Coimbatore social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganantham, popularly known as India’s “Padman”, has been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution towards menstrual hygiene awareness and women’s empowerment.
Speaking to the media, Arunachalam Muruganantham said his nomination had been accepted by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, placing him among the candidates being considered for the prestigious international honour.
According to reports, there are 287 nominations for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, including 208 individuals and 79 organisations.
Hailing from Coimbatore, Muruganantham gained international recognition for inventing low-cost sanitary napkin-making machines aimed at improving menstrual hygiene access for women, particularly in rural areas. His innovation also created livelihood opportunities for women’s self-help groups across the country.
His work inspired the Hindi film Pad Man starring Akshay Kumar, which brought wider public attention to menstrual hygiene issues and the stigma surrounding menstruation.
Reports stated that the nomination process was initiated by Ram Ramanujam, a US-based supporter of Muruganantham’s work, along with eligible nominators associated with Aravind Eye Hospital. The nomination was reportedly submitted in September 2025, and an acknowledgement from the Nobel Committee was later received.
“I couldn’t believe it at first. I’m really proud,” Muruganantham said while reacting to the development.
Arunachalam Muruganantham had earlier been honoured with the Padma Shri in 2016 and was featured in Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2014.
