CEQUIN’s Mardon Wali Baat : Backed by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and 40+ organizations,
Backed by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, CEQUIN with over 44 micro-inflluencers, is breaking patriarchal conditioning, engaging young men as allies, and shaping masculinity narratives through digital media, mental health advocacy and socially responsible content.cy.
In a social landscape where gender discourse often centers only on women’s empowerment, a shift is quietly gaining momentum. At the heart of this movement is the New Delhi-based Centre for Equity and Inclusion (CEQUIN), co-founded by Sara Abdullah Pilot and Lora Krishnamurthi Prabhu. Their national campaign, Mardon Wali Baat, is doing what few others have, engaging over sex million young men across India in re-examining masculinity, unlearning patriarchy, and becoming active co-creators of a gender-just society.
Held at the India Habitat Centre on March 19, the National Conference on Men, Masculinities & Gender-Based Violence drew attention not just for its impressive lineup but for the uncomfortable questions it raised. The keynote was delivered by Rohini Nilekani, one of India’s most influential philanthropists, whose foundation supports over 40 organizations engaged in gender equity. In her address, Nilekani stated, “We started with empowering women. But we quickly realized that unless we engage men and boys in the process, systemic transformation won’t follow. Today, over 40 of our partners work directly with men and boys.”
The conference brought together cross-sector voices, including Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, and Kanta Singh, Deputy Country Representative at UN Women India. Discussions ranged from masculinity and mental health to how patriarchy shapes policy, governance, and markets.One of the most compelling sessions featured actor and activist Rahul Bose, who examined the cinematic portrayal of masculinity in Indian media. In conversation with Sara Abdullah Pilot, he stated, “For too long, masculinity in India has been equated with silence, aggression, and control. It’s time we rewrite that script.” The session resonated particularly with youth leaders and digital influencers in attendance many of whom have already been working in the field of narrative change.
At the heart of the campaign is Mardangi Reloaded, a film featuring stories from 46 digital micro-influencers across cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Indore and Lucknow. These young voices have reached over two six million people via social media, not through grand slogans but through intimate reflections on everyday masculinity, calling out casual sexism and schoolyard taunts, relationship dilemmas, and family expectations – asking men to step up for gender equality.
The session on ‘Digital Duniya aur Mardangi’ featured emerging influencers like Saurabh Jhulum, Harshit Pandey, and Amit Sagar, whose content blends humour, vulnerability, and cultural critique. Their reflections showed how digital platforms, often critiqued for promoting toxic trends, can be reframed as tools for social reform.Another critical lens came through the fireside chat between Dr. Amit Sen, founder of Children First India, and Lora Prabhu. The conversation turned to how boys are conditioned to suppress emotion, and how that manifests in rising male mental health issues a topic rarely addressed in gender conversations.
CEQUIN’s strength lies in its multi-layered approach. By engaging grassroots organizations like MAVA, Vikalp Sansthan, Azad Foundation, and The Gender Lab, the campaign embeds policy-level goals in on-the-ground realities. This decentralization has been key in scaling its impact across urban and rural India. While Mardon Wali Baat addresses deep-rooted cultural issues, it also embraces institutional transformation. One session titled ‘Patriarchy and the Shaping of Samaaj, Sarkaar aur Bazaar’ featured leaders like Prof. Rajeev Gowda and political strategist Dilip Cherian, examining how masculine norms permeate policy, market behavior, and leadership roles. Rohini Nilekani emphasized the need to build a pipeline of future-facing gender discourse. “We need policies that go beyond protectionism and encourage inclusive engagement. Masculinity must become a part of gender programming, not its footnote,” she said.
The conference closed with a plenary titled ‘Badalte Rang,’ featuring academic leaders like Dr. Rukmini Sen, and Anish Gawande, along with Kanta Singh from UN Women and Natasha Joshi from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. The recurring theme was clear gender equity cannot be achieved without engaging those historically seen as the holders of privilege. Masculinity needs to evolve, not vanish, and evolve into something more inclusive, empathetic, and accountable. As Sara Abdullah Pilot aptly concluded, “This isn’t a campaign. It’s an ecosystem. We are not just rewriting masculinity we are rewriting the space it occupies in society.”
