Picture this: It’s a rainy day in Mumbai. On the dirty, wet roads of Mumbai, as soon as someone comes in front of you, you raise your hand to hail an auto. You quickly sit inside to protect yourself from the wet drizzle. When you look towards the driver’s seat to tell the ‘auto wale bhaiya’ about your destination, you see something that is not seen as a common sight. A figure in hijab, smiling at you, says, “This is not an auto wala bhaiya, this is a didi.”This is not just an imaginary scenario, but a reality that is taking shape not only in Mumbai but on the streets of various Indian cities.Driving the handlebar of the auto rickshaw is the ‘Dabangg Lady’ Shireen Ansari, who is not only going through the heavy traffic but also the maze of social contempt.
It’s been eight years since he first drove his own auto, the three-wheeled orange beast he owns. Although the vehicle was originally meant for his injured son, it seemed the machine always had a different owner in mind, one who would achieve milestones on the road and milestones in Ansari’s life.Shirin’s story, and hundreds like her, are driving the wheels of change. These women are not just carrying passengers; They are demolishing gender fortresses, a kilometer at a time, in a profession where men have long dominated. However, it would be unfair to mention the pioneering women like Limca World Record holder Shila Davre in Pune, who has been recognized and listed as India’s first female auto driver. With only Rs 12 in her pocket, she took charge of her life and later became a successful entrepreneur, setting up her own travel company, Vighnaharta Tourism in Pune.Working as an auto-driver for over 13 years, she paved the way for future generations of women to enter unconventional, male-dominated careers in public transport. She has also been honored by the President of India as one of the country’s “First Ladies”, a title given to women who were the first to set milestones in their respective fields.grassroots level? When we usually mention professions ranging from white collar jobs like doctors and CEOs to driving auto rickshaws, these women are really going the extra mile.By reclaiming these spaces, they are dismantling gender norms and redefining what it means to celebrate womanhood in the modern world.
‘Dabang Lady ‘Mumbai’s
Shirin is not your regular auto driver. He’s practically a celebrity now. The respect and recognition he has earned certainly includes the “auto-driver brothers” and the local people. However, this also extends to some prominent Bollywood celebrities. In this way his work also got him a role in a film.Fame knocked unexpectedly: Leena Yadav, a director widely popular for feminist films like Parched, saw her burning orange rickshaw on the way to the hospital. After this they included him in a film Jacqueline Fernandez.“I was nervous, I told her, don’t pretend. But she was very kind to me, and she said don’t worry, we will teach you this,” says Shireen, who was lovingly fed on the sets and was surprised for the first time when she learned that she would be working with Jacqueline Fernandez.When news came about him, television personalities like Archana Puran Singh came to meet him.
However, when it all started it was not all good for him.Divorced fifteen years ago after a marriage strained by the shadow of triple talaq, she became a single mother of three children.From his hard-earned money he took a loan of Rs 4.5 lakh to buy an auto-rickshaw. Although he initially purchased the vehicle for his son, he had no way of knowing that it would eventually become his own lifeline.“I was under so much stress,” she explains in her candid interview. “The auto lay idle for two months while I struggled to pay the weekly EMIs.”Before taking up the wheel, he had supported his family as a hospital patient attendant and even ventured into business with a biryani stall. However, this dream ended with financial losses after the stalls were closed during BMC raids.Driven by mounting financial pressure and constant encouragement from his friends, he eventually decided to take the driver’s seat himself.
Female auto driver Shireen Ansari welcomed and honored her ‘auto driver brothers’ by garlanding them.
