Viral Female Auto-Rickshaw Driver from Delhi Trends on Reddit, Inspires Change

For one Reddit user, what would have been an ordinary trip home became some much-needed weekend inspiration. When she hailed an autorickshaw in Delhi, the original poster (OP), rFeatureAnnual9088, was taken aback. It turned out that the car's driver was a woman named Neelam.

"On my way home today, I found more than just a ride, I found a story of strength," they wrote. I was looking for a car when I stepped out of the subway and saw her. A tall woman offered me a ride.

She drives, She rules!
byu/FeatureAnnual9088 indelhi

Although it is true that women and men are equal in many professions and parts of society today, a chance meeting with this autorickshaw driver revealed a moving tale of a woman who will not give up. The user stated that she felt "different, strong, safe" after stepping into the car despite her initial hesitation.

“For a moment, I hesitated. A female auto driver? Rare. Unexpected. But something about her felt different, strong, safe. So, I walked toward her and got in,” the user wrote.

Neelam replied, "I had no choice," when OP asked her why she chose this line of work during the trip.

My in-laws tried to break me, my husband tried to silence me. But I decided to fight back.

In the post, "Meet Neelam—a woman who refused to stay in the passenger seat," the person who posted it stated Now every ride she takes isn’t just about reaching a destination. It’s about proving a point, reclaiming her life, and building a better future for her daughter, one where fear has no place. Neelam isn’t just driving an auto. She’s driving change.

With the caption, "Neelam is a badass (sic)," the Reddit post rapidly gained popularity and screenshots were shared on social media. It also sparked an argument on what constitutes good social media stuff.

"Now these are the sorts of posts I want to see rather than pasandida aurat admi bs," remarked a Reddit user. Another added, "This is the true feminism where a lot of energy and real agitation is created to bring about a positive and fair change in society." Ladies, keep up the good work and speak up when it appears necessary. "I'm so glad to see her shattering stereotypes," another person commented.

The issue of women's safety in Delhi was also brought up by others. One person added, "At last, we don't have to worry as passengers for safety," while another said, "I hope she always stays safe in a city like Delhi."

The number of people who commented about knowing or having seen female autorickshaw drivers in other Indian states, however, is quite interesting.

One person remarked, "I live in a small town in Rajasthan, and I have seen a woman driving an auto rickshaw here. I respect them and give them more power." Another commented, "While I've seen it's fairly common in Southern Indian States, I wonder why there aren't many female taxi or auto drivers here. Perhaps it's the Delhi atmosphere."