Cup of hope, period!

For Sugandhi Gadadhar, a Bengaluru-based software professional, it was always about going the eco-friendly way.  But off late, the enterprising individual with an ‘inclination towards conservation’ is out with an intent — to egg young women in the city to swap regular sanitary pads to menstrual cups. She tells us more, just as she’s all set to facilitate and offer extensive sessions and talks at city-based schools and colleges by joining hands with a blooming initiative named cupsperts.

“I heard about menstrual cups from friends a long while ago, but took my time to research about it. Personally,  the idea arose from a realisation on visiting forests and villages, where even the basic disposal system is absent, unlike in a city, I didn’t want to contribute to the garbage there. And that’s when I thought I should give this a try. The feeling of how liberating it is is what made me want to propagate the usage of it,” enthuses the 35-year-old, who will be joining hands with Cupsperts, a city-based forum where a group of youngsters discuss ideas related to menstruation at large, to spread the message.

“I’ve been conducting sessions for over a year, but mostly in private meetings. I do discuss garbage segregation actively, whenever I get an opportunity. The model three-way segregation being followed in Bengaluru that has been a movement very close to my heart.”

While juggling between a full-time career and conducting sessions may seem trying; for Sugandhi, moonlighting as a volunteer for eco-friendly initiatives has only opened up bigger prospects.

“I think the biggest takeway about interacting with women from different walks of life and between varying age groups is the fact that it broadens your perspective! It’s made me more aware and has fueled my interests towards film making,” she shares, speaking about her recent foray into short film making.

Asserting how she possesses no super womanly powers, and it’s pure passion and a genuine concern that gets her moving, she adds, “Well, I do certain things because I believe it’s important to spread awareness. But I ensure I also make time for other interests and passions.

“My interests and hobbies range from photography, acting, volunteering for nature and wildlife conservation. etc. My passion is nature, wildlife and conservation. I am inspired by the natural world, and by the scores of citizen volunteers who are spending their time and efforts to make our cities cleaner, to preserve our forests and wildlife.”

Speaking about what’s next on the cards, Sugandhi signs off saying, “Personally, the biggest takeaway for me is to hope that the talks result in something concrete. I hope we don’t have to go and give talks in private anymore, because in future, menstruation should not be something discussed hush-hush. More gynecologists should advocate sustainable options, so that we stop using cancer causing pads and tampons. I hope to see this being viewed as a regular occurrence and not just a “breakthrough idea” that it’s mostly being perceived as.”