards.

Voter id | Lawyer-activist | Chaitanya Prabhu | Global Indian

Chaitanya Prabhu, lawyer-activist, founder of Mark Your Presence

Lighting up young minds

His dedication didn’t escape the notice of the chief electoral officer, state election commission of Maharashtra and chief electoral officer of Delhi. They offered full support to Chaitanya’s non-profit and non-partisan organisation. Currently doing a master’s in public policy at St Xavier’s College, Chaitanya gained an insight into how policies are framed. The lawyer-activist addresses his two awards as “extreme light in the darkness.” Since he began, he has mobilised more than 26,000 youngsters to take their first steps towards being responsible citizens of a democracy. Today, Mark Your Presence has 430 volunteers, and 25 core team members.

Honoured to have been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts, The Diana Award.
Thanks to the Diana Foundation for giving me this platform and the opportunity to be part of the Diana family @DianaAward #dianaaward pic.twitter.com/xBlxwRkwxc

— Chaitanya Prabhu चैतन्य प्रभु (@chaitanyavotes) June 28, 2021

“Mark your Presence also offers a leadership fellowship, where we train young people (between 16 and 22) to take part in strengthening the Indian democratic system, and turn every institution into a voter-friendly campus. Selected after diligent screening, they become part of our forum – a certificate and letter of recommendation from the election commission of Maharashtra,” says Chaitanya.

An activist soul

The lawyer-activist has visited top schools and colleges in Mumbai and Delhi for seminars and speeches to empower the youth to become politically aware voters, and choose representatives well – echoing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “I want to reduce the huge gap that lies between the young population and the people’s representatives so they make informed choices to make our country leap ahead with the right leadership,” says Chaitanya who is also a national level athlete.

Winning mantra

An athlete, winning is ingrained in him, and so is perseverance. His sporty side played a large role in shaping this young activist. “I might be seen as a young person with full access to the election commission of Maharashtra but that has come after four years of slogging to prove my mettle,” smiles the young activist, adding, “Wading through bureaucracy hasn’t been easy.”

The founder of Mark Your Presence has represented Maharashtra in track and field events (400 meters) at nationals, and has won DSO national, open national and AISM national championships.

Chaitanya with his grand-father

Incidentally, Chaitanya’s grandfather, MH Prabhu, who passed away a couple of months ago at the age of 101, has been his biggest inspiration. “He was a freedom fighter. My passion to make people aware of democracy and be conscious about their rights comes from him. Having grown up in his presence, it was impossible to remain untouched by the values he stood for, that led him to fight for our Independence; playing a crucial role in the nation’s history. I learned about rights from him,” says the doting grandson.

The extra mile…

“After having helped thousands register, I have come to see that it’s not enough. It led me to start educating the youth about the basics of the Constitution and how they cannot ignore their duty,” Chaitanya explains. Though he is compelled to admit that there is much more to be done.

His Youth Manifesto movement stems from this believe – to ignite young minds and encourage collaboration among long-time youth advocates, environmentalists, activists and emerging leaders. “We want the voices of the young people to be heard by those who matter,” Chaitanya remarks. Rampant discussion on topics that matter, Chaitanya helps these ideas reach changemakers. The team has been working on the manifesto for the past six months and expects it to be ready by May. The movement gained further momentum when Navya Naveli Nanda, the entrepreneur granddaughter of Amitabh Bachchan, and Malhar Kamble, founder of Beach Please joined Chaitanya.

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His idea is that the youth manifesto reaches relevant ministries, BMC commissioner and CM of Maharashtra. From working on the ground, reaching slums, high-rises, he feels everyone wants their aspirations addressed, “We as voters are given manifestoes but not asked about ours. My idea is to involve youth in creating a list of expectations and putting it forward,” he adds.

His larger aim is to increase the number of voter registrations, educate voters, and soar up the voter turnout. “I intend to keep scaling the initiatives,” says the idealist who inadvertently created micro-targeted campaigns like “art for right,” “rap for rights,” “speak for rights” and “she votes.” “Convincing is a difficult job, it requires patience but I never give up on this path of fighting unawareness,” Chaitanya signs off.

