Menstrual Hygiene Day Exclusive With Anurag Chauhan: “Periods Are Not Dirty, The Stigma Around Them Is”

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Boldsky's #PeriodPositive campaign on Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 celebrates voices driving change-and no voice echoes louder than that of Anurag Chauhan, newly appointed Global Ambassador for Menstrual Hygiene Day by WASH United. As the founder of Humans for Humanity, Chauhan has spent over a decade challenging taboos, dismantling stigma, and delivering dignity through menstrual equity.

"This Is a Moment for India": A Role That Redefines Representation

"It's a humbling moment," says Chauhan. "To represent not just a cause, but a country."Chauhan sees his ambassadorship not just as an honor, but as a symbolic milestone. At a time when India is redefining its global image, his appointment reflects shifting narratives-where menstrual health is no longer whispered about, but spoken of with pride.

What Sparked His Journey: A Statistic That Changed Everything

Chauhan's mission began with a chilling number-180,000 women dying annually in India due to poor menstrual hygiene."The silence was deafening," he recalls. "I knew I couldn't stay quiet." That moment ignited a lifelong commitment to menstrual health-a cause that would grow from schoolboy curiosity into a nationwide movement.

A Personal Loss That Became A Lifelong Purpose

Chauhan speaks with raw honesty about the loss of his unborn sister and its impact on his life's mission."No woman should die from something so preventable. That loss made this cause personal." His grief laid the foundation for a promise: to fight for the dignity and safety of every menstruator across India.

WASH: From Rooftop Experiments to a National Movement

The WASH Project was born on a rooftop in Dehradun-with young volunteers from around the world learning how to make cloth sanitary pads.From there, the movement grew into workshops across rural villages and urban slums, bridging the knowledge gap and handing power back to women.

Breaking Taboos: A Man In The Menstrual Space

As a male menstrual health advocate, Chauhan faced backlash-from trolls to taunts. "People asked, 'Why is he talking about this?' But someone had to break the silence." Even in urban centers like Mumbai, Chauhan encountered heartbreaking ignorance-proof that awareness is still an urgent need.

A Nation Responds: From Rakhi Ribbons To Real Change

In villages like Belaj in Maharashtra, Chauhan was welcomed with drums and rakhis-symbols of trust earned through years of grassroots work. "That moment was healing-for them and for me."

From Margins To Mainstream : Shifting The National Narrative

Despite limited funding and powerful NGO monopolies, Humans for Humanity continues to expand-with outreach in Telangana, Chandigarh, and tribal belts in the Northeast. "We're scaling-but sensitively. Inclusivity is at the core of everything we do."

Educating Boys, Empowering Girls : Early Sensitization Is Key

Through school-based workshops, Chauhan's team teaches both boys and girls to make reusable sanitary pads-encouraging empathy and awareness from a young age. "Men can't understand if we never include them. We need to start early."

A Call to Action : Invest In Menstrual Health

"This isn't just about pads-it's about dignity, knowledge, and access." Chauhan urges policymakers, educators, and corporations to prioritize menstrual health as a central issue-not an afterthought. During the COVID-19 lockdown, sanitary pads weren't considered essential-something Chauhan calls "not just sad, but unacceptable."

As we mark Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, Chauhan leaves us with a rallying cry: Treat menstruation with the dignity it deserves. Let go of the shame. Speak. Act. Change.