Meet the real-life ‘Padmen’ who distributed pads to 100 men on Bangalore streets

Menstruation, a natural and vital aspect of a woman’s health, continues to be shrouded in secrecy and taboo in India, despite efforts to raise awareness, including the popular Bollywood film “Padmen.” In many pharmacies across the country, sanitary pads are discreetly wrapped in newspapers or black bags before being handed to customers, reinforcing the stigma surrounding menstruation. To combat this issue and increase public awareness about periods, two digital content creators, Shanky Singh and Siddhesh Lokare, took a unique approach by distributing sanitary pads to men on the streets of Bengaluru. Their goal was to break down the existing barriers preventing open conversations about menstruation and dispel myths associated with it.

On October 14, the duo shared a video on their Instagram account documenting this initiative, which has already garnered over 2.9 lakh likes. In the video’s caption, they explained the purpose of their experiment, stating, “Two Padmen distributed Sanitary Pads to 100 MEN! The intent of this experiment was to normalize THE ACT OF BUYING AND GIFTING SANITARY PADS TO THE MENSTRUATORS in their life. We often see medical stores selling pads along with a black carry bag. This is not a specific behavior but a global phenomenon. Menstruation and periods are closely tied with the concept of shame and privacy. Ergo, we thought of asking some innately important questions to the men of the streets of Bangalore. I and @_the_backstory are thankful to the entire team of distributors who helped us make this happen with a successful ending, or I must say.. a hopeful beginning.”

The response to their initiative has been overwhelmingly positive. Instagram users have praised the effort, with one user commenting, “These guys are changing the world!! I’m so lucky to see someone spreading this much positivity and kindness.” Another user said, “You have great thinking, brother!! Keep going… Maybe one day every man will start thinking like you.”

Some users suggested expanding this awareness campaign to underprivileged neighborhoods and smaller villages, where access to sanitary products and awareness about menstruation may be limited. One user advised, “I think that you both should give these sanitary pads to those who can’t afford or who are less aware of it. You must try this in slum areas and small villages; it will help them so much.” In a similar vein, another user recommended, “Do this in small towns and villages… people there need to learn this.”

In essence, Shanky Singh and Siddhesh Lokare’s initiative stands as a beacon of hope in the ongoing battle against menstrual taboos in India. By engaging men in conversations about menstruation and encouraging them to participate in normalizing the purchase and gifting of sanitary pads, they are taking a significant step towards breaking down the stigma and fostering greater awareness about this natural aspect of women’s health.

The existing secrecy and stigma surrounding menstruation in India have deep-rooted cultural and societal influences. Despite efforts to address this issue, such as the release of the popular Bollywood film “Padman” and ongoing conversations about menstrual health, many people still find it challenging to openly discuss or even acknowledge menstruation. This is a significant concern, as it perpetuates the idea that menstruation is something to be hidden or ashamed of, rather than a normal and essential part of a woman’s life.

One common practice that highlights the secrecy surrounding menstruation is the way sanitary pads are distributed in pharmacies. They are often discreetly wrapped in newspapers or black bags before being handed to customers. This practice reinforces the idea that menstruation is something that should be hidden from view, contributing to the overall taboo.

In response to this issue, digital content creators Shanky Singh and Siddhesh Lokare decided to take a creative and unconventional approach. They embarked on an initiative to distribute sanitary pads to men on the streets of Bengaluru. Their objective was to challenge the existing barriers that prevent open conversations about menstruation and debunk the myths associated with it.

On October 14, they shared a video on their Instagram account, documenting their unique experiment. The video quickly gained traction, receiving over 2.9 lakh likes. In the video caption, they explained the purpose of their initiative, emphasizing the normalization of buying and gifting sanitary pads to menstruators. They pointed out that it is a global phenomenon for medical stores to provide sanitary pads in a discreet manner, further perpetuating the concept of shame and privacy around menstruation.

The response to their initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, with users on Instagram applauding their efforts and the impact they are making. Some users praised their mission to spread positivity and kindness. Others expressed hope that their approach could lead to more men openly discussing menstruation and breaking the existing taboos.

In addition to the supportive comments, some users suggested broadening the scope of the awareness campaign. They recommended taking the initiative to underprivileged neighborhoods and smaller villages, where access to sanitary products and awareness about menstruation may be limited. This approach would extend the benefits of breaking the stigma and providing much-needed education to those who need it the most.

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