‘You’re drifting away from the truth’, ‘Don’t be an outcaste’ must be the phrases any fundamentalist society throw at a freethinker. The greatest hurdle faced by the ‘non-conformist’ has been the lack of public approval since time immemorial. Whispers constantly remind them that they need more people to agree with them, or else, they are wrong. For any freethinker, it must have been a very conscious effort to do away with the notion that they need to follow the age-old ‘conformity guidelines’. Rebelling against labels, these people chose to break the mould, especially the biggest and strongest shackle named religion, making them an outcaste. But together, they have found home.
Freethinkers Valley in Akambadam, Nilambur, in Kerala offers space to these ‘outcastes’ to live together. A dynamic community of secular humanists, the Valley houses 27 freethinkers who socialise, learn, discuss concerns and practise secular humanist philosophy. The Freethinkers Valley Trust has been active since 2015, supporting the community of non-believers.
“This is not just a collective community residential area, but the people here have same viewpoints and had same experiences from society. Their thoughts and ideologies made them different and hence they were alienated. So we decided to set up a residential area for those people who wanted to live with other freethinkers like them,” says secretary of the trust Muhammad Parakkal.
Spread over seven acres of land, the Valley is divided into small plots on the banks of the Kanjirapuzha. Those who want to live with other freethinkers ‘who share the same beliefs about several norms’ will get a space here. “Each member owns the plot they live in. But 90 cent of the plot is a common space where people can spend time together. Apart from these 27 people, there are others who have similar ideology, but live outside and are regular visitors. Some of them are planning to join them after retirement,” he adds.
“Many of the members had faced issues in public. Unlike others, they questioned everything we have been told to follow. In a society tangled with the religion and practices, these people became outcastes. But once they turned old, they couldn’t sustain themselves. A collective set up like Freethinker’s Valley Trust offers them space to be with other freethinkers. That’s our main objective,” says Dr. Vijayan, a supporter of the Trust.
The trust is also planning to set up more facilities like a library, a common hall and a playground. Already it serves as an old age home as most of them are elders who have been living alone for several years. “Discussions are on to start a health centre and public cemetery along with the Valley there. Nothing is finalised,” adds Muhammad.
Throughout their lifetime, society always attempts to pin one down under one banner or another, especially in the name of religion. But these people have lived their life without compromising on anything; Freethinkers Valley is what that brings them together.
