Men Against Rape and Discrimination
{{Short description|2013 Indian social campaign and organization}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Men Against Rape and Discrimination
| image = Men Against Rape and Discrimination logo.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Logo of Men Against Rape and Discrimination (MARD)
| founder = Farhan Akhtar
| type = Social campaign
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| founded_date = March 2013
| location = India
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Men Against Rape and Discrimination (MARD/M.A.R.D) is a 2013 social campaign launched by India film director and actor Farhan Akhtar.{{cite news|title=Farhan Akhtar launches campaign against 'rape and discrimination'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Farhan-Akhtar-launches-campaign-against-rape-and-discrimination/articleshow/18947551.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330222419/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-13/news-interviews/37681387_1_farhan-akhtar-shaadi-ke-side-effects-milkha-singh|url-status=live|archive-date=30 March 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=15 March 2013}} The word "MARD" ("Mard"; {{Langx|hi|मर्द}}, {{Langx|en|Man}}) has been used in the short form of the campaign name.{{cite news|title=Farhan Akhtar Starts 'MARD' (Men Against Rape and Discrimination)|newspaper=Business of Cinema|url=http://businessofcinema.com/news/farhan-akhtar-starts-mard-men-against-rape-and-discrimination/64493|accessdate=15 March 2013}} The campaign aims to raise social awareness against rape and discrimination of women.{{cite news|title=Farhan Akhtar to lead campaign against 'rape and discrimination'|url=http://www.aaj.tv/2013/03/farhan-akhtar-to-lead-campaign-against-%E2%80%98rape-and-discrimination%E2%80%99/|accessdate=15 March 2013|newspaper=Aaj TV}}
From its launch, the campaign became a topic of discussion in several social networking sites and has received positive feedback from actors like Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Arjun Rampal, and Hrithik Roshan.{{cite news|title=Bollywood filmmaker launches 'MARD' campaign against rape, discrimination|url=http://www.7daysindubai.com/VIDEO-Bollywood-filmmaker-launches-MARD-campaign/story-18402035-detail/story.html|newspaper=7 Days in Dubai|accessdate=15 March 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316185454/http://www.7daysindubai.com/VIDEO-Bollywood-filmmaker-launches-MARD-campaign/story-18402035-detail/story.html|archivedate=16 March 2013}}
History
Akhtar conceived MARD after an incident in August 2012. Pallavi Purkayastha, a Mumbai lawyer,{{cite news|title=Mumbai law graduate Pallavi Purkayastha's killer was driven by lust|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mumbai-law-graduate-Pallavi-Purkayasthas-killer-was-driven-by-lust/articleshow/15441021.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019025515/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-11/mumbai/33152763_1_crime-branch-electrician-power-outage|url-status=live|archive-date=19 October 2012|access-date=15 March 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=11 August 2012}} was brutally murdered by her watchman for fighting for her dignity because he tried to sexually assault her. Akhtar launched his campaign in March 2013.
= Initiatives =
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If you are a man who respects women... her rights, her dignity, her independence, her mind, her body, her life... you are a {{Blue|#MARD}}.
|source = Farhan Akhtar at Twitter, 9:03 PM, 9 March 2013 (IST){{cite web|title=Farhan Akhtar tweet|url=https://twitter.com/FarOutAkhtar/statuses/310616849933033472|via=Twitter|accessdate=15 March 2013}}
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In March 2013, Akhtar performed at a college concert in Bangalore wearing a t-shirt with MARD's logo.{{cite news|title=Farhan Tweets up a MARD storm|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/farhan-akhtar-tweets-up-a-mard-storm/1/257506.html|accessdate=15 March 2013|newspaper=India Today}} He also attempted to popularize this campaign using social networking sites. The tweets posted by Akhtar were hugely popular. In an interview, Akhtar stated that he wanted to bring the campaign to education institutions, such as schools and colleges, "to drive home the message that women need to be respected."
Farhan Akhtar, who initiated the social campaign, was also seen promoting the cause at Indian Premiere League season six where he distributed 70,000 moustaches among the audience on 26 April 2013 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata during the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab match in support of the initiative. This initiative was supported by Adam Gilchrist, Gautam Gambhir, Shaan, and many others who sported the moustache in the stadium.
Actor Mahesh Babu and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar joined the initiative in June 2013. Both Mahesh Babu and Sachin Tendulkar lent their voice to record a poem, written by Farhan's father Javed Akhtar.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/462083/20130428/mard-farhan-akhtar-shah-rukh-ipl-preity.htm |title=Farhan Akhtar's MARD Campaign; Adam Gilchrist, Gautam Gambhir, Shaan, SRK Sport Moustaches [PHOTOS] – International Business Times |publisher=Ibtimes.co.in |date= 28 April 2013|accessdate=2013-06-12}}{{cite web|author=TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-09/news-interviews/39849396_1_mahesh-babu-mard-sachin-tendulkar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613102137/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-09/news-interviews/39849396_1_mahesh-babu-mard-sachin-tendulkar |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-13 |title=Mahesh, Sachin Tendulkar join hands for MARD |work=The Times of India |accessdate=2013-06-12}}
Reactions
After its launch, the campaign became a trending topic on different social networking sites, including Twitter and Facebook. The initiative received positive feedback and support from many artists, including Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Mahesh Babu, Arjun Rampal, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Vidya Balan and Mukesh Officials etc. Akhtar's tweets were actively re-tweeted by Priyanka Chopra, Arjun Rampal, Sonam Kapoor and Shabana Azmi.