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Last updated: June 29, 2023, at 00:24 IST
Vasantakumari, Asia’s first female bus driver. (Twitter/IQuippo)
No less than a star in Tamil Nadu, Vasanthakumari has acted in a film, in the role of a female driver. Children throw flowers at her when she drives and follow in her footsteps. Many women have driven trucks, ambulances, private cars and buses.
Government buses have been rejected for more than twenty years. Asia’s first female bus driver, Vasanthakumari, was rejected many times because she wasn’t a man, but she never gave up on her dream career.
She is now an inspiration to female drivers across the country, who have been able to make their dreams come true while taking care of six children.
Speaking to News18, Vasanthakumari said her license application has been rejected several times, saying “Even men find it difficult to get behind the wheel and I certainly can’t handle it.”
“I didn’t even get a chance to test a skill,” she said, adding that it was only after “various requests” that she passed the test.
In fact, when she used to drive the bus, the officers acted differently and ran several safety checks because they thought she had caused an accident.
“…but they were completely wrong. I drove the bus skilfully and the officers were amazed and now had no reasons to refuse my request… I had no accidents in my entire service until I retired.”
“I made no concessions based on gender. At first I found it hard like any other woman in the new workplace, but later I started to do things my way, and then it became much easier.”
Vasanthakumari was born in Nagercoil Kanyakumari Disrtict in Tamil Nadu and married at the age of 19. The man she married had four children from his previous marriage, and together the couple had two more children.
Vasanthakumari started working to support a large family and turned her passion for driving into a career. This was also the time when the ruling Congress passed a 30 percent reservation for women in all sectors in 1986.
Talking about her working day, Vasanthakumari said her shift starts from 6:00 AM and ends at 2:00 PM where she gets home early to take care of her children.
She is no less than a star in Tamil Nadu, she has acted in a movie, in the role of a driver. Children throw flowers at her when she drives and follow in her footsteps, and many women have walked in driving trucks, ambulances, private cars and buses.
“Women’s representation in every sector is important. The public perception of women as unsafe drivers must be changed. Policies focused on booking women as bus drivers must also be adopted to mainstream women driving heavy mass transit systems.”
“With more women getting in the driving seat, auto manufacturers are making them more female-friendly. Power steering, light-touch clutches and gear shifts to the side rather than mid-and-easy hydraulics make vehicles more woman-friendly. Women need role models in any deficient area. Representation. Highlighting women leaders and their contributions will help,” she added.
When talking about private bus driver Sharmila who gained instant fame due to social media attention and later lost her job, Vasanthakumari said, “If you want to achieve something first, don’t seek publicity, strive and climb the ladder of success until it reaches you. To achieve success, stay patient.” Work is a cult.My name was in the LIMCA book of records for being the first female driver in Asia.I used to drive 600km a day just like my male colleagues.
Talking about her future plans, she said, “I will open a driving school for women only to enhance their contribution to the field of transportation.”
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