Women with the drive
A group of women in Thiruvananthapuram who drive SUVs plan adventures and new routes
There is excitement in Dr. Awungshi Philamazan’s words as she talks about how she completed level one of a course for offroaders. The owner of a Force Gurkha, a fourwheel drive, she says she has been driving a 4x4 since she was 18.
On March 8, she joined nine other women in Thiruvananthapuram, all owners of 4WDs (four wheel drive) to go on a ride to Kovalam.
In top gear
Christening themselves the Jeeper Girls of Trivandrum, the women say what brings them together is obviously their love for the rugged fourwheel drive.
“All eyes were on our vehicles as we drove to Kovalam. Four of us are proud owners of Mahindra Thar. That is what made me think of a community like this,” says Dr. Asha Biju. Another factor that gave Asha the idea of forming a group of drivers who own 4WDs is that three of the doctors are members of the same Rotary Club (Blossoms) in Thiruvananthapuram.
For Dr. Namitha, it is the sense of adventure and the comfort of the vehicle that has made her a strong advocate of the SUV.
In the case of Dr. Ambika Shetty, it is her new year resolution to step out of her comfort zone that made her join the ride in her Thar. “Asha persuaded me to join the ride and I enjoyed it. I might choose to go offroading as well,” she says.
Lekshmi VG, a techie, has been a part of several offroading trips in Kerala. She points out that the advantage of the 4X4 is that one can drive on almost any kind of terrain. Entrepreneur Shincy Anand maintains it is the comfort and ease of driving that made her choose a 4x4.
Vouching for their beasts, the women maintain that the narrow roads in the city are not difficult to negotiate. “On the contrary, it is one of the most comfortable and safe vehicles to drive. I feel safe when I am at the wheel as the height gives me a superb view of the road ahead,” says Dr. Namitha.
Asha asserts that everyone who drives, irrespective of gender, should have an idea about the basic mechanics of the vehicle. She adds, “The thrill of driving heavier vehicles made me learn to manage in case of trouble.”)
The women are set to move into top gear with more trips and longdistance drives.