Although she started out as a hesitant driver, her bravery did not go unnoticed. When she went to claim her official permit, the officials present cheered; They were witnessing a milestone, as she became the first woman in her area to obtain a commercial driving license for the vehicle.Now, she works 12-14 hours a day, from 7 am to 10 pm, without any afternoon break.“I drive as per the rules – no signal jumping, no wrong turns, stick to the rules and my principles. The police salute me,” she smiles, passengers clapping, college students queuing up for selfies and stories.Shirin’s nickname is “dominant lady”? The capture of the collar arose from a clash with molesters who considered him easy prey.“They tried to have fun; I fired back,” she laughs, her auto a rolling testament to steel-clad soft power.
women in a male dominated field
Shireen’s personal journey from a struggling single mother to a local celebrity is part of a much larger, national shift in India’s workforce.While she once felt “stressed” about her idle vehicle, she is now one of the pioneers entering the informal transport sector – a sector where women accounted for only 12% of all driving licenses as of 2020.This movement is especially significant in states like Karnataka, where barely 6% of professional drivers are women, according to “The Rise of Feminine Leadership Edition-II” written by Ms. Chhavi Mathur.By holding the wheel, women like Shireen are doing more than just earning fare, they are claiming their “right to the city,” reclaiming public streets that have historically been treated as male-dominated spaces.Research shows that family stress, such as widowhood, divorce, or the male breadwinner losing his job, are often the primary reasons for women’s entry into this profession. However, this path to freedom is fraught with significant financial risk.In a study of Chennai drivers, it was found that 93 per cent of women had outstanding loans for their vehicles, often exceeding Rs 1.41 lakh on an average. While this work provides a way to finance their children’s education and improve their situation at home, many remain vulnerable to economic downturns, such as those seen during the COVID-19 lockdown, when some drivers were unable to pay fare for months.
Beyond individual survival, these drivers are acting as “catalysts of social change”.When a woman drives an auto, it changes the way cities function and are experienced. Many female commuters report a “feeling of added security” when they see a woman driving, especially during late-night travel. It creates a safe urban network and promotes the “sisterhood” of mutual cooperation among drivers.Despite these benefits, the “patience” required is very high.Some women in cities like Pune say they need to adopt a “manly attitude” and more assertive behavior to avoid the social stigma and harassment they face on the street.According to Shireen, “When I drove a rickshaw, many people looked at me evilly. Many people tried to shake my hand. Many people used to sit in the rickshaw and have fun with me.”She said, “Why should I do that? There are many ways to do it. Then I grabbed him by the collar and spanked him. That’s how I got the name, Dabang Lady.”
Gears of Change: Programs to Support Women Drivers
To support this rising wave of women’s leadership, government and institutional programs are beginning to provide the “gears” needed for change. These initiatives go beyond simply granting licenses; They focus on building a sustainable ecosystem for women in transportation.
- Mission Shakti (Uttar Pradesh) trained more than 56,200 women in its first phase and an additional 18,750 women in the second phase to drive electric auto-rickshaws.
- In Tamil Nadu, the government recently distributed auto-rickshaws to 148 women and two transgender persons under a special state subsidy scheme.
- The “Pink Auto” initiative in Jaipur and Ranchi has trained hundreds of women, many of whom eventually own their own businesses and e-autos, providing them with long-term income stability.
- Organizations such as Sakha Consulting Wings and Kudumbashree emphasize that training should go beyond driving to include “soft skills”, vehicle maintenance and digital navigation tools like Google Maps.
To continue this movement, cities should invest in “pink auto stands” that include proper lighting, CCTV and public toilets to ensure driver safety.Shirin’s story of solidarity, symbolized by the garlands gifted to her by fellow rickshaw pullers, stands in stark contrast to the invisible walls that many others face.
‘Job reduces the chances of marriage’
An attempt to document the story of another woman auto driver brings out the other side of this reality.A Delhi-based auto driver, who did not want to be named, had covered her face for fear of being identified. She told that since she was unmarried, she did not want her identity to be revealed.Although she was initially eager to share her journey, her brother intervened and ‘refused’ to allow her to speak to TOI. Their reaction reveals a painful reality.For many unmarried women in this profession, driving remains a mystery to protect their “image” and marriage prospects. They are caught in a gender contradiction, skilled and willing to move around the city, yet bound by the permission of male family members.In public places, they would have to pay “character tax”, as well as their morality would be questioned for working outside the home.While International Women’s Day celebrates the progress made by women in reclaiming public space, many are still waiting for the movement to reach out to them and allow them to live on their own terms.
