Sachinism Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 When Arunachalam Muruganantham spotted his wife gathering dirty rags in their home one day he asked her what they were for. If he was shocked by her reluctant response that she was using them for her monthly period he was even more taken back by her reply when he asked why she was not buying sanitary napkins in the shop. "If I buy sanitary napkins," she had told him. "It means I cannot afford to buy milk for the family." The conversation spurred Mr Muruganantham into a frenzy of invention to try and produce an affordable napkin for women such as his wife. Such was his dedication, bordering on obsession, that he once wore a football bladder of animal blood to trial a prototype. He was forced from his home by villagers who thought his methods had become too perverse after he started collecting used napkins from medical students and storing them in his home. He was even abandoned albeit temporarily by his wife and mother, who believed he had gone mad. But 14 years later, the 49-year-old, who never finished school, has few regrets. His award-winning napkins are being produced on simple machines by groups across rural India and helping to revolutionise women's health. And now, the man who has been dubbed the "Tampon King" says he is in discussion with several African countries about replicating his model. "Rwanda, Nigeria, South Africa I am talking with these countries," said Mr Muruganantham, speaking from Coimbatore in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu Kerala. "Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan They want to know about it." One workshop in India is operated in a shed in the Pardada Pardadi Inter-College, a forward-thinking girls' school run by an NGO in the town of Anupshahr, next to the Ganges river in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Here, Rama Devi, spends the first week of every month with six local women in the top-floor workshop, using simple hand-operated machines and following the five-step system that produces the sanitary napkins sold and distributed under the label Laadli, or "Beloved Daughter". The remainder of the month she travels to villages, meeting young women, educating them about basic health issues and selling the products. On a recent morning, The Independent accompanied Ms Devi, a single mother with four daughters, and the family's sole earner, to the village of Dungra Jogi. Shaded from the sun beneath a large archway, one of them, 25-year-old Umar Parthak, said of the napkins: "We feel a lot more freedom. It gives us a lot more freedom to go out. Also, the rags that we previously used were not hygienic." Her cousin, Sapna Sharma, who is studying sociology at a nearby college and who wishes to eventually train as a teacher, said women's education was improving, slowly. "As a result people are becoming aware of these products," she added. In some parts of rural India, as in many places in the developing world, the issue of women's menstruation is a matter still associated with taboo and discrimination. In some communities, women are still considered "unclean" during menstruation and are forbidden from entering the kitchen. Professor Ritu Priya Mehrotra, of the social medicine department of Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, said women had traditionally used old cotton for menstrual hygiene. But a shift from cotton to synthetic saris meant many were now using man-made fibre, which was unhealthy and could not be sanitised in the same way. Previously women used sand or even mud. The development of the napkin had involved huge amounts of trial and error, and one of the biggest challenges was discovering the raw material. Mr Muruganantham had assumed they were based on cotton but an early prototype by his tolerant wife was unsuccessful. Eventually, having taught himself English, he simply rang up the switchboard of a US-based multinational and asked to know what raw materials he would need. The crucial ingredient was wood pulp. In 2005, his seven years of effort was recognised when he was handed a National Innovation Foundation award by President Pratibha Patil. He then quickly patented his machine, which costs between Ž£850 and Ž£3,400 and is capable of producing 120 pads an hour. While companies such as Procter & Gamble produce napkins that sell for up to 30 rupees (33p) a packet, his are sold for as little as 10 rupees. The model is deliberately low-tech and decentralised, providing employment opportunities for women in remote parts of India. "The benefit of the local production model means that women can form co-operatives and generate some income as well. It is circular," Prof Mehrotra said. As part of a broader programme to try to educate women about health issues, the Indian authorities announced last year they would start distributing subsidised napkins. The move, which is part of the so-called National Rural Health Mission, emphasised that use of such napkins could reduce reproductive tract infections that posed a grave threat to women. Making them available in schools and colleges, such as the Pardada Pardadi Inter-College, also encourages young girls to keep up their attendance. Ms Devi, who started working in the school kitchen before graduating to the napkin production unit, said: "I am trying to change the way the women think." Mr Muruganantham was disappointed the Indian government did not decide to support his low-cost machine as part of its national programme, but is pleased that foreign countries may soon benefit from it. He said: "What I am trying to do is develop a low-cost model across the globe." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/the-tampon-king-who-sparked-a-period-of-change-for-indias-women-7897093.html
Crookbond Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 In some parts of rural India, as in many places in the developing world, the issue of women's menstruation is a matter still associated with taboo and discrimination. In some communities, women are still considered "unclean" during menstruation and are forbidden from entering the kitchen. Not just kitchen but also temples and even touching the altar at home. I have never understood this puerile thought process. Makes sifar sense. Morons. Mr Muruganantham was disappointed the Indian government did not decide to support his low-cost machine as part of its national programme, but is pleased that foreign countries may soon benefit from it. He said: "What I am trying to do is develop a low-cost model across the globe." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/the-tampon-king-who-sparked-a-period-of-change-for-indias-women-7897093.html Why didn't the Indian government adopt this for their national programme? Mr. Muruganatham reminds me about a certain Richard Feynman. How many "Feynman's" has India lost due in obscurity? Here's my suggestion - We should record these men of honor (like Muruganantham and Sreedharan) and include them in school books.
