They Said a Woman Couldn’t Drive a Cab—So She Changed the Rules of the Road
You know that moment when life throws you a curveball, and you swing back harder instead of ducking? That’s Selvi Gawda’s story in a nutshell.
Now, picture in your mind Bengaluru, India—a city buzzing with techies, traffic, and tradition. Now imagine a woman in her 40s, draped in a simple saree, sliding into the driver’s seat of a taxi. Not as a passenger, but as the one behind the wheel.
That’s Selvi.
And in 2004, when she became India’s first female taxi driver, people *lost it*.
The Road Less Taken
Selvi didn’t grow up dreaming of honking through chaotic streets. Life had other plans. Married off young, she found herself in an abusive relationship. But here’s the thing about Selvi—she wasn’t built to break. One day, she packed her bags, grabbed her daughter, and walked away. No money, no safety net—just raw guts.
Then came the game-changer: a job ad for taxi drivers. Most women wouldn’t dare. The streets weren’t “safe.” The stares? Relentless. But Selvi? She signed up, aced the training, and hit the road.
Honks, Hurdles, and Heart
The first day was… eventful. Passengers cancelled rides mid-booking (“A *woman* driver? No way.”). Men scoffed. Some even refused to pay. But Selvi? She laughed. “If they won’t ride with me, their loss,” she’d say, rolling down the window to the Bengaluru heat.
Word spread. The “lady taxi driver” became a local legend. Women called to ride with her—finally, a driver who didn’t leer or judge. Kids pointed. Grandma blessed her. Slowly, the city that doubted her started cheering her on.
More Than Just a Ride
Selvi didn’t stop there. She trained *other* women to drive and help them become financially independent.
“When you earn, you decide,” she’d say, her voice firm over the engine’s purr.
CNN Money called her a pioneer. Blogs wrote about her. But Selvi? She kept driving past stereotypes, past limits, proving that courage isn’t about the size of your car but the fire in your heart.
So next time you’re stuck in traffic, remember: somewhere in Bengaluru, there’s a woman
shifting gears, rewriting rules… one ride at a time.
Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is start the engine.