In 2016, Dipankar Ghoshal and his mother were falsely implicated in a case under Section 498A of the IPC. What followed was nine years of legal battles, broken relationships and a presumption of guilt he says he faced simply for being a man. That experience led him to found For Men India in Guwahati, alongside co-founders Antara Das and Jayashree Singh, an NGO working on men’s rights, legal awareness, family law, men’s health and mental health. Here, Dipankar shares what pushed him to start the organisation, and the changes he believes society still needs to make.
What inspired you to establish For Men India, and what is the organisation’s core mission?
In 2016, my mother and I were falsely implicated in a case under Section 498A of the IPC. When I was called to the police station to record my statement, the investigating officer’s first words were, “It’s better that you confess, because a woman would never file a false case!” Despite repeatedly stating that I had no idea why the case had been filed, I felt judged simply because I was a man. Society, including my family, friends, neighbours and relatives, turned their back on me. Even my relationship with my father broke, causing me severe mental trauma.
One complaint shattered my family and exposed the painful reality of gender bias and the presumption of guilt. That was when I decided to raise awareness about the issues faced by men, fight for men’s rights, and establish For Men India. I continued fighting my case and finally won after nine long years.
Our core mission rests on four pillars: men’s rights advocacy, including campaigns around family law reform, divorce, child custody, male victims of harassment and the alleged misuse of laws like Section 498A of the IPC and BNS 69; legal awareness, through educational guides and legal updates to help men understand their rights; health and welfare, through free health check-ups, cancer awareness drives and mental health programs; and education support, through scholarships for underprivileged male students.
What are the key challenges men face today that deserve greater awareness?
Mental health struggles, societal pressure to be the primary breadwinner, family and marital disputes, limited access to support as victims of abuse, and the stigma around expressing vulnerability. Men are often expected to remain strong, suppress their emotions, and deal with their problems silently, which leaves many feeling isolated and misunderstood.
In India, greater awareness is needed around men’s mental health and suicide prevention, fathers’ rights, domestic abuse against men, and fair legal proceedings. False or malicious allegations can also have serious emotional, financial and reputational consequences, making evidence-based justice and equal protection essential.
Another significant concern is the persistence of gender stereotypes that portray men as emotionally invulnerable or assume they cannot be victims. These attitudes discourage men from seeking help and prevent their experiences from getting the attention they deserve.
How does For Men India work towards protecting men’s rights and supporting those in need?
We support men and families facing difficult circumstances by helping them access legal guidance, providing free counselling, sharing their stories to bring public attention to their struggles, and advocating for fair investigations and due process. Through awareness campaigns, health camps, mental health initiatives, educational scholarships and community outreach, we work to support vulnerable men and improve their wellbeing.
What misconceptions around men’s issues would you like to address?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that men cannot be victims of abuse. Abuse and violence are not exclusive to any gender, and every victim deserves to be heard and supported without prejudice. Similarly, raising concerns about false allegations or the misuse of legal provisions should not be interpreted as opposing women’s rights; it’s about ensuring fairness, accountability and due process for everyone.
Men experience emotional pain, mental health struggles, domestic abuse, harassment and injustice just like anyone else, yet they’re often discouraged from speaking about their suffering because of societal expectations.
What changes would you like to see in society to promote fairness and gender equality?
Five things, in particular: gender-neutral laws, so men have equal legal protection without gender-based discrimination; proper support and access to justice for men facing domestic abuse, harassment or false allegations; genuine mental health awareness, so men can express their feelings and seek help without judgment; breaking the stereotype that men must always remain strong or suffer in silence; and equal rights and justice for everyone, because true gender equality has to include men’s rights and well-being too.
