women breaking stereotypes

At 58, Dolly Rana became a bus conductor in West Bengal to fulfil her late father’s dream. Clad in a saree, she braved debt, loss, and daily challenges — quietly inspiring thousands. Her story of grit and grace proves it’s never too late to take the wheel and start again.

Solo travel isn’t just for the young and singles. Meet Naaji Noushi, a mother of five, who aims to break stereotypes by driving across the globe. From the mountains of Ladakh to the deserts of the UAE, she’s proving that adventure has no age or limits.

Kochi resident Selina Michael has been a crematorium worker for over a decade. She talks about how this job helps her stay afloat after a life of hardships, and how her work breaks the stigma around women performing such rituals.

Shila Dawre shut all these stereotypes down when she became India’s first woman auto driver. Rubbing shoulders with khaki-clad men driving rickshaws, clad in her regular salwaar kameez, she drove around the lanes of Pune, owning them.

Part of a unique social experiment by Indian Community Welfare Organisation, Praveena Solomon is among the first few women in India to manage a crematorium.

When Nanjibhai passed away, his daughters took the decision of breaking the social norms by cremating their father themselves.

From diving into male-dominated careers, to fighting disability for their adventurous passions – here are five inspiring Indian women who chased their dreams and achieved success in the face of innumerable challenges.