Well, yes, you could say "What is the big deal?! Lots of women drive!"
But, it is a big deal! I'll tell you why - My amma is 54, not an age when most Indian women will work up the enthusiasm, much less the nerve to learn driving a car and actually do drive on the chaos that passes off for roads in Bangalore. And, the other major thing is that she has never ridden anything in traffic before, if you don't count the one time she tried handling my Scooty with me sitting pillion and drove us right into a ditch! I guess the last 'vehicle' she drove/rode with any degree of comfort was a bicycle when she was a little girl.
So, I am extremely proud of my amma!
But, that is not the only reason for this post. You see, this driving a car is not just driving for her. I can see that she comes alive, she feels good that she is still capable of challenging herself and winning - it makes her feel that she has, after all, not lost her edge after her voluntary retierment from a job she loved. And she feels great that she did it inspite of Appa being very very skeptical about her being able to pull it off.
And, I guess, it means the world to me when after a safe ride to our destination and back home, she hugs me, plants a kiss on my cheek and says that she could do it because I was there by her every time she practiced driving, reminding her that she can do it and guiding her along!
Just a little joy that I could give to my Amma who does soooooooooo much for me each and every day!
