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.
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.
My wife gone, my mum gone, ostracised by my village. I was left all alone in life.
I have accumulated no money but I accumulate a lot of happiness. If you get rich, you have an apartment with an extra bedroom - and then you die.
My vision is to make India into a 100% sanitary-pad-using country. Menstruation is no more a taboo.
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 suffered a lot when I tried to make sanitary napkins and promote the idea. My family - including my mother and wife - deserted me. Villagers even tied me to a tree and beat me. But after seeing me successful now, they come and say that they all knew that I would become famous one day.
My wife was gone, all other girls failed to cooperate, so I decided to wear a pouch of animal blood myself and test out my pads by wearing them myself. The discomfort I felt for those five days cannot be explained in words; I bow to every woman on earth for going through this every month.
The idea came from my wife, since in our village, women cannot afford to buy sanitary pads. When I asked my wife, she told me we would have to cut down half of our milk budget to buy sanitary pads. Moreover, while raw materials for sanitary pads cost 10 paise, the end product was sold for 40 times that price. So, I decided to create it on my own.
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.
To help my mother, I started working as a workshop helper. There I learned welding and other tools.
I got married at 24. It was an arranged marriage.
Being the son of a handloom weaver, I have knowledge of cotton and some other material.
What kept me going was my desire to provide a hygiene product for my wife.
The most difficult thing is changing people's mindset.
To break the age-old taboos and to see girls and women use pads was a difficult task.
I'm ecstatic to be known as pad man, as it makes a difference to women's lives.
When I work in the remotest villages, it reminds me of who I am... India is not built on 14 metros and 100 cities. It's made up of 600,000 villages.
My life is a brave one. I didn't put any restrictions.
I may fail today, but if I have another idea tomorrow, maybe it will work.