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Published on 01, Apr 2022

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Olympic Dreams: Tennis champ Shrivalli wants to bring home the gold

(December 22, 2022) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, who was crowned the national hardcourt tennis champion (women’s singles) 2021, was 11 when she first held a tennis racket in her hand. Calling herself an “accidental” tennis player, Shrivalli was introduced to the game at the Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad. “I was just 11 years old and frankly, I only noticed the clothes of the kids who were playing at the stadium,” laughs the 20-year-old tennis star during an interview with Global Indian. “I told my father that I wanted to play because I also wanted to wear those clothes,” she adds. [caption id="attachment_25691" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, tennis player[/caption] However, Shrivalli has come a long way since then. The right-handed tennis star, recently recorded twin victories as she entered the singles quarterfinals and doubles semi-finals of the Balaji Amines Solapur Open Women’s ITF $25K Tennis Tournament held in Solapur. The player is currently doing her degree at St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, has also won numerous titles, including ITF Women’s (doubles) $15000 – 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women’s (singles) $15000 – 2022, Ahmedabad. Making of a champion Born to two sports

ee at St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, has also won numerous titles, including ITF Women’s (doubles) $15000 – 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women’s (singles) $15000 – 2022, Ahmedabad.

Making of a champion

Born to two sports players – her father being a cricketer and mother a national-level basketball player – Shrivalli was always encouraged to play sports. “I was a very active child, mostly because my parents were into outdoor activities. My father, especially, is a sports freak. He encouraged me to pick up an extra-curricular activity in school,” shares the tennis star, who is also a trained Carnatic singer.

While she took part in various sports, including swimming and roller skating, tennis was her ‘one true love’. And once she started training, it did not take the coaches at the LB stadium much time to realise that Shrivalli was a gifted player.

“For the first year, I went to the stadium to just have fun. I was the most talkative kid in the stadium, who loved picking up balls more than hitting them,” she laughs, adding, “But one day when my father had come to pick me up, one of the coaches asked him if I would like to take up the sport professionally. After coming home, my father posed the same question. In fact, I remember he warned me that it would be a tough journey. I was about 12 years old and didn’t really understand what was so tough about playing tennis. So, I just said yes,” the tennis player recalls.

Even as she worked hard to win every tournament, she did not forget to enjoy her childhood. Although she was a good student, she was also a trouble-maker in class. “I was a notorious student. A few friends and I would bunk classes together. We would never leave the school premises, but we just would not attend the classes some times. Since I was very talkative, the teachers would sometimes even kick me out of the class. But I was a good student, my grades were really good. And I’d win gold in almost every tournament, so my teachers and principal were happy with me,” smiles the tennis champ.

When the going gets tough

During her initial years, the tennis player won several medals, including the national title 2014-15, and under-18 petit camp open doubles in Mauritius in 2016. However, like every player she had to face some tough losses as well. While she recognised her potential as a player, Shrivalli learnt a lot from the matches she couldn’t win.

[caption id="attachment_25692" align="aligncenter" width="649"] Shrivalli with her parents[/caption]

“I knew right from the beginning that I was able to do something extraordinary, something not everyone could do. As a junior, I wasn’t much of a performing kid. So, I would constantly put pressure on myself to perform well. And when I didn’t, the losses hit me very hard. Also, the other tennis players my age were performing really well, and I would inadvertently compare myself with them. In almost every tournament, even before the draw was out, I would freak out,” shares the young player.

For two years, Shrivalli constantly struggled with self-doubt which affected her game. Explaining how important it is to be mentally strong to win the games, the tennis player adds, “I did go to a psychologist subsequently and that helped me a lot. I started concentrating on my game more than the outcomes. So, as I moved towards my under-18s, my game improved a lot.” Her parents, Shrivalli says, were very supportive through her journey, and never once put pressure on her.

Olympic dreams

One of her biggest victories was defeating Rutuja Bhosale at the ITF $25K Pune R1 – 2021. That instilled a great deal of confidence in her. “I think all players feel nervous before a match. I do too. But I am confident now that I can play against, and defeat, any player,” remarks Shrivalli, who is very inspired by Novak Djokovic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXWeyVQPQls

Shrivalli dreams of representing India at the Olympics and works at her aspirations without compromise. Her day begins at 4.15 am and training continues for between five and six hours a day. And along the way, she hopes to win as many cups as she can for her country. “I will be participating in several upcoming national and international tournament. But a dream come true will be representing India at the Olympics and winning gold for the country,” says the tennis star, who loves cooking or baking in her free time.