Sachinism Posted July 2, 2012 Author Posted July 2, 2012 There was an article, I think in TOI last week about Stupid-India and how the people who have the power make the stupid decisions, making things more inconvenient.
The Dark Horse Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 :hatsoff: Why didn't the Indian government adopt this for their national programme? Mr. Muruganatham reminds me about a certain Richard Feynman. How many "Feynman's" has India lost due in obscurity? Here's my suggestion - We should record these men of honor (like Muruganantham and Sreedharan) and include them in school books. There was also another guy G.D.Naidu from the same city Coimbatore who did many innovations.
Crookbond Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 There was an article' date=' I think in TOI last week about Stupid-India and how the people who have the power make the stupid decisions, making things more inconvenient.[/quote'] That was Chetan Bhagat. He has a point though, currently decision holders make things inconvenient for others to make things easy for themselves.
DomainK Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 Not just kitchen but also temples and even touching the altar at home. I have never understood this puerile thought process. Makes sifar sense. Morons. However, lets be clear on one thing that it's not a anti-woman taboo or discrimination. Most religions also consider men unclean after ejaculation until they clean themselves up thoroughly. Also both men and women are required to clean themselves up and even sometimes change clothes after attending the toilet or the latrine. In a nutshell, in order to enter the kitchen or a holy place like a place of worship, one is required to be clean. We can't really say that it was a bad practice in the old days. It probably was for the sake of hygiene. We are talking about very old times here, when soaps or disinfectants were not in daily use.
Crookbond Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 However, lets be clear on one thing that it's not a anti-woman taboo or discrimination. Most religions also consider men unclean after ejaculation until they clean themselves up thoroughly. Also both men and women are required to clean themselves up and even sometimes change clothes after attending the toilet or the latrine. In a nutshell, in order to enter the kitchen or a holy place like a place of worship, one is required to be clean. We can't really say that it was a bad practice in the old days. It probably was for the sake of hygiene. We are talking about very old times here, when soaps or disinfectants were not in daily use. I am not really bothered about anything 'back in the day'. Abhi ka farak padhta hai mujhe! Why now?
Trichromatic Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 However, lets be clear on one thing that it's not a anti-woman taboo or discrimination. Most religions also consider men unclean after ejaculation until they clean themselves up thoroughly. Also both men and women are required to clean themselves up and even sometimes change clothes after attending the toilet or the latrine. In a nutshell, in order to enter the kitchen or a holy place like a place of worship, one is required to be clean. We can't really say that it was a bad practice in the old days. It probably was for the sake of hygiene. We are talking about very old times here, when soaps or disinfectants were not in daily use. I am not really bothered about anything 'back in the day'. Abhi ka farak padhta hai mujhe! Why now? http://www.citehr.com/22214-cat-monk-story.html
Crookbond Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 Perfectly, always challenge/think and push the barriers. Nothing is cast and stone.
