In a remarkable story of resilience turning into innovation, a 17-year-old boy from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has been honoured with one of the nation's highest accolades for children. Arnav Anupriya Maharshi received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 for developing affordable, AI-enabled rehabilitative devices designed to assist people suffering from paralysis.
From Personal Trauma to National Recognition
The journey to this prestigious award began with a personal tragedy. In 2022, Arnav survived a near-fatal road accident that left him paralysed on his dominant right side. The subsequent two years involved intense and gruelling physiotherapy. However, this challenging period became a crucible for innovation. Not only did Arnav work tirelessly to regain his own mobility, but his firsthand experience with the recovery process sparked a mission to help others.
"When my son had a nearly fatal road accident, he was not even able to recognise me for many days. From that painful moment to getting a national award is a journey of grit and determination for him," said his mother, Anupriya, a gynaecologist. She also credited physiotherapists Ashwini Kale and Shilpa Kale for their crucial role in his recovery and inspiration.
Engineering Hope: The AI-Powered Innovations
Driven by his ordeal, Arnav focused on creating low-cost, high-impact rehabilitation solutions, specifically tailored for rural and low-income patients who often lack access to expensive therapy. His innovations are a testament to practical, accessible technology.
His first breakthrough is a patented and copyrighted wrist-worn device aimed at gross-motor rehabilitation. This tool helps paralysed patients with movements that are essential for daily activities and social integration during their recovery phase.
Arnav's second major innovation is an AI-powered application named FAIR Chance, developed for finger and hand rehabilitation. The application, which can run on a standard smartphone or laptop, uses artificial intelligence to provide real-time, data-driven feedback to users as they perform exercises. This feature is designed to promote adherence to therapy regimes by offering reinforcement and tracking progress accurately.
Awards and a Future Fueled by Passion
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the award upon Arnav and other winners in a ceremony held in New Delhi on Friday. Arnav, a Class XI student at JISA Maliwada and an alumnus of Nath Valley School in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, received the honour in the science and technology category.
His genius has already garnered international attention. The FAIR Chance application earned him the International Innovation Award at IIT-Bombay Techfest 2024. Furthermore, his wrist-worn rehabilitation device was selected for the prestigious Harvard Venture TECH Summer Program 2025, where he will participate with a global scholarship.
"Having fought my own battle through paralysis, I continue to create low-cost, high-impact technology, ensuring that no Indian is left behind in their recovery journey due to a lack of resources," Arnav stated. He added, "I transformed personal adversities into innovations to help others with disabilities. The recognition of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 will fuel my passion for innovation."
His work addresses a critical medical need. Paralysis, a neurological condition causing muscle weakness or loss of voluntary movement, can result in permanent damage. Arnav Maharshi's story is a powerful reminder that personal challenges can be channeled into creating solutions that empower and uplift countless others.
