Nandini Bhattacharjee: Transforming Men’s Welfare Through Steady Advocacy

In every sector where people seek justice, a few voices rise with deep persistence. The social welfare landscape in India carries many champions for women and children, yet one area remained silent for years. Support for men existed in scattered corners, often without structure, direction, or steady leadership. Many professionals in this field spoke about protection, safety, and community upliftment, yet one question lingered. Who speaks for the men who carry silent grief?

This question stayed with Nandini Bhattacharjee. It followed her through long conversations, chance encounters, and moments when she saw pain settle on the faces of men who felt unheard. Her industry thrives on advocacy and reform, yet a part of the population moved through personal storms without a safe path. This observation connected her to a purpose that grew stronger with time.
From this purpose came the All Bengal Men’s Forum (ABMF), an organisation that highlights the inner lives and struggles of men while building practical tools for support. Under Nandini’s guidance, ABMF became a place where men could breathe freely, understand their rights, and receive steady guidance. Every man who reached out found a team ready to support his dignity with patience and clarity.
This is how the All Bengal Men’s Forum (ABMF) began: through awareness, empathy, and a deep belief that dignity can never depend on gender.

At the heart of ABMF lies Nandini’s belief that fairness must serve everyone. Selective justice weakens communities. Equal recognition strengthens them. She saw countless men walk through life carrying accusations, emotional wounds, and isolation without safe spaces to express their fears. This silence pushed her to act.

ABMF works across three crucial areas:

The first is awareness. Through workshops, outreach drives, and open conversations, the team speaks about topics that families often avoid. Harmful stereotypes, legal confusion, emotional pressure, and family conflict come into the light, giving people a chance to learn and understand.

The second area is legal reform. Many men struggle under laws that were created for protection, but sometimes land on innocent shoulders, creating fear and confusion. Nandini collaborates with policymakers to encourage a balanced framework. She highlights real stories, lived experiences, and the long-term impact of unfair legal stress. Her goal is clear. She wants laws that defend every person with equal care and wisdom.

The third area is support systems. ABMF offers counselling, legal guidance, community connection, and emotional reassurance. Many men walk into ABMF feeling lost. They leave with clarity, direction, and a sense of belonging.

Building ABMF required resilience. Advocating for men in a society familiar with only one direction of gender concern demanded patience and heart. Every challenge strengthened Nandini’s resolve. Her approach remains grounded in empathy. Every voice matters. Every struggle deserves attention.

ABMF slowly grew into a movement that travels through homes, courts, workplaces, and public conversations. Men across Bengal and many regions outside Bengal now see ABMF as a lighthouse in difficult times. They find the courage to speak about their experiences, often for the first time in their lives. Listening became an act of change.

Laws that aim to safeguard can sometimes cause severe hardship when used incorrectly. Under Nandini’s guidance, ABMF began to highlight the consequences of misapplied anti-dowry laws. These laws were built with good intentions to defend women from abuse, yet many innocent men have faced intense legal and social distress because of false charges.

The numbers reveal the depth of the problem. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, married men face nearly double the risk of suicide compared to married women. Many collapse under a mix of fear, stigma, and an absence of support structures.
ABMF steps into this space through awareness sessions, community discussions, and strong advocacy for fair reforms. The team urges lawmakers to consider both sides of protection so that safety becomes a shared experience.

Domestic abuse holds many forms. Physical harm, emotional manipulation, and psychological pressure leave deep internal scars. Many men experience these struggles quietly, unsure of where to go or whom to trust. Shame and disbelief from society often force them deeper into isolation.

ABMF breaks this silence by offering counselling, legal direction, emotional support, and a community that listens. Many men have their first moment of relief when they hear simple words that carry immense power. I believe you. This acknowledgment builds strength. It brings healing into reach.

Legal struggles often isolate people. False allegations, custody fights, and complex court processes can drain confidence. ABMF provides direction and reassurance during these difficult periods.

One memorable case involved a man accused under anti-dowry laws. He arrived confused and overwhelmed. Through ABMF, he received clear legal guidance from panel lawyers and unwavering moral support. That experience changed him. Today, he stands with ABMF as an active supporter, helping other men handle similar storms.

ABMF continues to empower individuals facing legal hardships, turning fear into clarity and uncertainty into progress.

India has long offered structured institutional support for women. Men, however, journey through their struggles without a similar resource. ABMF envisions a future where a Men’s Commission exists as a statutory body that addresses the unique challenges men face.

This commission would offer legal guidance, gender neutral policy support, and a recognised platform where men’s concerns receive formal hearing. Creating such a body moves society toward stronger equality and protection for all.

Many boys grow up under phrases that restrict emotional growth. Men must remain stoic. Men always take the lead. Men feel nothing. These statements trap young minds inside roles that restrict emotional freedom. Casual misandry adds guilt and pressure, often harming mental health.

Nandini believes emotional understanding should begin early. ABMF conducts workshops in schools and community spaces to help children explore feelings, build respect within relationships, and learn that emotional openness is a strength. These sessions offer a new way for future generations to live with honesty and healthier relationships.

Depression, loneliness, and family pressures affect many men. Yet, society often expects them to endure quietly. ABMF counters this through counselling sessions, group therapy, and practical guidance for everyday struggles. Each man who walks into ABMF is treated as a whole person, not just a legal case.

This approach builds resilience. It restores agency. It opens a path toward emotional well-being.

One man approached ABMF after facing both 498A and Section 125 CRPC charges in 2020. His world had dimmed. Family support faded, and earlier legal help brought confusion instead of clarity. Anxiety followed him everywhere.

ABMF became his turning point. A dedicated lawyer guided him step by step. Volunteers reminded him that he was not alone. He regained confidence through steady support. Today he stands ready to rebuild his life with strength he thought he lost. His story shows the spirit of ABMF. Guidance and empathy can change lives.

Through every challenge, Nandini moves with patience, clarity, and belief in human dignity. Her leadership gives ABMF its steady voice. She carries the resilience needed to work in a space filled with emotion, conflict, and silence. She reminds people that advocacy begins with listening and continues with action.

ABMF carries this principle in everything it does.

It is more than an organization.

It is a movement that restores hope to men who felt invisible.Today, Nandini has built a place where stories are heard, rights are defended, and humanity is valued. Her work speaks for every man who once believed he had no place to go.