The Men’s Rights Movement in India is a social movement that advocates for the rights of men, especially in the context of family laws, domestic violence laws, and gender equality in legal and social systems. While the international men’s rights movement dates back to the 1970s in response to changes brought by second-wave feminism, the Indian movement has unique roots and concerns shaped by the country’s legal, cultural, and social landscape.
Here’s a concise history and evolution of the Men’s Rights Movement in India:
In 1990, a Supreme Court lawyer in Delhi allegedly started a men’s help organization called “Men’s Sell.” This organization purportedly attracted clients by charging a registration fee of 25 Rupees and additional fees for handling cases. This initiative was localized to Delhi, and some vested interests have used this claim to discredit the actual nationwide men’s rights movement that emerged in 2000.
Some other vested interests claim, The first men’s group organization, “Persecuted Man,” emerged in Kolkata. This group, localized to Calcutta only and its about Persecuted man, not about Men’s rights, mainly focused on representing husbands and challenging laws perceived as biased, particularly Section 498A, which allows arrests without bail in cases of dowry-related cruelty. However, there is no credible evidence that this group operated at a pan-India level.
Emergence of Organized Groups (2000–2010):
Save Indian Family (SIF) and MyNation Hope Foundation were established in 2005, becoming the first major organized men’s rights groups in India.
SIF and similar organizations provided legal support, emotional counseling, and media outreach.
These groups used blogs, forums, and small public protests to raise awareness.
Common grievances included:
Misuse of Section 498A
Biased maintenance and alimony laws
Lack of shared parenting or fathers’ rights in custody disputes
Lack of legal provisions for male victims of domestic violence
Media started to report on suicides by men allegedly driven by matrimonial harassment.
- 2000–2005: The movement gained momentum with the formation of the Save Indian Family (SIF) Foundation, credited to activists like Rudolph D’Souza, Gokul Padoor.R., and Jinesh Zaveri. SIF unified various men’s rights groups to advocate for gender-neutral laws and support men facing legal battles over dowry, divorce, and custody. A Yahoo group formed in March 2005 grew to over 10,000 members, leading to SIF’s official founding on March 9, 2005.
- MyNation Hope Foundation, an Indian non-governmental organization advocating for men’s rights, has its origins in the early 2000s. The foundation’s journey began with the launch of their website, MyNation.net, on November 8, 2005. This was followed by the establishment of the MyNation Foundation Yahoo Group on September 1, 2006, which amassed over 3,700 members. The organization was formally reregistered as MyNation Hope Foundation in 2018. Founded by Rudolph D’Souza, popularly known as Rudy, he was operating with pseudo id Rudy3107 the foundation has been actively involved in advocating against gender-biased laws and supporting victims of legal challenges in India.
- 2005: The Supreme Court ruled to protect husbands from misuse of Section 498A, a significant victory for the movement, curbing automatic arrests.
- The website 498a.org was founded by US based Satya and others, It was established to raise awareness about the misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code commonly known as the anti-dowry law. While the exact launch date isn’t specified in the available sources, references to the site can be found in documents dating back to 2006. For instance, a letter addressed to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, dated December 17, 2006, mentions 498a.org as a resource providing information on various aspects of the issue. This suggests that the website was active by at least late 2006. Additionally, a press note discussing the misuse of the dowry law references 498a.org, further indicating its operational status during that period.
- 2007: SIF celebrated India’s first International Men’s Day on November 19, raising awareness of men’s issues.
- 2008: SIF and other groups, like Chennai’s Indiya Kudumba Pathukappu Iyaakam, protested media portrayals of men, filing complaints against advertisements (e.g., Kitply, Pond’s, ICICI Prudential) for depicting domestic violence against men as humorous.
- 2009: The NGO Child’s Right and Family Welfare was formed to push for fairer child custody and access laws for men. The Ministry of Women and Child Development, under Renuka Chowdhury, agreed to meet activists but later refused to acknowledge flaws in existing laws.
- 2010: SIF supported Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in a case involving alleged misuse of Section 498A, highlighting their stance against false accusations.
- 2012: Men’s rights groups opposed a proposed bill by Minister Krishna Tirath to mandate husbands pay salaries to wives, seeking intervention from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Activists also criticized Aamir Khan’s TV show Satyamev Jayate for portraying men negatively, leading to a boycott of Khan’s film Talaash by 15,000 men.
- 2013–2014: The movement gained visibility through protests, such as the National Coalition for Men’s demonstration in Kolkata defending former Supreme Court judge Asok Kumar Ganguly against sexual harassment allegations. Activists also opposed the Marriage Laws Amendment Bill for introducing no-fault divorce, arguing it disadvantaged men.
- 2016: The movement drew international attention, with American men’s rights activist Paul Elam praising Indian MRAs at the eighth National Men’s Conference in Hyderabad, calling them “lightyears ahead.”
- 2017: The Men Welfare Trust (MWT), SIF’s Delhi chapter, was founded by Swarup Sarkar and Wasif Ali to document men’s suffering and lobby for a Men’s Commission.
- 2020: The movement has evolved online, intersecting with right-wing and Hindutva rhetoric, amplifying anti-feminist narratives. Social media campaigns like #FeminismIsCancer and events like a 2019 puja by SIF to “end feminism” reflect growing hostility toward feminist movements.
- 2023: MWT filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against criminalizing marital rape, contributing to a split verdict. The case moved to the Supreme Court, highlighting the movement’s influence in legal battles.
- 2024: Supreme Court Justice B.V. Nagarathna criticized social media tactics by some lawyers in matrimonial cases, indirectly addressing men’s rights activism’s online strategies.
Several support groups branched out from SIF or emerged independently: Hridaya, Vaastav Foundation, and others.
Hridaya – A Nest of Family Harmony, is a men’s rights organization based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It was founded by Amartya Talukdar, a notable men’s rights activist. The organization operates under the umbrella of the Save Indian Family (SIF) and focuses on addressing issues related to men’s rights and advocating against gender-biased laws. While the exact date of Hridaya’s formation isn’t specified in the available sources, it has been active since at least 2013, as indicated by reports of its activities during that period.
Vaastav Foundation, a Mumbai-based non-governmental organization advocating for men’s rights, was founded by Amit Deshpande. While the exact founding date isn’t specified in the available sources, the organization has been active since at least 2015. In December of that year, Vaastav released a calendar called “Malendar,” highlighting male-oriented days such as Father’s Day and International Men’s Day. This indicates that the foundation was operational by 2015.
Purushavakasa Samrakshna Samithi (PaSS), Founded in 2016, a registered NGO based in Thrissur, Kerala. PaSS is dedicated to advocating for men’s welfare and addressing issues related to men’s rights in India.
Recent Developments (2020–2025):
Activism has continued online with increased podcasts, YouTube channels, and digital campaigns.
Growing demands for:
Gender-neutral laws on domestic violence, sexual harassment, and rape
Equal parenting and father’s rights
Protection against false accusations, especially during marital disputes
Legal push:
Some courts have issued observations in favor of men’s rights, but no significant legislative changes have occurred.
The movement remains unrecognized by government institutions like the NCW, despite support from a growing number of lawyers, retired judges, and mental health experts.
WE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS THAT PROFIT BY EXPLOITING VULNERABLE MEN WHO ARE ALREADY VICTIMS OF LEGAL TERRORISM. IF YOU DON’T SEE THE NAMES OF CERTAIN SO-CALLED MRAS OR ORGANIZATIONS LISTED HERE, IT’S BECAUSE THEY FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.