Sachinism Posted July 2, 2012 Author Posted July 2, 2012 http://www.citehr.com/22214-cat-monk-story.html So true. Reminds me of stupid traditions in my household, whenever I'd enquire, nobody would be able to provide a proper answer because even they don't know why they follow the 'tradition'
DomainK Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 So true. Reminds me of stupid traditions in my household, whenever I'd enquire, nobody would be able to provide a proper answer because even they don't know why they follow the 'tradition' My family goes a step ahead - questioning is the sign of evil. Just do not question.
Crookbond Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 My family goes a step ahead - questioning is the sign of evil. Just do not question. Same with me, sometimes. I find it very difficult to fist irrationality.
DomainK Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 Same with me' date=' sometimes. I find it very difficult to fist irrationality.[/quote'] These things go in generations. We will screen out certain beliefs, practices and traditions from our last generation and they will be gone forever. Even our next generation will bring certain changes, the question is, will we resist?
superstar Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 I remember in my school they skipped the entire chapter... It was a private english school :D Adolescent mind made me read them though :giggle:
DomainK Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 I remember in my school they skipped the entire chapter... It was a private english school :D Adolescent mind made me read them though :giggle: There were no such chapters in my school. We learned some things out of our natural learning ability and skills of getting our hands on prohibited literature. It was fun.
Crookbond Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 These things go in generations. We will screen out certain beliefs' date=' practices and traditions from our last generation and they will be gone forever. Even our next generation will bring certain changes, the question is, will we resist?[/quote'] NO - the way I see things my job is to suggest not control. The decision lies with the next generation how they want to be.
beetle Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 However, lets be clear on one thing that it's not a anti-woman taboo or discrimination. Most religions also consider men unclean after ejaculation until they clean themselves up thoroughly. Also both men and women are required to clean themselves up and even sometimes change clothes after attending the toilet or the latrine. In a nutshell, in order to enter the kitchen or a holy place like a place of worship, one is required to be clean. We can't really say that it was a bad practice in the old days. It probably was for the sake of hygiene. We are talking about very old times here, when soaps or disinfectants were not in daily use. Oh c'mon ...not anti women?....how can you compare 'expected to clean and wash up' with being treated like untouchable animals for considerable time every month.It probably started as a rest and relief period for women as a lot of women do experience mild to extreme discomfort during periods.But like with most things...our cultured elders ended with turning it into a suffering for women.If there is a chance of controlling and making life tough for anyone ....why let go of the effing opportunity!
DomainK Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 Oh c'mon....how can you compare 'expected to clean and wash up' with being treated like untouchable animals for considerable time every month.It probably started as a rest and relief period for women as a lot of women do experience mild to extreme discomfort during periods.But like with most things...our cultured elders ended with turning it into a suffering for women.If there is a chance of controlling and making life tough for anyone ....why let go of the effing opportunity! I was not trying to justify it, my apologies if it appeared so. Did it start as a rest and relief period for women? May be, may be not. Most cultures and religions consider any kind of fluid discharge from a sexual organ as unclean and unholy, including menstrual blood, semen and even urine. As I understand it, not allowing them into places considered holy was probably due to hygiene, as per their understanding those days. Then, like most other things, people found a way to discriminate against women on this excuse as well.
beetle Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 I was not trying to justify it, my apologies if it appeared so. Did it start as a rest and relief period for women? May be, may be not. Most cultures and religions consider any kind of fluid discharge from a sexual organ as unclean and unholy, including menstrual blood, semen and even urine. As I understand it, not allowing them into places considered holy was probably due to hygiene, as per their understanding those days. Then, like most other things, people found a way to discriminate against women on this excuse as well. You were not justifying....just making unfair comparison. We are very hypocritical when it comes to sex.....we are the land of the kamasutra.......we breed worse than rabbits.Infact it seems child bearing is the primary function of the person....on the other hand we think body fluids are filthy.What hypocrisy!
Crookbond Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 You were not justifying....just making unfair comparison. We are very hypocritical when it comes to sex.....we are the land of the kamasutra.......we breed worse than rabbits.Infact it seems child bearing is the primary function of the person....on the other hand we think body fluids are filthy.What hypocrisy! I haven't got that logic as yet. The man who created this machine was abandoned by his family. :WTF:
Recommended Posts