Reading Time: 6 mins

Aman Sharma: From balcony birdwatcher to global eco-warrior

(July 11, 2024) It was a pair of red vented bulbuls that changed Aman Sharma's life, when they built their nest on his balcony. He happened to have a camera, and would take photos of the beautiful little birds. And the rest, as they say, is history. By this time, frequent family trips to national parks had already sparked a deep love for nature and the teenager was enchanted - he hadn't really imagined that his bustling city was home to birds beyond crows and sparrows. Aman would wake up at 6 am to spend time observing birds before school. His terrace was his private observatory, and he even set up his own garden, with over 500 plants, to attract birds to his 'urban jungle'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aman Sharma 🐳🇮🇳 (@birds_of_india_) Turning a Hobby into a Movement "When I asked my school teacher and my family, they had no idea there were so many species in the city itself," he says. So, he founded the 'Cuckoo Club', a series of nature walks and visits to nearby national parks, conducted by children for children. "Soon, we became India's largest birding community for

Turning a Hobby into a Movement

"When I asked my school teacher and my family, they had no idea there were so many species in the city itself," he says. So, he founded the 'Cuckoo Club', a series of nature walks and visits to nearby national parks, conducted by children for children. "Soon, we became India's largest birding community for youth by youth." He went on to become India's youngest wildlife photographer, as well as a vocal advocate against climate change on international platforms. "In our curriculum we are not taught beyond education. We are not taught about the wildlife that exists beyond our backyards. How many people know that Delhi is the second-most bird-populous city in the world, with more than 500 species of birds. Almost 18 years of being in school and I was never taught this," he says.

Achieving Global Recognition

Now twenty years old and a student at the University of Pennsylvania, the Global Indian is a three-time TEDx speaker and Nikon's youngest ambassador. In 2019, his petition calling for a climate emergency gathered 1.2 million signatures across 70 different countries. That's not all. The EU, Austria, UK and the state of New York actually declared climate emergencies, and Aman gained appreciation from Leonado Di Caprio and Greta Thunberg. That year, he also received an invitation to speak at the Climate and Peace Summit, Oslo Pax. Aman also the first Indian photographer to be featured in Times Square, New York.

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A post shared by Aman Sharma 🐳🇮🇳 (@birds_of_india_)

Connecting Generations Through Nature

Aman's Instagram page Birds of India, has over half a million followers and he looks every bit the teen that he is as he goes on shoots with his mum by his side. His parents helped him find his love for nature at a young age. "They used to take us to national parks and forests as kid for our family holidays," he said, in an interview. And he realised, that although we share our land with thousands of other species, there is still a big gap between human lives and nature. "I started taking school kids out to urban wildlife spaces, and national parks, by co-founding the Cuckoo Club," Aman says. "I wanted to spread the idea that bird watching can be done by young children as well."

As he entered his teens, Aman began sacrificing the "parties and weekend outings with friends" to travel instead. He would head to the hills of Uttarakahand and the deserts of Rajasthan, to document India's immense variety of avian life. "I wanted to bring attention to India's wildlife and national heritage. That is when this turned into a passion more than a hobby."

A Journey Supported by Family and Education

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In those early days, the young wildlife photographer wouldn't always carry a high-end DSLR with all its trappings. He chose his Samsung phone instead, which was portable and allowed for more spontaneous shots. In fact, in 2020, during a Hampta Pass trek in Manali, he took a photo. He took it down later, thinking it wasn't good enough. A couple of months later, during another road trip, he received an email from Samsung India, asking to feature his photograph. Although this was in the middle of the pandemic, offers began pouring in and Aman soon established himself as a wildlife photographer.

When he went to summer school at Ashoka Universities, a professor there told him about Environmental Studies. Aman immediately caught on to the idea, and was accepted into the University of Pennsylvania, after which he hopes to work in the climate and conservation space.

Follow Aman Sharma on Instagram

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Rohit H. Sivaram: A rising star bridging cultures through music

(November 4, 2024) All of 22 years, musician Rohit H. Sivaram shows a rare maturity. In his speech he is measured, in his answers he is thoughtful, and in his actions he is considerate. While most South Indians his age are busy making marks in traditional fields, including math and science, this youngster is making waves with his music. His latest album, Unearth Prophecy, has just been released to much acclaim (including being considered a Grammy nomination in the Best Rock Album category), and the guitarist is currently busy touring and showcasing his unique music—alternative and progressive metal blending in with Indian Carnatic. “I did not enjoy playing the guitar while I was young and started playing it while at school,” he shares with Global Indian and adds, “My mother was keen that I continue my lessons, but when I moved to the US, I really enjoyed playing and started taking my training seriously.” [caption id="attachment_40144" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Rohit H Sivaram[/caption] A Tale of Two Countries Born in Miami and raised in Hyderabad, Rohit grew up surrounded by a large extended family and had a regular sporty childhood. “I was very naughty, had high adrenaline levels, and always loved being

