The Ex-Files

Ex-Files is the story of a woman who despite her best efforts to save her marriage finds herself facing a divorce petition. But instead of wallowing in self-pity Vandana picked up the pieces of her shattered life and moved straight on. She not only finds a job and becomes self-sufficient she also starts India's first divorce support group and deals inappropriate and hurtful remarks with grace and equanimity.While being true to both the pain and challenges of divorce Vandana's personal stories reveal the hardships and joys of moving through emotional upheaval and emerging stronger with her positive thinking and humour intact. The book also deals with the legal and social aspects of a divorce which are so often overlooked while women are dealing with the emotional upheaval of divorce.At once funny tragic and uncompromisingly honest this memoir will resonate with anyone who has endured the end of a marriage and come out changed. About the Author After being thrown out of her marital home with just the clothes on her back and Rs 750 in the bank Vandana rebuilt her world and founded the first Indian support group to help people going through a divorce 360 Degrees Back to Life. She has since come full circle from being a litigant to being a divorce lawyer and practices at the family court in Mumbai. Currently Vandana’s work for the cause of women going through divorce in India has resulted in a BBC documentary about her work titled Invisible Women of India. This was broadcast worldwide on International Women’s Day in 2014.Vandana writes a monthly column in the magazine Black and White Oman and she edits Ex-Files India’s first divorce news magazine. She has also participated in the Lead India Programme and was one of the eight finalists from Mumbai. Her work has been extensively covered in the media in India and the Middle East. Her first book 360 Degrees Back to Life A Litigant’s Humorous Perspective on Divorce endorsed by the iconic feminist Gloria Steinem won an award. Vandana has translated another book on the Jain faith from Hindi to English.Coming from an armed forces background Vandana Shah grew up in Ambala and moved to Mumbai as a teenager. She studied at St Xavier’s College in Mumbai and has since donned various hats including that of a model a deejay and an advertising professional.