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Highway Tales: For Bhopal's Tabassum, being in the driver’s seat gives the ultimate kick
For Bhopal's Tabassum Ali, 25, driving a truck may not be a big deal, but for the common man on the street watching a woman driving a truck definitely is not a common sight.
For Bhopal's Tabassum Ali, 25, driving a truck may not be a big deal, but for the common man on the street watching a woman driving a truck definitely is not a common sight.
But that does not stop Tabassum Ali, a resident of Jabalpur, from doing what she loves the most — being in the driver’s seat.
"I am treated as 'alien' whenever I go with loaded trucks to different cities. People come to me and click my pictures. The day I got a heavy vehicle licence and drove the truck, people came to see me and I felt like a celebrity. I see a positive change in the society as people appreciate my effort," she says.
But, she feels, it’s still hard for them to believe that a woman can do anything.
"I always wanted to do something different. After completing my graduation, I started preparing for the civil services but suddenly my mother fell ill. I chose this profession to support my family," she says.
"My mother is suffering from nephrological problem due to which my father couldn't work. Now, I and my brother are the bread-earners of the family," she adds.
"This profession not only gave me a different way of living life but also taught me that every work is alike. My family supports me," she says.
"Now, I fall in love with roads and highways. People used to call me awkward names and passed lewd comments but this profession has made me bold enough to deal with such things,” she proudly says.
“I have made myself strong enough to keep safe but still there are many women and girls who can’t deal with such problem so I wanted to be a woman cop to fight for women. I wanted to work with Nirbhaya team,” said Ali.
