The first Indian woman who converted polythene into ashes

Nasira Akhtar of Kanipora village in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district recounts how she discovered a magical herb to dispose of plastic waste. This is her story of “ridicule, shaming, mocking – I went through it all” – in her own words.

I’ve heard that words can change people and their views. I didn’t think much of it till it happened to me.

Two decades ago parents in my village preferred to get their daughters married young. Mine had the same mindset. So I was also married off when I was 19, after I finished my matric exams.

On a fine calm evening, my husband was listening to the regional radio.

“Everything in this world will perish except the Lord and the polythene,” said an environmental expert on the radio show. I became restless when I heard those words.

“How can this man compare a man-made non-living thing to our living Creator!” was my thought.

That’s how my journey to find a way to destroy polythene in an eco-friendly manner started.

Everything in this universe follows the law of nature. If polythene can be made, it must perish too. So I began my quest. 

People ridiculed and rebuked me. But I turned my room into a virtual laboratory. 

While my husband worked in a grocery shop, I secretly worked on different methods to find a solution for the plastic menace. 

After seven years of rigorous research, I found a magical herb. 

The whole of that week I went outside my house many times, collected polythene wrappers and refuse in the pantry. And whenever I applied the herbal solution, the polythene burned like paper. 

I knew I’d found a solution to disposing of polluting plastic. 

But making the world believe in my innovation proved much harder than the discovery.

My humble educational background proved to be a big hurdle.

Running from pillar to post I spoke to teachers, lecturers and students about my innovation. But they just laughed at me. 

Ridicule, shaming, mocking – I went through it all. 

While some questioned my educational qualifications, some said it took a research scholar to discuss such topics. 

I had no knowledge of scientific terms. And it didn’t help that I lacked communication skills. 

But I never lost hope and patience. 

Deep in my heart, I knew I had succeeded. I just had to find the right way to explain how the magical herb worked. 

So I went to the University of Kashmir – about 80 kilometres from my village. After a demonstration there, Professor Mohammad Yousuf directed me towards USIC (University Science Instrumentation Centre of the University of Delhi). 

There again I gave a live demonstration before a team of experts. I mixed the herb with water and sprayed it on plastic refuse. The plastic burned into ash with negligible odour and smoke. 

Convinced by my discovery, the experts asked me to file for a patent. 

Yes, finally I got the recognition for my efforts. I must say that the world has been generous and I feel overwhelmed.

My innovation has found a place in the popular book Unsung innovators of Kashmir. 

I’ve been mentioned as “The first Indian woman who converted polythene into ashes” in the India Book of Records. That and finding a mention in the Asia Book of Records and Kalam’s Book of Records are rewards for my work.

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Nari Shakti Puraskar – which I received recently from the President of India – is one of the awards I have received. 

In fact, the discovery has opened new vistas. 

I’ve entered into an agreement with a national company, to commercialise the product. I must add that it’s a non-disclosure agreement and so I cannot talk about or show the herb which I use.

But the product will free the world from the polythene monster.