Age is never a barrier, and women are showing us how! 71-year-old Radhamani Amma has made a stereotype-shattering record by holding licenses of 11 vehicles which also include heavy-duty machines. Mani Amma, as she's affectionately called, with her remarkable 11 driving licenses gets to to operate everything from cars and scooters to heavy-duty machinery like JCBs and cranes. She told The Indian Express how her passion for driving began when her husband encouraged her to learn. This passion grew into a lifelong pursuit, prompting her to acquire licenses for various vehicles. In 1984, she became one of the first women in Kerala to hold a bus and truck license. Her latest feat? A license for transporting hazardous goods in 2021.
Kerala's Radhamani Amma: A Driving Inspiration at 71 Owns 11 Licences
Amma shared that her passion for driving was stirred up by her husband who encouraged her to learn to drive, and she first got her four-wheeler licence in 1981 learning to drive from an ambassador and then within five years. She even acquired a heavy vehicle licence becoming the first woman in Kerala to do so in 1984.
Amma's journey extends beyond personal achievement. She co-founded the A2Z Institute of Heavy Equipment, a driving school that empowers others to unlock the freedom of the road.
This venture started with her husband in the 1970s, which was the time when obtaining a heavy vehicle licence in Kerala was challenging so the couple trained and assisted many individuals in obtaining their heavy vehicle licences from Mangalore, Karnataka. It was then it dawned upon them that they should obtain heavy driving licenses in Kerala and after years of legal battle the couple were able to establish their first heavy vehicle driving learning school in Kerala, registered under her name.
This venture took on even greater significance after his passing in 2004. Amma's determination not only sustained the school but also made her a role model for resilience as she worked to make their mere driving school into an institution now empowering many and even women into a male-dominated field with heavy driving with the vision of making driving and handling heavy equipment not exclusive to any particular gender.
Defying all the age norms, Amma is still manoeuvring to be an inspiration for all as well as acquiring deeper knowledge to grow into her field more as she is pursuing a mechanical engineering diploma as well.
Her remarkable skills and dedication haven't gone unnoticed. Amma has been recognized by the India Book of Records and received the "Inspirational Personality of the Year 2022" award. She even has a social media presence, sharing her driving experiences and inspiring others to chase their dreams, regardless of age or gender.
With her Instagram handle having more than 10.5k followers, Amma is seen piloting almost every vehicle from JCBs, forklifts, and cranes, to Ferraris, boats, tankers, gipsy and monster trucks. With her business account of her driving institute on Instagram having 19k followers, Amma can be seen praised and felicitated by many people and teaching many women handling heavy driving equipment, giving everyone the freedom to drive.
Radhamani Amma is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. She is a driving force, not just on the road, but in inspiring a generation to break barriers and reach for the wheel.
Watch her here
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