Nobel Peace Prize: Social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganantham, widely known as 'Padman', on Sunday claimed that he has been officially listed as a nominee for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
Muruganantham developed a machine to produce low-cost sanitary pads, aimed at improving menstrual hygiene for women in rural India. His efforts served as the inspiration behind Akshay Kumar-starrer 'PadMan'.
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'I Am Really Proud': Muruganantham
Speaking to news agency ANI, Muruganantham said, "I couldn't believe it at first... For the Nobel Prize, you cannot submit your name, nor can your friends or family. It has to be a third party..."
"A Dean from Aravind Eye Hospital of Pondicherry and American teams working there submitted my name for the Nobel... It was accepted within 24 hours... I'm really proud," he added.
Who Is Arunachalam Muruganantham?
Muruganantham, a social activist from Tamil Nadu, is known for introducing low-cost sanitary pads to villages across India. His work served as the inspiration for the film PadMan, directed by R. Balki and starring Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte, and Sonam Kapoor.
The film went on to win the National Award for Best Film.
287 Candidates Nominated For 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
According to the official website of The Nobel Prize, there are 287 candidates nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, comprising 208 individuals and 79 organisations.
"However, the deliberations and assessments do not take place in a vacuum: for each candidate and topic, it seeks evaluations from some of the world's leading experts, from academics with deep knowledge of the specific areas in which the candidates are engaged. The committee also review a large selection of scholarly articles and other background material," the website added.
Announcement Date
The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced on October 9, while the award ceremony will take place on December 10.
(With Inputs From ANI)