As a child, Harish Sadani often helped his paternal aunt with household chores. While he felt comfortable doing the work, boys his age would tease him and ask why he was working “like a girl”. They called him a “sissy”. The remarks stayed with him and sparked questions that would shape the course of his life. Why was girls’ work considered less important? Why were women treated differently? Today, through Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA), the organisation he helped establish in 1993, Harish works to address these questions by engaging men and boys in conversations about gender, violence, and equality.
Early Questions About Gender and Violence
Growing up in a community dwelling with common toilets, Harish closely observed the lives of people around him. He frequently witnessed women being abused or physically harmed by men. At the same time, he saw a different example at home. His father helped with household responsibilities, including preparing vegetables and sharing other domestic work.
These contrasting experiences left a lasting impression on him.
“All men are not the same,” he reflected, recognising early on that different ways of thinking and behaving were possible.
During his college years, another influence deepened his curiosity about gender roles. He became an admirer of an actress late Smita Patil, known for challenging stereotypes in films such as Nishant. After finding her address in a film magazine, he began corresponding with her through letters.
In one letter, he asked why men in films were almost always portrayed as violent, dominating figures rather than sensitive and caring individuals. Although she replied that such portrayals were ultimately a director’s choice, the question continued to occupy his thoughts.
The Beginning of MAVA
After completing a Master’s in Social Work from TISS, Harish came across an appeal in the Indian Express by journalist C.Y. Gopinath. The appeal sought “men who believe that wives are not for beating”.
The response was significant. Out of 205 respondents from different professional backgrounds, including engineers, managers, and students, around 30 men in Bombay began meeting regularly. For nearly a year, they discussed what meaningful contribution they could make without duplicating existing efforts.
On March 11, 1993, those discussions culminated in the registration of Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA).
Focusing on the Root Cause
While many organisations work to empower women and support survivors of violence, MAVA chose a different but complementary focus.
According to Harish, the organisation seeks to address what he sees as the root cause of violence: the dominating mindset and attitudes of men.
In conversation with The Logical Indian, he explained that masculinity, like gender itself, is a social construct that needs constant examination.
He emphasised the importance of a process of “learning, unlearning, and relearning” to challenge harmful beliefs that have been normalised across generations.
Many men, he noted, fear that questioning patriarchy will disrupt their lives or diminish their status. Others feel threatened by assertive women. MAVA’s work aims to help young men and adolescent boys understand how these issues affect not only women but also their own lives and relationships.
Building Trust and Expanding Impact
The organisation’s journey was not without challenges. In its early years, many including women’s organisations were sceptical of a men’s group entering the gender justice space.
Over time, MAVA earned trust by consistently supporting women in distress and demonstrating its commitment through action.
A major turning point came through a pilot programme involving 35 young men in rural Pune around two decades ago. Following its success, the initiative expanded to other districts of Maharashtra with support from funders such as SwissAid India.
Today, MAVA’s reach has grown considerably. The organisation has trained more than 1,500 mentors across India who have collectively engaged over 6.5 lakh young men through out-of-the box methods like participatory workshops, annual cultural magazine, street-theatre performances, digital media, storytelling and mass campaigns.
Harish believes that men must be willing to give up patriarchal privileges if they wish to build healthier, safer, and more harmonious lives.
Responding to New Challenges
As social attitudes evolve, so do the challenges facing young people.
While speaking to The Logical Indian, Harish expressed concern about the influence of social media personalities such as Andrew Tate, whose content promotes harmful ideas about masculinity and success. He also pointed to films like Animal and Kabir Singh, which he believes have revived traditional and regressive notions of manhood.
At the same time, he highlighted the pressures many young men experience. Expectations to act as providers and protectors can create significant emotional strain.
To address this need, MAVA launched a youth helpline in Pune that offers a safe and non-threatening space where young men can talk openly about their concerns.
The organisation is also developing a counter-narrative to online misogyny through short films, reels, and memes designed to engage young audiences.
Creating Spaces for Reflection and Change
One of MAVA’s recent initiatives is Project Unlearn in Delhi. Through the programme, formerly incarcerated men mentor boys between the ages of 10 and 16, helping them understand and break cycles of violence.
For Harish, punishment alone is not enough to prevent violence. He believes meaningful change requires self-reflection, personal transformation, and opportunities to rethink learned behaviours.
His understanding of gender justice also extends beyond gender alone. He emphasises that experiences are shaped by intersecting factors such as caste, class, and sexual orientation.
Rather than working in isolated silos, he advocates solidarity across social movements and causes.
Looking Ahead
Education remains central to Harish’s vision for long-term change. He believes schools and colleges can play a crucial role by nurturing “gender champions” and equipping educators to guide young minds.
MAVA’s broader goal is to build a large network of male communicators and facilitators who can work alongside women’s groups and LGBT organisations to create a more equitable society.
The organisation also uses its Traveling Film Festival as a platform for dialogue and reflection. Having reached 60 cities and several countries, the initiative creates spaces where people can engage with difficult questions around gender and violence.
For Harish, the journey that began with childhood questions about fairness and respect continues today through conversations, mentorship, and collective action. His work is rooted in a simple but transformative belief: that men can question inherited ideas, change themselves, and become active participants in building a more equal society.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Harish Sadani’s journey highlights the importance of engaging men and boys in addressing gender-based violence. The urgency is evident in NFHS-5 (2019-21) data, which shows that 37.2 percent of ever-married women in India have experienced physical or sexual violence by their husbands, with 87 percent of reported spousal violence beginning within the first five years of marriage.
While supporting women remains essential, MAVA’s work underscores the need to challenge the attitudes and social norms that enable violence. As India continues to confront gender inequality, could creating more spaces for dialogue and healthier models of masculinity help drive lasting change?
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