Penetration of Sanitary Napkins is only 7%

23% girls drop out of school before reaching puberty

He went to a local and store and bought one pack. Being a mechanic, he could easily gauge that it weighed not more than 10 gms

He realized that the cost for the same would not be more than 10p but was astounded by the fact that the manufacturing firms charge INR 4 for the

same

He was resolute that he would be able to make a cheaper sanitary napkin but all he needed were women volunteers

So he approached his wife and his sisters

He needed feedback on his product. His wife and sisters were however not ready to talk on the subject

Left with no option, he resorted to medical college students.

But even they weren’t honest with their feedback. They filled the “feedback sheets” just before submitting!

With no option left, he attached a prosthetic bladder to his waist, filled it with goat’s blood and used the napkin on himself

By now, he was completely ostracized by the society. Even his family had parted ways with him.

HIS WIFE SENT A NOTICE FOR DIVORCE. But he pursued still. Trying to figure out why his napkin won’t work!

But the problems were far from being over!

A typical machine cost INR 3.5 crores

He says…

Answer: MAXIMIZE profits through IPR rights

“Ignorance means chasing this money”

“Everyone is trying only to survive – in a small way in a small house, in a

medium-sized house, in a bungalow!”

“To brush your teeth, nylon handle and nylon brush is sufficient.”

“But as you go further in life, you need a gold plated and diamond

studded toothbrush”

Costs a few lakhs Requires skills which can be mastered in a day

Featured in TIME magazine’s list of 100 most influential people

Impossible is nothing if you believe in yourself!

What spearheaded this social revolution? A common man

Even if those closest to you lose faith in you, don’t give up!

Happiness lies not in amassing money but in changing lives

Thank You!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4_MeS6SOwk

o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4_MeS6SOwk

o https://www.ted.com/talks/arunachalam_muruganantham_how_i_started_a_sanitary_napkin_revolution#t-2763

o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachalam_Muruganantham

o http://newinventions.in/

o http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26260978

o http://time.com/70861/arunachalam-muruganantham-2014-time-100/

These slides were created by Aratrika Gupta, IIM Lucknow, as part of a MBA course "Personal Branding" (www.MBASkills.IN) taught

by Prof. Sameer Mathur

Prof. Sameer MathurIIM Lucknow, Marketing Professor, 2013-PresentMcGill University, Marketing Professor, 2009-13

Carnegie Mellon, Ph.D. and M.S. Marketing, 2003-09

Aratrika GuptaIIM Lucknow, PGDM Marketing, 2014-16