Divyanshu Ganatra

Ganatra became blind at nineteen as a result of glaucoma. He has said that rehabilitation counsellors and well-wishers told him his life was effectively over and that he could only stay at home making cane furniture, and that it was these attitudes rather than his blindness that constituted the real obstacle.

He went on to study cognitive neuroscience at the University of Pune, becoming the first blind student to do so, and trained in rational emotive behaviour therapy and Adlerian therapy in Malta.

Ganatra worked in information technology for five years and as a senior human resources executive at Tata Serwizol before establishing himself as a clinical psychologist, counsellor and public speaker. He is a co-founder, trustee and past vice-president of the Disability Network.

He took his first solo paragliding flight on 29 April 2014, having spent seven years looking for an instructor willing to teach him. In 2016 he became the first blind tandem cyclist to ride from Manali to Khardung La, and in 2018 he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

He founded the Adventures Beyond Barriers Foundation to allow people with and without disabilities to take part in sport together. ABBF has organised inclusive climbing, marathon running, rappelling, scuba diving, tandem cycling and paragliding events, and works with companies on inclusive volunteering programmes. He speaks widely on inclusion and leadership, at corporate events, TEDx and Indian institutes of technology and management.

Ganatra received the National Award for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, presented by the Vice-President of India, as best self-employed person of the year. He was also given the Ten Outstanding Young Indians award by the Junior Chamber International.[2][3][4][5]