From 5 Girls at Versova Beach to 14,000 Across Mumbai and Delhi: How MukkaMaar Is Empowering Girls Through Self-Defence and Life Skills (VIDEO)
In 2016, a disturbing documentary on the rape of a five-year-old girl, Gudiya, left Versova-based actor Ishita Sharma deeply shaken. At the time, Sharma was also experimenting with various forms of martial arts, which had helped her become stronger, fitter and more confident. The training also helped her overcome fear—whether while dealing with eve-teasing, travelling alone at night, speaking her…
In 2016, a documentary about the rape of a five-year-old girl in Versova, India, deeply affected actor Ishita Sharma. As she had been exploring martial arts, she recognized the confidence and self-assurance it had given her and wanted to extend those benefits to other girls and women. This led her to start self-defence classes on Versova beach with five girls.
What began as a small initiative has now evolved into a full-fledged organization, MukkaMaar. The NGO collaborates with over 100 government schools in Mumbai and Delhi, offering a three-year program to girls in Classes 6, 7, and 8. Beyond physical self-defence training, MukkaMaar focuses on building confidence, life skills, and emotional resilience among the participants.
The organization argues that empowerment goes beyond just fighting back; it also equips girls to prevent violence, navigate challenges, and develop emotional strength. MukkaMaar is actively advocating for curriculum reforms in several state governments, aiming to rethink how self-defence is taught and measured.
Sharma, the founder and CEO of MukkaMaar, emphasizes the importance of the facilitator-student relationship and the rigorous training required to become a fellow. Only one in ten applicants is accepted through their stringent screening process, which includes up to 400 hours of training for each fellow annually. Actor Richa Chadha, a supporter of the NGO, highlights the need for such programs across the country, stating that violence against females begins even before birth.
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