Arunachalam Muruganantham

Businessman

59 Quotes

I had been getting queries from regional filmmakers to do a movie based on my work. But I did not want my work and mission - to create awareness on menstrual hygiene - to be restricted to only a part of the country. In fact, I wanted to do the movie in Hollywood.

My life is a brave one. I didn't put any restrictions.

My plea is that don't wait for a girl to become a woman to empower them. Empower a girl's life by giving sanitary pads to them. With pads, we give them wings.

I have been working in north Indian villages, so I know the truth. Compared to the south Indian states, north India is less developed, and there's little awareness on menstrual hygiene.

When I speak a serious subject in an informal and humorous way, it has bigger impact. So much so, when BBC made a small documentary, they first thought of having a voiceover for me. The producer liked my English so much, he said they were retaining my original voice.

Every father, brother, and husband should know about menstruation. It is not just about women; it is about men, too.

My vision is to make India into a 100% sanitary-pad-using country. Menstruation is no more a taboo.

I converted a problem into an opportunity.

Nobody in the society will talk about menstruation... it's a taboo in my country. That's why I'm branded by society as a psycho.

My nature is such that even if I failed 9,999 times, I'll attempt for the 10,000th time again.

I didn't take the money route because I saw my parents struggle for survival.

Being the son of a handloom weaver, I have knowledge of cotton and some other material.

There were offers from a few Bollywood filmmakers, but I was sceptical as to whether those films will do justice to my vision or even my life. I was also apprehensive because what if I sign an agreement and give the rights to some filmmaker, and he shelves the project?

I don't have any plans to make money for myself. All I wish to do is empower rural women in our country.

Most of the students whom I have lectured were inquisitive to learn and contribute towards my vision. So, the youth who want to achieve in life can do a lot for society.

Why buy sanitary napkins from multinationals when we can make them at home and generate employment?

What kept me going was my desire to provide a hygiene product for my wife.

India and other developing nations need non-farm sector activity. So what we are doing, we are giving small microbusiness to the rural women, especially the farmers' wives.

Quality napkins are made in villages at a cost of just Rs 2 per piece with my simple and cost-effective machines.

A lot of people making a lot of money, billion, billions of dollars accumulating. Why are they coming for, finally, for philanthropy? Why the need for accumulating money, then doing philanthropy? What if one decided to start philanthropy from the day one?

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