By Syed Ali Mujtaba, New Age Islam
10 June 2023
Meet Bhiyari Fatima a Burqa-clad Muslim
woman auto-driver on the busy streets of Chennai. She has broken two myths, one
that she is a female auto rickshaw driver, a profession reserved for men,
second, she is a Burqa-clad woman auto-rickshaw driver who gleefully asserts
her identity in this southern mega polis.
Fatima says many passengers are surprised
to see her in the auto-rickshaw’s driver’s seat. “Men while sitting in her
auto-rickshaw would normally say; ‘OK or All right, Let's go,’ and then realize
they are sitting in an auto-rickshaw driven by a woman. Then they may say, ‘I’m
so sorry, I didn’t realize you are a woman’.
Some passengers would say; I thought Muslim
ladies only stay at home, busy in cooking or looking after the children. This
is the first time I am seeing a burqa-clad Muslim woman auto-driver. I am
really surprised.’
Fatima is born and bought up in Chennai and
knows the city very well. She is married and has kids. It’s because of Covid 19, when her husband
lost his job she chose to drive an auto rickshaw. ‘I chose to drive an
auto-rickshaw to support my husband’s income and earn a separate living.’
Fatima thinks that with both of them
earning, the couple will be able to make enough money to provide a good
education to their children. “I love
driving, it helps me to earn a livelihood and I don’t find anything wrong with
it," she said and adds “My job gives me the liberty to pick up my children
from school and take them to tuition.”
She said her work thrives mostly on women
customers as they prefer women auto rickshaw drivers to men. ‘I also lend a
friendly ear to their problems as they want to talk about their problem and
confide in me.’
Fatima says; “I regret not being able to
wear the khaki dress worn by most of the auto-rickshaw drivers in Chennai.
However, wearing Burqa gives me immense pride in my identity,” she proudly
exclaims.
“I
want to make the point that burqa-clad women are not obscurantist or religious
fanatics, but normal women who with modesty like to earn a living even if it
means sweating out on the streets and driving an auto-rickshaw.”
Women auto drivers are a growing tribe in
Chennai. There are over 100 women auto
drivers in the city. While women
rickshaw drivers' choices do reflect a degree of empowerment, their workspace
is full of challenges. There are no proper public toilets for them and there is
no guarantee of their safety. They have to operate from all male-dominated auto
rickshaw stand. Likewise, beneficiary schemes for women auto rickshaw drivers
are non-existent.
Nonetheless, these women auto rickshaw
drivers have a point to make that whatever men can do, women can do much
better.
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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based
in Chennai.
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/burqa-auto-driver-chennai/d/129962
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