Sivaram | Global Indian" width="566" height="736" /> Rohit H Sivaram[/caption]

A Tale of Two Countries

Born in Miami and raised in Hyderabad, Rohit grew up surrounded by a large extended family and had a regular sporty childhood. “I was very naughty, had high adrenaline levels, and always loved being outdoors,” he recalls. Even in his growing up years, he was part of bands while at the music school, apart from his school (Vidyaranya) in Hyderabad.

At 14, the youngster moved to Kansas along with his father, and it was not an easy homecoming. Rohit explains, “Somethings were easy, like I had an American accent, which made integration seamless, but since my mother was in India to take care of my brother, who was unwell, I did feel alone at times.”

It was then that music became a respite and a refuge. He started learning guitar classes at a local store, followed Youtubers including Mahalo Guitar and Marty Schwartz, and started playing his favourite music bands (from Guns N Roses to Dream Theater), building a repertoire of his own. Soon he started playing the school band (named Hidintact) which helped him get his groove.

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Music And Magic

In 2020, Rohit Sivaram joined Berklee College of Music, and the credit for it goes to his parents, Nagalakshmi and Hariharan. Though he was on his way to pursue a course in computer science and pharmaceuticals when the unexpected trajectory suddenly opened, thanks to his parents who saw the zest for music in him.

“My parents asked me if I would like to take up music as a full-time career, which made me really think of turning a hobby into a full-time passion. I was also conscious of the fact that less than three percent of people make it in music but was ready to take up the challenge,” he states.

Always aspiring to be a part of a band, he always admired how musicians were totally committed to their craft — living, loving, and breathing music continuously — and took the plunge to be a musician.

Berklee became a hallowed ground for honing his craft and learning. He states, “Berklee has been an incredible experience where I got to work with the faculty who inspired me to further develop my craft. I worked and learned from legends like Joe Stamp, Shaun Michand, and Tomo Fujita (John Mayer’s teacher), which was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

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Apart from experiential learning and being exposed to different genres of music, Rohit Sivaram built a community of musicians around him as well as being part of a band (Enfierce) as a lead guitarist.

Starting Out

Rohit’s first debut EP, Unearth Prophecy, is out with five tracks that traverse alternative metal, progressive rock, and Indian fusion. Songs from his debut album, be it the catchy Nákṣatra or the engaging Whirlwind, have already been hitting the right chords with people and have been submitted for Grammy consideration.

The young musician has also worked alongside the maestro Guitar Prasanna, and all his songs have a natural inclination towards Carnatic music. He recalls, “I felt I was drifting apart and cold-mailed him one day. To my surprise, he responded, and we started corresponding and before I knew it I was learning classical music under him.”

Under Prasanna’s mentorship, he has combined unique eastern and western notes, creating a singularly prolific voice for his music. He is also touring and performing the songs across the world (from the US to India), picking up important lessons crucial for his craft while playing live in front of a crowd along the way.

Learning Carnatic music has been like a blindfold that has been taken off, smiles the guitarist and adds, “There was a real connection, and from a technical perspective, I’ve picked up some amazing insights by learning and playing traditional music. The technique, attention to detail and precision required, and the tenacity to train have equipped me with a unique discipline and focus that I now bring into my work.”

A musician learns as much by practice as by perspective, and Rohit enjoys meeting musicians (from the classical genius TM Krishna to the pop culture band Indian Ocean, also including Western Rock greats such as Myles Kennedy and Nate Navarro) and having conversations that enhance his understanding.

The Way Forward

Making it as a musician is a long and challenging journey, with few people getting a breakthrough easily. Now that he has started his career, the young musician is aware of what lies ahead of him. He explains, “My friends have already started their internships and jobs, so I’m aware of peer pressure and the expectations. I know what I’m chasing and that the road in front of me is not easy, but I’m determined to give it my best.”

Having close-knit family and parents who encourage him at every step certainly helps. What also helps him keep grounded are his other interests — reading, watching shows (Jamie Oliver and Masterchef), or being physically active by playing sports. His other interests include reading memoirs of musicians and exploring new genres of music.

