Redefining Disability Studies: Inclusivity, Upliftment, and Liberation in Shivani Gupta’s No Looking Back

Shivani Gupta’s No Looking Back stands as a profound narrative of resistance and resilience, offering a critical counter-discourse to dominant societal constructions of disability. Through a personal narrative, Gupta recounts her experience of surviving two life-altering accidents that left her paralyzed and reliant on a wheelchair. Set within a socio-cultural environment where disability is frequently overlooked, her account brings to light the difficulties of navigating a world marked by inadequate infrastructure, limited legal provisions, and widespread societal neglect. Despite these obstacles, Gupta asserts her agency, challenging traditional views of disability as a condition defined by limitation and dependence. Rather, she frames it as a source of strength, transformation, and active engagement. This paper critically examines Gupta’s memoir through the lens of disability studies, with particular attention to inclusivity, liberation, and upliftment. It analyses Gupta’s lived experience as a disabled woman in India to understand how personal narratives can confront and disrupt dominant societal attitudes towards disability. The paper also places Gupta’s autobiography within the theoretical frameworks of disability studies and feminist thought to explore how she constructs a redefined identity that incorporates both her gender and her disability. Moreover, it considers how her personal experiences inspire and shape her work as an accessibility consultant and advocate for inclusive public environments. Ultimately, No Looking Back emerges as a powerful account of individual and collective upliftment, redefining disability as a space of visibility and strength, and advocating for a more inclusive and just society.