If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.- Michael Jordan
This is exactly what Arunachalam Murugananhtam did. He did not care about the bricks that others threw at him and moved forward.
In the largest democracy of the world, it is really sad to see that the women do not even have access to the most basic of health facilities. ‘Menstruation’ – a word which is a taboo for the backward section of the society, is one of the main drawbacks for the country’s all-round development. Government has made numerous schemes to combat the problem of female infanticide, dowry, sati and inequality in the education and work fields but, it is blind to a vital need. How will girls and women work or study when they cannot move out of their houses? There are seats reserved for women in the education and work arena but, how will they avail them if a simple thing as this holds them back?
Moreover, even when some people are aware of menstrual hygiene, they are financially not stable to purchase the over-priced ‘branded’ sanitary napkins.
Mr. Arunachalam indeed did a noble thing. His work not only benefitted the women but, the country’s economy to some extent too. Recently, I came across this piece of news on the internet which emphasizes the lack of menstrual hygiene among Indian women.
What Mr. Arunachalam did was revolutionary! Although we still cannot neglect the bigger fact that, one person is not enough. One person is enough to start and initiate. But, it needs the ‘knowing half’ out there to help the ‘unknowing half’. In this developing country of ours, we have seen since decades that corruption is the ‘mantra’ and ‘exploitation’ is the objective of the government and most of the government officials. So it needs a revolutionary generation of citizens who can give India a new shape, a new destiny. The country needs its sons and daughters to revive its colorful vibes again.
Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.
- Albert Einstein
People usually do not seem to care unless something affects them too. Whenever people are of this mindset, they should read this poem by pastor Martin Niemollar, realize the importance of every individual and towards a better future for India.
‘The Hangman’
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Catholic.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.
Mr. Arunachalam needs volunteers to take his mission forward. Just like Gandhiji had people like Jawaharlal Nehru, Durgabai Deshmukh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Narhari Parikh, Sardar Patel and the others at his side, noble ideas like Mr. Arunachalam’s needs volunteers as such. It would be a new dawn for our nation if only people joined hands to work for the nation as one.
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This is written for the IndiBlogger contest 'The Idea Caravan' sponsored by Franklin Templeton Investments partnered the TEDxGateway Mumbai in December 2012.
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Link to Arunachalam Murugananhtam's video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u1iWhljEbTE