Jobaaj Stories
Speaking publicly about something that is considered taboo in society is not everyone’s cup of tea. And when it comes to talking about “those days” for females, most people avoid it as if it is something shameful. But Mrs. Aditi Gupta decided to break this taboo with her confidence and courage through her comic book “Menstrupedia”. Let’s discuss more about her journey.
Aditi's Menstrual Taboos and Challenges
Being born in Jharkhand, Aditi had to suffer a lot during her days of menstruation, as Jharkhand itself is a backward state. At the age of 12, when Aditi got her first period, she was strictly asked not to discuss this with anyone, especially anyone male. She was not allowed to touch anything or enter any place of prayer or worship. In one of her interviews, she also mentioned that she had to use old scrap clothes instead of sanitary pads because her family thought that they would lose their dignity if their daughter bought sanitary pads from the local chemist shop. She even said that her science teacher had skipped the menstruation-based chapter from their science textbook, which made her believe that talking about “period” is no less than a crime.
Aditi and Tuhin's Awareness Mission
With time, she grew up and was in the middle of pursuing her post-graduation when she met her partner, Tuhin Paul. Aditi and Tuhin used to work on many college-based projects, which developed a sense of understanding among them, but when Aditi discussed her sufferings due to periods with Tuhin, he was shocked as he had zero knowledge regarding it. That was the moment when they realized that there is such a lack of awareness and myths in the minds of people regarding the menstrual cycle of females that they need to be removed. To execute this idea, Aditi researched mensuration for a year. She also met different doctors and cleared up her queries with them.
Bringing in the “Menstrupedia”
As the research continued for a year, Aditi consolidated all of her data into the form of comic stories and named it Menstrupedia. In 2012, she and her husband started to spread knowledge about the menstrual cycle through their book. Menstrupedia is a comic containing four main characters: Pinki, Meera, Jia, and Dr. Priya Didi. All three girls in the comic come to Dr. Priya Didi to get their questions about menstruation answered. The book itself creates a safe environment for the readers so that they can easily gain knowledge on this taboo topic. They have also created a website with the same name, which also serves as a guide for the people.
Aditi Gupta's Entrepreneurial Success
Aditi worked really hard to make this happen, and she finally made it when Aditi Gupta and Tuhin Paul appeared on Season 1 of Shark Tank in 2021. They received funding of around 50 lakh rupees in exchange for 20% equity. Apart from this, she has launched several projects with Whisper in collaboration with several female actresses, including Parineeti Chopra and Shraddha Kapoor. Also, she was named a "Global Shaper" by the World Economic Forum and made it to Forbes in 2014. Not only this but she has been named one of the BBC's 100 most powerful women. She also took part in the Breaking Taboo Panel at the Thomson Reuters Foundation Trust Women's Conference in London.
Aditi Gupta's remarkable journey from a young girl facing societal taboos around menstruation in Jharkhand to a trailblazing entrepreneur and advocate for menstrual awareness is truly inspiring. Her creation, Menstrupedia, in collaboration with Tuhin Paul, has broken down barriers and provided a safe platform for education on a once-taboo topic. With her entrepreneurial success and recognition on global platforms, Aditi Gupta continues to make a significant impact by challenging stigmas and promoting open conversations about menstruation.
Written by: Gauri Singhal
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