Breaking Ties: A Bold Voice Against Silent Oppression Sara Abubakar’s Breaking Ties (originally published in Kannada as Chandragiriya Teeradalli
The novel does not shy away from the intimate violence women experience, highlighting the psychological toll of living in fear.
Sara Abubakar’s writing in Breaking Ties is marked by its raw realism, minimalist prose, and intense emotional honesty. She avoids overly sentimental language, choosing instead to let the stark realities of domestic abuse speak for themselves. By focusing on the internal psychological shifts of her protagonist, Abubakar creates a deeply intimate portrait of liberation.
The practice of Halala is presented as a direct violation of a woman's bodily autonomy. By treating Marabi’s body as a transactional vehicle to correct her husband's mistake, society strips her of human dignity. Her final rebellion is a reclamation of her physical and spiritual self. The Isolation of the Oppressed
by Sara Abubakar is a short story (often studied in Pakistani English literature curricula) that explores the themes of identity, nostalgia, cultural displacement, and the emotional cost of immigration. breaking ties by sara abubakar summary
Marabi evolves from a submissive, silent sufferer into an agent of defiance.
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For readers seeking a story that is both heart-wrenching and empowering, Breaking Ties delivers. And for those who see themselves in Emma, the novel offers a quiet, powerful message: You are not crazy. You are not alone. And you are allowed to leave.
: Abubakar uses the narrative as a "call to arms" for women's justice, advocating for a world where women are treated as equal partners rather than objects. Breaking Ties: A Bold Voice Against Silent Oppression
As the story unfolds, Leila and Aisha face various challenges that force them to re-evaluate their relationships, cultural heritage, and personal goals. Leila's desire for education and independence puts her at odds with her family, while Aisha's struggles with her own identity and sense of belonging lead her to question her place in the world.
The story exposes how education is treated as a male privilege.
: The male characters, particularly Mahammad Khan, use religious laws as tools of convenience to control the women in their lives. The Weight of Illiteracy
The novel challenges the misinterpretation of religious practices that are used to justify injustices against women, including early marriage and unjust divorce practices. By focusing on the internal psychological shifts of
The story concludes with Gulfam making a silent but firm decision. He realizes that he cannot wait to return to England. In a poignant moment, he looks at the people and the land, acknowledging that he has outgrown them. He chooses to return to England, realizing that his true "home" is now the foreign land where he has chosen to build his future, even if it means severing his roots.
"Breaking Ties" is highly recommended for:
African women’s fiction, domestic drama, and stories of empowerment.
Subtly woven through the narrative is the idea that awareness and literacy empower women to recognize their oppression and spark the desire for liberation.
: Submissive, enduring, and bound by societal expectations of a "good wife."
Confined in her father’s house, Nadira’s situation deteriorates rapidly. Her father, viewing her as property, plans to give her in marriage to Selim , a rich and elderly man, against her will. Nadira is trapped, her hopes of returning to her beloved husband and son systematically destroyed by her father’s greed and the community’s patriarchal norms that grant him this power.