Mahima Mehra has brought a whole new meaning to the expression ‘waste paper' — this Delhi-based artisan produces handmade paper from elephant dung! The idea for her small-scale papermaking venture called Haathi Chaap (which means elephant imprint), set up in 2007, came to her on a trip to Amber Fort in her hometown Jaipur. On the winding pathway to the fort crowded with tourists on elephant back, Mahima accidently stepped on elephant dung. Her attention was drawn to the fibrous nature of the dung and she quickly realised that it would be ideal for papermaking.

“When I suggested the idea to large paper manufacturers, they thought I was crazy. Most handmade-paper makers use hosiery, and don't like to experiment,” she says. She then met the Jaipur-based small-scale paper manufacturer Vijendra Shekhawat, who encouraged her and convinced her to take the idea one step further................Click for more

Source Web Page: Businessline