Menstruation in India has always been a taboo topic that is not only stigmatised but also bound by strict social rules. Generation after generation, it is still treated as a private matter, where even the house of men is considered to be out of bounds. Even talking openly about menstruation was considered to be an immoral deed for men in some social norms. However, “Arunachalam Muruganantham” is a facilitator of change that no one expected. He is the one who fought these deep-rooted stigmas with the confrontation weapon and re-established menstrual hygiene as something that could be afforded by millions of women. His story is a perfect example of how societal innovation can be accomplished by one’s empathy, determination, and the way he lives his life, rather than educational achievement or corporate support.

Early Life and Background

Arunachalam Muruganantham was born in the year 1961, in a small village in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. His early years were heavily influenced by the lack of money and resources. When Muruganantham was still a child, his father, who was a handloom weaver, died in a road accident. Due to this unfortunate event, the mother of the family had to work as a farm labourer in order to support her family. Because of financial constraints, Muruganantham decided to stop his formal education at an early stage and involved himself in different manual works such as welding and machine operations. However, his limited formal education did not limit his intelligence or his approach to problem-solving.

A Personal Moment That Sparked Change

The invention that would later change the rural menstrual hygiene scenario of India was just a simple observation of daily home activities. After getting married, Muruganantham saw that his wife was using old clothes during her menstrual cycle. Upon being asked, she said that the purchased sanitary napkins were too expensive for her to use regularly. Besides that, she also added that this practice was common among women living in rural and low-income areas. Back then, market studies and public health surveys already showed that sanitary napkin usage in India was extremely low, especially in remote areas of the country. What made Muruganantham sleepless was not only the problem of affordability but also the risk of diseases caused by poor menstrual hygiene. This insight became the ground of his mission, which later became a remarkable social change.

Social Resistance and Personal Sacrifice

When Muruganantham got involved in studying menstruation and investigating various aspects of sanitary napkins, he was met with a stiff opponent, social resistance, and he could not expect less. In conservative rural communities, those men who dare to talk about menstruation openly are generally considered to be mad, and their intentions are doubtful. Hence, the experiments he conducted in relation to absorbent materials and understanding menstrual flow became a source of his mockery. People living close to him stopped talking to him; friends ceased their relationships with him, and at the same time, bad rumours were being spread about his mental health. Facing such huge social pressure, his wife left him for some time to stay with her parents.

Despite the isolation, Muruganantham continued his work. His determination stemmed from a belief that menstruation was a health issue deserving scientific attention, not a taboo to be hidden. This episode of Muruganantham’s life exemplifies the price that challengers of deeply ingrained cultural norms have to pay in terms of societal rejection during their struggle.

Innovation Without Formal Training

The turning point for Muruganantham was when he looked into the production process that multinational companies use to make sanitary napkins. Instead of applying the common assumptions, he found out that sanitary napkins are not made with cotton but rather with cellulose obtained from pine pulp. The machines that are used for this process are very costly and, thus, are centralised, which leaves the consumers in the village unable to afford pads. By using materials that were available nearby and his self-taught engineering knowledge skills, Muruganantham came up with a low-cost, semi-automatic sanitary napkin manufacturing machine that could perform the essential industrial processes at a fraction of the cost. It was very easy to operate, did not require a lot of electricity, and a woman with a minimum amount of training could run it. This invention largely brought down the cost of production largely brought down while at the same time keeping the hygiene standards.

A Decentralised and Inclusive Model

Muruganantham avoided the typical model of a big corporation and opted for a decentralised production model. He handed over self-help groups formed by women and entrepreneurs in villages a machine each so that they could produce and market sanitary napkins in their areas. The strategy used here not only solved the problem of making affordable menstrual products accessible but also created the means of living for women who would then help other women with their menstrual products. Hence, local conversations on menstrual health spread as well. He, thus, empowered women economically, ensured the solution met the cultural needs, and encouraged the local community socially by forming production units at the grassroots level. This has become a source of inspiration to many grassroots social entrepreneurs worldwide.

Recognition and Wider Impact

In the long run, the work of Muruganantham started to get attention both nationally and internationally. Stories of his achievements were covered by the media, lectures were held promoting his story, and various academic studies were published telling his story. In 2016, the Indian Government honoured him with a Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution to social work. Later, a Bollywood movie "Pad Man" inspired by his life and mission, helped start the conversation about menstrual hygiene in the public. Now his technology is spreading not only across different states of India, but also in various developing countries. Public health researchers and development organisations have recognised that his work has made menstrual hygiene education more accessible, led to fewer girls missing school, and helped rural women become economically independent.

Public Health and Social Significance

Menstrual hygiene is interconnected with women's health, education, and respect. Various studies conducted by international organisations such as the WHO and UNICEF point out that lack of access to hygienic menstrual products is a major cause of infections, school dropouts, and social exclusion. Muruganantham’s intervention focused on these problems by making products affordable and creating awareness at the same time. What was equally important was the cultural change his work brought. The fact that he openly talked about menstruation and also involved men in the discussion helped in the removal of the old stigmas. His story is a good example of how changes in society can be brought about by just one person’s action.

The true experience of Arunachalam Muruganantham is about his bravery, kindness, and strong belief. To rid a problem that was largely ignored by society, he had to face being laughed at, being isolated from the community, and losing things that were dear to him. His experience is proof that sometimes innovations come not from labs or offices but from empathising with people and one's own experiences. “Padman of India” is a symbol of social change that not only requires revolutionary ideas but also the courage to confront societal norms and continue even when faced with opposition. His work is a constant source of motivation for dialogues on women's health, dignity, and inclusive development.

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References:

• Muruganantham, A. (2018). The Man Who Made Sanitary Napkins Affordable. Chennai: Social Innovation Publications.
• Garg, S., & Anand, T. (2015). Menstruation-related myths in India: Strategies for combating them. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.
• UNICEF India. (2019). Menstrual Health and Hygiene: National Guidelines.
• World Health Organisation. (2014). Menstrual Hygiene Management in Developing Countries.
• TED Conferences. (2014). How I Started a Sanitary Napkin Revolution. TED Talk by Arunachalam Muruganantham.
• Government of India. (2016). Padma Awards Directory.