'Brake'ing Stereotypes! Pratiksha Das is Mumbai's First BEST Bus Woman Driver
24-year-old Pratiksha Das from Mumbai, who will take to riding a BEST bus in the city. Das is the only woman in the maximum city who will take over riding a bus after she has successfully got a license for it. She is all set to drive on a practice route and will be on duty very soon.
There have been many stereotypes about women taking to the wheel. Women drivers are looked down upon but putting them all behind is a 24-year-old Pratiksha Das from Mumbai, who will take to riding a BEST bus in the city. Das is the only woman in the maximum city who will take over riding a bus after she has successfully got a license for it. She is all set to drive on a practice route and will be on duty very soon. This Mumbai Woman Auto Driver's Tragic Story Will Move You to Tears and Inspire You at the Same Time!
She has completed her mechanical engineering degree from Thakur College in Malad. Talking about her love for heavy vehicles, she told TOI, "It is something I’ve wanted to master for the last six years. But my love for heavy vehicles is not new. I started off with bikes, then larger cars and now, I can drive buses and trucks. And yes it feels good." At an age where most girls would prefer hanging out with friends, shopping and chilling, Pratiskha aims to move around with the bus. She calls it her 'leisure activity.'
Das planned to become an RTO officer for which she needed to have a license in heavy vehicles. She loves driving around and it is perfect for her to now take to the driver's seat in a BEST bus. Her love for driving is since her childhood. She first drove a bike when she was in the 8th grade. While the city roads, which are ridden with potholes would make anyone want to not drive, Das is looking forward to navigate through them. She has undergone a 30-days long training period getting familiar with all the working of gears of the bus. After clearing the first test, she drove on expressways to boost her confidence. Transgender Rickshaw Driver From Mumbai is Winning Hearts on Social Media For Her Brave Survival Story.
Talking about the challenges in her journey, she said, "People use to stop and turn when they saw a young woman behind the staring wheel. Keeping my focus clear, I ignored the stares." Even during the first day of her training the BEST bus trainers seemed tensed after a girl at the wheel and also concerned about her height is less comparatively. "Who said women can’t be on the driving seat? I dreamt and here I am. In fact, anyone can achieve their goals, they just have to set their minds to it," she motivates everyone else.
Well, there is no stopping Pratiksha Das as her next aim to fly an aeroplane. She has planned to save her salary so she can take a training class. Meanwhile, she also has an agenda of going to Ladakh on a bike. Das is clearly applying a 'brake' to all the stereotypes.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 10, 2019 11:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).