In The Driver’s Seat: Dawoodi Bohra Women Race Ahead

Once again, Dawoodi Bohra women have proven that there’s nothing they cannot do. They took to the steering wheel on 24th November 2019, and showed the world that they are just as good drivers, as their male counterparts.

As part of the celebrations of the 76th Milad Mubarak of His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS), the Dawoodi Bohra community in Vishakapatnam organised an adventurous car rally. The rally was held for both women as well as men, with the intention of promoting gender equality, safe driving, and the education of women.  As a part of the rally, participants had to drive between 14 far flung locations across the city, while completing an assigned task, at each of the stops.

The car rally was flagged off at Yendada, and from here, participants covered different areas of the city, including Gnanapuram, Maharanipeta, Dasapalla Hills, Shivaji Park and Hanumanthwaka Junction. What was interesting to note, was that in most cases, the men took to the passenger seat, and allowed women to drive, while they navigated. This, said Sakina Johar, one of the organisers of the event speaks volumes of the importance given to gender equality in the community. “We have several households where women drive more than men, and it is great to see how much support we enjoy, and encouragement to be independent”, she added.

Through the rally, the organisers used the event to highlight the importance of road safety. They ensured that all those who were driving had a valid license, and made it mandatory to wear a seatbelt at all times. It was also specified that those found without a seatbelt, would be disqualified immediately, thus sending out a strong message about the value of one’s life.

The event went beyond a car rally, and also included a treasure hunt, that had fun activities at the stops. Some of these included solving mathematical problems, crossword puzzles, number games, general knowledge questions, and photography. The highlight of the trail was drivers having to form the figure 8, while driving entirely in reverse. Throughout the trail, participants had to pick up flags, and the one with the most at the end of three hours walked away with honours.

At the end of an exciting day, Taha Veera and Mohammed Tambawala emerged victorious, followed by mother-son duo, Mariya Johar and Abdulhussain Johar.

Image Source: thedawoodibohras.com