For 87-year-old Mandakini Shah and her 84-year-old sister Ushaben, who ride scooters on the streets of Ahmedabad, age is just a number. They are getting a lot of fame on the internet as ‘Biker Dadis’.
Mandakini alias Mandaben drives a scooter, while Ushaben sits in a ‘sidecar’. Seeing their video going viral, people are comparing them with Jai and Veeru (Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra) of the famous Bollywood film Sholay.
Seeing these sisters clad in cotton sarees walking through the traffic on the streets presents an inspiring picture of empowerment.
Mandaben, the eldest of six siblings and daughter of a freedom fighter, said that she was always fond of riding motorcycles and scooters, but due to lack of money in her youth, she could not buy one.
Mandaben is a former teacher and is not married.
She said, “I learned to ride a scooter at the age of 62 and even today I ride it without any problem. It is because of my strong will that I am able to ride a scooter without any fear even at this age in the heavy traffic of the city.”
This energetic 80-year-old woman said that she could not have imagined the amount of love and appreciation she is getting from people after it went viral on social media.
“I never thought I would become famous. Strangers approach me and appreciate my spirit. People inspire me, but some also advise me to sit at home because of my age,” Mandaben said.
Mandaben walks with the help of a stick, but she also knows how to drive a jeep and sometimes drives to the village.
“Women should learn driving and not depend on anyone,” she says.
Ushaben, who enjoys sidecar rides with her sister, says she feels great when people see her and call her ‘Jai-Veeru’. She hopes that other women will also take inspiration from her.
