Gaali Band Ghar
| Native name | गाली बंद घर |
|---|---|
| English name | No Swearing House |
| Date | 2014–present |
| Location | India |
| Also known as | Ban on Abusive Words |
| Theme | Anti Profanity |
| Motive | Respectful communication |
| Patron(s) | Sunil Jaglan |
The Gaali Band Ghar[1] (transl. Abuse-Free Homes) campaign is an initiative launched in 2014 by Sunil Jaglan, founder of the Selfie With Daughter Foundation, from Bibipur village in Jind, Haryana, India. The campaign aims to address and reduce the use of gender-based abusive language in daily conversations, promoting respectful communication within households and communities. It gained national attention after being featured in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat radio program.
History
Jaglan observed that men in his village Bibipur, frequently used abusive language, particularly towards women, during panchayat meetings.[2] His inspiration to start the campaign came after his daughter returned home asking him about the meaning of a curse she had heard on the playground.[3][4]
Motive
The campaign aims to establish communities, households, or streets that commit to refraining from the use of profanity. Village leaders officially designate these areas as "Gaali-Bandh" or "No-Swearing."[5][6][7]
2025 Survey
In 2025, a survey conducted by Sunil Jaglan under the Gaali Bandh Ghar campaign collected data from 70,000 individuals across India, with a focused sample of 7,400 residents in Haryana. The survey revealed that 62% of Haryana respondents (approximately 4,600 individuals from Jind, Hisar, Gurugram, and Nuh districts) regularly used gender-based abusive language at home. Nationally, the survey identified varying prevalence across states:[8][9][10][11][12][13]
• Delhi: 80% (highest prevalence)
• Punjab: 78%
• Uttar Pradesh: 74%
• Rajasthan: 68%
• Maharashtra: 58%
• Gujarat: 55%
• Madhya Pradesh: 48%
• Uttarakhand: 45%
• Seven Sister States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura): 20% (average)
• Kashmir: 15% (lowest prevalence)
The survey further indicated that 30% of women and girls either used or tolerated such language. Additionally, 20% of youth respondents attributed their use of abusive language to influences from online games, social media, and over-the-top (OTT) media platforms. Approximately 30% of respondents reported requiring abusive content to enjoy humor.
Impact
The campaign has garnered support from women who are frustrated with sexist slurs. Many participants have reported that the initiative has helped them realise they do not need to use abusive language, leading to a noticeable reduction in their own usage of such language.[14][6][15]
Following an incident in which U.S. President Joe Biden used profanity towards a journalist, the Cosmopolitan (magazine) noted that Sunil Jaglan, a village sarpanch in India, is running a campaign to combat sexist slurs. The magazine highlighted the contrast between Jaglan's efforts to address abusive language against women and the president's use of profanity in the White House. This commentary attracted significant international attention.[16][17][18]
References
- ^ "Gaali band ghar abhiyan to be launched in 20 Rohtak villages". The Tribune. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ^ Saikia, Pari; Nabi, Safina (2022-01-26). "Cut the cussing: the Indian man on a mission to end sexist swearing". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ Bhowmick, Nilanjana (2023-08-02). "We need a new way to swear … one that doesn't demean the women of India". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
- ^ Dsouza, Krystelle (2024-09-20). "His Daughter's Birth Turned Him Into a Feminist: Sunil Jaglan's Fight Against Female Foeticide". The Better India. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "Gaali Bandh Ghar: A Fight Against The Misogyny Of Cuss Words". Outlook India. 2022-02-07. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
- ^ a b "Swearing Off Misogyny". www.readersdigest.in. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "Of language and sexism: We are what we speak". The Daily Star. 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "Study points to widespread use of gender-based cuss words". The Tribune. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "ഇന്ത്യയിൽ ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതൽ ആളുകൾ അശ്ലീല പദങ്ങൾ ഉപയോ ഗിക്കുന്നത് ഈ ന ഗരത്തിലോ? സർവേ കണ്ടെത്തിയത് ഞെട്ടിക്കുന്ന വിവരങ്ങൾ". suprabhaatham (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "Delhi 'Most Abusive' In India, Gen-Z Blame OTT, Video Games | How 'Gaalibaaz' Is Your State?". News18. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "Prof. Jagan Survey Reveals Delhi Leads India in Swearing; Gali Band Ghar Campaign Seeks Change | ગાળ બોલવામાં દિલ્હી દેશમાં પહેલા ક્રમાંકે, પંજાબ અને ઉત્તર પ્રદેશ બીજા અને ત્રીજા નંબરે". www.gujaratimidday.com (in Gujarati). 2025-07-23. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Paul, James (2025-07-17). "Delhi Ranks Number One In States Using The Most 'Maa-Behen Ki Gaali'; Internet Jibes 'Maja Nahi Aata Gaali Ke Bina'". Mashable India. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "People In This City Are The Most Abusive — Is Your State On The List?". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "वाह! मेरठ से शुरू हुआ 'गाली बंद घर' अभियान, घर-घर लगाए जा रहे पोस्टर; जानें कैसे सुधरेंगे लोग". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
- ^ Kaushik, Mrinalini (2022-07-03). "This Gram Pradhan From Haryana Abolished Usage Of Gendered & Sexist Slurs In His Village". Archived from the original on 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "महिला संबंधी गालियों से मुक्ति दिलाएगा सुनील जागलान का "गाली बंद घर " अभियान - mobile". punjabkesari. 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
- ^ "संस्कारवान बनाएगी 'गाली बंद घर' मुहिम, विदेश तक पहुंचा हरियाणा के सुनील जागलान का अभियान - Gali Band Ghar campaign will make cultured Jagran Special". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-12-26.
- ^ Kumar, Anuj (2022-09-02). "Counting curses by menfolk to keep toxicity at bay". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-01-09.