MARS was founded in 1942, in the midst of the Second World War and on the eve of the Great Bengal famine. Calcutta was filled with women fleeing from famine in the country-side, becoming prey for sexual exploitation (either sent to military camps or lured or forced into prostitution in the city). The number of women in the brothels of Calcutta doubled. Incidents of sexual abuse or kidnappings of local women by American soldiers were taking place. In reaction to these developments, a group of communist women organised MARS. MARS had its origin in the Congress Mahila Sangha, formed in Calcutta in 1939 with the objective to prepare for defense against a Japanese occupation of Bengal. In 1941 the group had been joined by communist women, some recently released from prison.