When Surya’s life took a darkish flip after an early marriage at 21, she went into melancholy. Pushed to the boundaries after eight years of abuse and gaslighting, she tried to finish her life however was fortunately saved by her father. Finally, she broke free from the poisonous relationship, resumed her research, and located a job as a pharmacist within the UAE.
Although an impartial skilled now, Surya says she continues to be working in the direction of emotional restoration. Therapeutic will not be a straight highway for many divorcees and it is just just lately that the 36-year-old discovered the best house to course of her grief — at Break Free Tales, a divorcee collective began by Malappuram resident Rafia Afi. “Sharing my story with individuals who actually understood my ache, and who listened with out judgment, was a completely new expertise for me. It felt rather more impactful than years of remedy,” says Surya.
In Could this yr, about 20 girls converged on the hill city of Vagamon in Kerala’s Idukki district for the first-ever offline camp organised by Break Free Tales. Till then, the group had been lively largely on WhatsApp and Instagram. For some girls, the camp was their first-ever time travelling alone.
The group comprised divorcees, widows, and separated girls. They stayed in tents, went trekking, performed video games and took part in icebreaker classes, the place they shared deeply private experiences.
“I attempt to hold the variety of attendees below 20 as a result of folks open up extra simply in smaller teams. We even have a authorized advisor to assist contributors, particularly in instances the place girls are engaged in long-drawn authorized battles,” says Rafia. “Nonetheless, I additionally know many ladies face restrictions that forestall them from attending these camps in particular person. For them, I’m engaged on conducting on-line classes,” she provides.
In want of a assist system
Rafia Ali, founding father of Break Free Tales
The next camps passed off in Alappuzha and Kozhikode, adopted by a global session in Dubai. “I needed to make a private go to to Dubai, and through that point, the tragic dying of Vipanchika Maniyan (the 32-year-old Kerala girl who was discovered lifeless together with her 18-month-old daughter in Sharjah reportedly over dowry harassment) had garnered vital media consideration,” says Rafia.
She factors out that many ladies select to maneuver out of India after divorce to outlive the trauma and stigma. “I used to be getting loads of enquires from Dubai and the meetup was deliberate as a one-night, two-day staycation. Nonetheless, nobody slept that evening as the ladies cried, hugged one another and confirmed that their trauma was actual and never their fault. They’ve since shaped a extremely lively assist group,” she says.
Rafia explains that her personal expertise navigating the emotional turmoil of divorce spurred her to create Break Free Tales. “I’m a divorcee myself, and even with a robust assist system of household and buddies, the method was extremely troublesome for me,” she says. “Later, once I began creating on-line content material, many individuals started reaching out to me. I shortly realised that numerous girls have been battling the stress and grief of divorce with completely no assist. That’s what prompted me to organise the primary camp.”
Discovering frequent floor
Many ladies arrive on the conferences with loads of apprehensions, however they shortly uncover a snug and supportive setting. As one participant shares, “It’s a spot the place you’ll be able to unburden simply. We have been surrounded by girls who provided speedy, unstated understanding. Interacting with them generated a way of belonging, and I felt empowered. Additionally, it’s an attractive expertise to see girls popping out of their cocoons and embracing their true selves for the primary time.”
Break Free Tales has now blossomed right into a group connecting over 100 girls, with its Instagram web page adopted by hundreds. Whereas notifications about upcoming camps and movies garner many views, the platform additionally sees unfavourable feedback, together with these concerning the “futility” of the camps and suggesting that the ladies ought to as an alternative concentrate on discovering new companions. “The feedback part of my Instagram web page is basically unhealthy, however that’s okay,” says Rafia, undeterred. “Marriage is gorgeous once you discover the fitting particular person, however the finish of a relationship will not be the tip of life, and that’s the message I need to unfold.”
(Help for overcoming suicidal ideas is accessible on Tele-MANAS 14416.)
navamy.sudhish@thehindu.co.in
Revealed – August 21, 2025 09:49 am IST