At 22, Rohit Sivaram has already carved out a distinctive space in the global music landscape, blending the raw intensity of alternative and progressive metal with the nuanced beauty of Carnatic rhythms. As he navigates the challenges of a music career, Rohit’s grounded perspective and fierce dedication set him apart, promising an exciting future.

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For him, this is just the beginning — a journey fueled by a love for music and a relentless pursuit of artistic authenticity.

QUICK TAKES
Musicians who influenced you: Santana, Pink Floyd and Slash from Guns n Roses
Carnatic musicians you like: Thyagaraja, L Subramanian, TM Krishna and Guitar Prasanna
On your checklist: Touring and performing extensively, deepening my understanding of fusion music and focusing on my social media approach
On your playlist always: Isolation by Alter Bridge, Born to Fly by Slash and Bowling for Peace by Prasanna

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An Odissi of dance: Danseuse Vrinda Chadha performs across the world, breathing life into the artform

(March 25, 2022) Dancing across continents is a many splendoured thing. The beautiful and emotive Vrinda Chadha’s life has been a whirlwind of such experiences. It also shows the depth of her craft. A tryst with mudras which began at 13, has today created a body of work that is noteworthy. It started when the light footed Odissi danseuse would accompany her guru Ranjana Gauhar, a Padma Shri recipient to shows across India and internationally. Now 26, the Delhi-based dancer is also a faculty member at Gauhar’s Utsav dance academy. An accomplished dancer, another feather in her hat is that she is empanelled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Doordarshan. Her evocative performances bring Odissi alive. [caption id="attachment_13347" align="aligncenter" width="511"] Vrinda Chadha, Odissi danseuse[/caption] Ask her about her performances, and the danseuse rattles off, “In Spain, Argentina, Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, United Kingdom, Madagascar, and Seychelles.” All this, as part of her guru’s troupe and also for solo renditions. With such a vast repertoire, awards have been aplenty too. The Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award in Mumbai, Young Talent Award by the International Academy of Mohiniyattam in Delhi, the title of Odissi Ratna in Bhubaneswar, and the Kameshwari Award

repertoire, awards have been aplenty too. The Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award in Mumbai, Young Talent Award by the International Academy of Mohiniyattam in Delhi, the title of Odissi Ratna in Bhubaneswar, and the Kameshwari Award in Guwahati, Vrinda is a member of the International Dance Council UNESCO, Paris and also a Teach for India fellow.

A step in the right direction

“I was always fond of dance and could express more through the artform than with words,” Vrinda shares in an interview with Global Indian. This knack for dancing was identified by her parents who took the Modern School, Vasant Vihar, kindergartener to Gauhar, who stayed in the same locality. A reputed artiste even back then, Gauhar’s mentorship turned out to be just the impetus the young Chadha needed to flourish.

“Guruji recognised my ability, honed my natural inclination towards dance, and gave me direction. For any person pursuing an artform, getting the right guru is the winning mantra. I am fortunate to have trained under her,” says the Lady Shri Ram College alumna.

A Punjabi girl in love with Odissi

When she first began dancing, Vrinda had minimal knowledge about the artform or the different dance forms in existence. It was as if she was destined for Odissi to take over her entire being. “I did not even realise how it got interspersed with my personality,” quips the nimble footed dancer who is also trained in Hindustani classical music and yoga.

“I was on a dance tour organised by Sangeet Natak Academy, representing Odissi in a multi-style troupe at Seychelles. There, we had a performance in which AR Rahman was the chief guest. It was an absolute joy to dance before him on stage as the show was in his honour. It was lovely to be so close in-person with such a music composer and artiste,” says the dancer who feels that Odissi is very intense and divine. “it gave me a special feeling that drew me towards it. Now, it is very difficult to differentiate me and my dance,” she admits. Over the years, Vrinda has built a special rapport with her guru Ranjana Gauhar, also a Punjabi woman who dedicated her life to Odissi.

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Giving back

“Performing artistes and people watching them are privileged to have access to art forms. But art seldom reaches the people who need it. With this in mind, I took up the Teach for India fellowship to introduce dance and music to the underprivileged. The idea is not to make them experts, rather to enhance their ways of self-expression and emotional literacy through these media,” adds Vrinda, who has been teaching dance across Delhi’s government schools.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cjjA5XHPuI

A life aligned to dance

Her father, Bhavnesh, a businessman, and mother, Poonam, a homemaker egged the young girl’s aspirations along, all for her career in dance. “They aligned my education to dance so that I could be happy with my choice. I took up philosophy as my major as it is parallel to dance,” says Vrinda, who has an elder brother.

