Arunachalam Muruganantham was born on 12 October 1961 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. His family lived in poverty. His father worked as a handloom weaver but died in a road accident when Arunachalam was still very young. After that, his mother became the only earning member. She raised him by working as a farm labourer. Arunachalam dropped out of school when he was 14 due to the financial burdens.
A Turning Point at Home
In 1998, after his marriage, a small moment at his home changed everything. His wife, Shanthi, used old cloth and rags during her period. She did not use sanitary pads. When he asked why, she said pads were too costly. The family could not afford them.
Arunachalam went to a shop one day and bought a packet of pads. The shopkeeper wrapped it in newspaper as if it was something to hide. He noticed the shame attached to menstruation. He also noticed that most women could not buy pads because they cost more than basic food. That moment stayed with him. He thought, why should women suffer without something so basic.
He decided to find a solution. He told himself that women deserved safe and affordable menstrual hygiene. That small thought became his life’s mission.
Experiments and Breakthrough
Arunachalam started with simple experiments. He tore open a sanitary pad and studied the material inside. He tried to make pads with cotton. But the pads were not absorbent. They leaked and did not hold their shape. He tried again and again. For two years, he failed.
His family and neighbours thought he had gone mad. Men in his village did not speak about menstruation. They made fun of him. Women refused to help him test his pads. To test on his own, he created a pouch filled with animal blood and tied it to his waist. He walked and worked with it to check how the pad absorbed.
People in his village mocked him even more. His wife and mother could not take the pressure. For a time, they left him. Still, he did not stop. He kept searching for the right material. At last, he found it. The answer was pine wood pulp. This fiber absorbed better and stayed firm. This was the key to making pads that were safe and effective.
Building the Low-Cost Machine
But another problem stood in the way. The machines used by big companies to make sanitary pads cost lakhs of rupees. No village could afford them. Arunachalam decided to build his own low-cost machine. He designed a simple device that could crush the pulp, press it into shape, sterilize, and pack pads.
His first machine looked rough, but it worked. The cost of making pads came down to less than one-third of market price. Now even poor women could buy them. This invention could not only change women’s health but also create jobs.
In 2006, he shared his idea with IIT Madras. The experts saw potential in it. They encouraged him and helped refine the machine. He later received a national innovation award. With this support, he started Jayaashree Industries to make and sell his machines.
His machines were simple. They made about 900 pads a day. A small group of women could run them with little training. The cost of pads from his machine was less than a third of market price.
Arunachalam made an important choice. He did not sell his machine to big companies. He gave it to self-help groups of women in villages. They earned money while also helping other women get clean and safe pads. This created jobs and gave women dignity.
Also read | The Inspiring Journey of Srikanth Bolla and Bollant Industries
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