Ahimsa is derived from the word 'himsa' which means 'an act of violence' or 'acting with violence.’

'A' (prefix) 'Himsa' means 'lack of violence' / 'refraining from violence' / 'non-violence' (in its more simplified form.

It implies a quality of respect (for all living beings), of reverence towards the sanctity of each being.

It was taken from Hindu and Buddhist scriptural teachings into the political arena by Mahatma Gandhi who fought for independence through 'non-violent' resistance. 

The Ahimsa Pilot Initiative was launched in 2022 in response to the steadily increasing levels of violence against women and girls in India in both the public and private spheres. These often overlap in the densely crowded living conditions that exist in most urban and rural areas. India has a huge population (1.417 billion as of 2022), set to overtake China in 2023, and the per capita density is correspondingly great (431.11 people per square km as of 2022).

Having conducted the Pilot, The Ahimsa Initiative of 2025 has learnt from working with two different organizations. SNEHA approached the problem of violence through the medium of advocacy, community building and awareness raising as well as turning to legal recourse, when required. Both litigation as well as mediation were used by the organization to seek working solutions for the women and their families. The second organization we worked with also has a broad agenda in its fight against violence; however, Barakat chose to focus its funds towards education for the children of sex workers. This effectively prevents children from following their parents into the sex trade.

The Ahimsa Initiative recognizes that the problem of violence prevention can be approached from multiple angles - educational and/or health-based initiatives can go hand-in-hand with advocacy, legal enforcement, community support groups, economic empowerment, social education and reform.

Going forward The Ahimsa Initiative will continue to support organizations that seek to stem the tide of violence against women and children, remaining open to multiple different solutions to address this vast problem with diverse causes.

Violence can happen within the four walls of a house, a bedroom. It can happen on a public bus, train, sidewalk. Violence can be physical or it can be implied in the withholding of certain basic rights for female health and education. It can also be found in the social and cultural constructs of a patriarchal set-up which requires females to dress, speak and behave in a certain way that will be considered inoffensive by society, as a whole. 

While India and Indians are known for strong, well-educated women in politics, business, finance, medicine, education and many other sectors; this is just a miniscule slice of India's vast population. These role-models are just that - aspirational role-models for not just Indian women but for all women and girls. 

The National Crime Records Bureau (an Indian government agency), reported incidents of crime against women in India increased by 15.3% in 2021 compared to the year 2020. And these are just the ones that are 'reported' which are a fraction of the actual.

Violence against women and girls begins at birth with sex-selective abortion (which is legally banned but can be by-passed), followed by infanticide if the foetus could not be aborted. Girls are more often malnutritioned at home where food is scarce because their share is given to the boy child who is considered more valuable. They are also more often withheld from school since their labor is needed at home or in the fields, and education is not considered a useful tool for them. On the contrary, it may cause them to be more outspoken and it may 'give them wings' which would disrupt the existing structure of Indian patriarchy. 

As girls approach adolescence (and often even prior to that) the question of their marriage looms large and it brings with it another host of violent threats: dowry deaths, honor killings, forced and child marriages, acid throwing, marital rape, domestic abuse.

Despite the progressive laws on the books, it is widely known that their enforcement is negligible and is definitely not sufficient to act as a deterrent for would-be predators. Justice delayed is very often justice denied. Furthermore, in India, caste, class and religion often dictate the outcome of a case. The overarching patriarchy of Indian society has created a heavily gender biased society. Both rural and urban India are plagued by gender violence. It is quite simply a fact of life for many millions of women who live with it, on a day-to-day basis, either at home or when they step out of the home or in both places.