“The life of an artiste may look very rosy, but it can also be full of challenges in the initial phases when establishing oneself is a slow process. Recognition takes time. During this phase, family support goes a long way. To be able to do what you love is a huge blessing,” Vrinda effuses. Even today, there is more to explore, and to stretch her artistic brilliance every time she takes to the stage.

[caption id="attachment_13360" align="aligncenter" width="689"] Vrinda with her family[/caption]

An avid traveller, not just when dancing in different countries – she loves travelling solo. India’s heartland endear itself to her, be it Himachal Pradesh for hiking and trekking or just the hills.

“When one looks at dance, people think it's only about performance but there are other aspects to it too,” says Vrinda, who keeps her love for the artform alive by researching and studying about Odissi. Practice is an everyday ritual for her. As she chalks out her future plans, she intends to take forward her guru Ranjana Gauhar’s legacy and work towards furthering the cause of Odissi dance.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

Angelina Arora: The Indian-Australian teen finds a solution to single-use plastic

(June 28, 2024) A routine trip to a local grocery store made the then 11-year-old Angelina Arora committed to finding a better solution to single-use plastic. Seeing a huge number of plastic bags being carried out of the store made her understand their detrimental impact on the environment and led the Adelaide-based innovator on a quest to save Earth by finding biodegradable alternatives. Having mulled over the possible solution for years, in Class 9 as a science project, she began experimenting with corn starch and potato starch to create a biodegradable bag, however, they dissolved in water. She then tried banana peels and other waste products, however, nothing proved successful. Her eureka moment came while sitting at a local fish and chips shop and staring at a pile of fish waste - including crab shells, prawn tails and fish heads. She packed a few kilos of the discarded shells and headed straight to her Sydney Girls High School science lab to start experimenting. Noticing similarities between prawn shells and plastic, she knew she could have found the answer. "I looked at prawns and thought what makes their shells look like plastic? Maybe I can take that out and use it

[caption id="attachment_19737" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Angelina Arora during an experiment[/caption]

Making biodegradable plastic

A budding scientist, Angelina extracted chitin, a carbohydrate from prawn shells, and converted it into chitosan which she later mixed with fibron, a protein found in silkworms. "It's the same protein that spiders use to make webs. It's very sticky. When you mix it with chitin it produces a fabric that is flexible and strong and exhibits all the properties you want in plastic," she added. The biodegradable plastic decomposes 1.5 million times faster than commercial plastics and completely breaks down within 33 days of its exposure to bacteria. Her success attracted the attention of scholars and scientists across Australia and even won her the NSW Young Scientist Award in 2016, the Innovator to Market Award in the 2018 and BHP Billiton Foundation Science and Engineering Awards. Moreover, she received the fourth grand award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, where the innovator competed against 1800 students from over 81 countries.

[caption id="attachment_19738" align="aligncenter" width="572"] Angelina Arora with her biodegradable plastic[/caption]

According to a new OECD report, only 9 percent of plastic waste is recycled globally while 22 percent is mismanaged. Though bans and taxes on single-use plastic exist in over 120 countries, not enough is being done to reduce pollution. And Angelina thinks that biodegradable plastic - which is low-cost, durable, and insoluble - is the need of the hour. She is keen to see every plastic in the world be made out of her biodegradable plastic. "While decomposing, this eco-friendly plastic made of prawn shells releases nitrogen which is very important for plant growth and immunity. Thus, it could be used for agriculture as well, and not just for packaging," she said.

Contributing to the environment

The Flinders University student, who was the nominee for Young Australian of the Year in 2019, is hopeful that biodegradable alternatives like hers will contribute to cleaning up the environment, especially the ocean - a cause close to her heart.

Having started early, she believes the key lies in growing one's own interests. "Doing your own research outside of school gives you the freedom to do what you really like and be creative, not for a grade. You grow interests, expand awareness and increase your curiosity," she said, adding, "Plus it gives young people something productive to do for humanity rather than watching Netflix."

Angelina's invention shows how we can use scientific creativity and care for the environment to solve big problems. Her work highlights the need for sustainable practices and opens doors for future green technologies, inspiring more people to develop eco-friendly innovations.

Follow Angelina Arora on Linkedin

Reading Time: 3 min