The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary • Hacker News Board

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#121

Post by Shivetya » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:10 PM UTC

vineetraja wrote: post #51

Shivetya wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

she did not return because of his success, she returned because he was no longer bringing shame upon his family. As the article mentions, there many taboos in their society, there is the caste system that provides separation (even tint of skin can) and of course separation of sexes. So his single minded pursuit made life untenable for her where they lived, it even drove off his own mother. You did note that she merel…

>> the caste system that provides separation (even tint of skin can) are you suggesting that caste system is related to skin color?

No. I am saying there are many levels of separation of society in India, very similar to how separation exists in other cultures. However many Western nations prefer to highlight those faults in other countries and disclaim any such in their own.

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#122

Post by wtbob » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:24 PM UTC

> He believes that big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas he prefers the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," he says.

While I don't believe that big business is necessarily parasitic, I love this metaphor.

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#123

Post by auctiontheory » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:28 PM UTC

nate_meurer wrote: post #93

I want to hug this guy. Like, really. Buy me a airplane ticket. Arunachalam Muruganantham is a hero. I use that word in its full magnitude. Since I am now an expert on the matter, having read the entire article, I'll speculate on what motivates this man: - Grit. Crazy amounts of grit. The article is full of good quotes, but my favorite is what he said after being abandoned by his mother: "It was a problem for me," he…

There are still many taboos around menstruation in India. Women can't visit temples or public places, they're not allowed to cook or touch the water supply - essentially they are considered untouchable.

Every religion has elaborate rules to oppress woman. FYI, the Hebrew Bible has all the same stuff. (So I read in The Year of Living Biblically.)

It's a question of "how literally does society obey those rules?" Will Americans who use the Bible to justify their bigotry against gay people ... also agree to lock up Sarah Palin for five days/month? Not so far.

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#124

Post by Forplax » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:46 PM UTC

simsalapim wrote: post #43

Or you just get menstruation cups? Might be a bit more expensive initially but cheaper longterm and a lot more environmentally friendly. http://www.ruby-cup.com/en/

If the subject is so shameful and taboo that the women mentioned in this article can't even dry their sanitary rags in the sun, do you really see them boiling a menstrual cup in the family's cooking pot once a month to sterilize it?

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#125

Post by njharman » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:46 PM UTC

Favorite business advice "quote"? / paraphrase.

Be like a butterfly, taking some nectar but not damaging the flower. Not not like the mosquito, a parasite.

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#126

Post by holycow19 » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 5:04 PM UTC

nate_meurer wrote: post #93

I want to hug this guy. Like, really. Buy me a airplane ticket. Arunachalam Muruganantham is a hero. I use that word in its full magnitude. Since I am now an expert on the matter, having read the entire article, I'll speculate on what motivates this man: - Grit. Crazy amounts of grit. The article is full of good quotes, but my favorite is what he said after being abandoned by his mother: "It was a problem for me," he…

Agreed, these are the type of heroes that change the world and often go unnoticed.

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#127

Post by AjithAntony » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 5:05 PM UTC

yhlasx wrote: post #48

igul222 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article mentions that commercial napkins sold for 4 rupees despite cotton being 1/4000th the cost, but also says farther down that the locally produced ones sell for an average of 2.5 rupees each. That's a 38% discount: significant, but it doesn't seem like a game-changing difference to me. I imagine that if this catches on, the larger manufacturers will likely just cut their margins to compete. On a more general…

4 rupee price was before, when he first went to buy them. Years passed, and India has crazy amounts of inflation, and now it costs 2.5 rupees. I think if calculated, he probably made somewhat of a 70+% discount or more.

Yeah, it was 4 rupees in 1998

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#128

Post by nate_meurer » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 5:06 PM UTC

auctiontheory wrote: post #123

nate_meurer wrote: post #93

I want to hug this guy. Like, really. Buy me a airplane ticket. Arunachalam Muruganantham is a hero. I use that word in its full magnitude. Since I am now an expert on the matter, having read the entire article, I'll speculate on what motivates this man: - Grit. Crazy amounts of grit. The article is full of good quotes, but my favorite is what he said after being abandoned by his mother: "It was a problem for me," he…

There are still many taboos around menstruation in India. Women can't visit temples or public places, they're not allowed to cook or touch the water supply - essentially they are considered untouchable. Every religion has elaborate rules to oppress woman. FYI, the Hebrew Bible has all the same stuff. (So I read in The Year of Living Biblically .) It's a question of "how literally does society obey those rules?" Will…

Thank you, quite right. The ongoing fight by (a slowly shrinking segment of) American society to continue blatant persecution of gay people is one of our most shameful failings. And I agree, the Church (big C) is largely responsible.

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#129

Post by shreeshga » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 5:07 PM UTC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T7qzufEI9U I think this is his best speech, straight from heart.

Re: The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

#130

Post by lil_cain » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 5:08 PM UTC

auctiontheory wrote: post #123

nate_meurer wrote: post #93

I want to hug this guy. Like, really. Buy me a airplane ticket. Arunachalam Muruganantham is a hero. I use that word in its full magnitude. Since I am now an expert on the matter, having read the entire article, I'll speculate on what motivates this man: - Grit. Crazy amounts of grit. The article is full of good quotes, but my favorite is what he said after being abandoned by his mother: "It was a problem for me," he…

There are still many taboos around menstruation in India. Women can't visit temples or public places, they're not allowed to cook or touch the water supply - essentially they are considered untouchable. Every religion has elaborate rules to oppress woman. FYI, the Hebrew Bible has all the same stuff. (So I read in The Year of Living Biblically .) It's a question of "how literally does society obey those rules?" Will…

The rules in the bible are hebrew purity laws, which do not apply to gentiles (as decided in Acts). The verses most often used against homosexuality are not hebrew purity law - they're from St. Paul's letters.