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sports

Biker’s men, not single woman. An unmarried

woman is seen as a problem and people
suspect her character.”
Tabassum is also a tale of grit and
ride for determination. Like other women of
the society, she was also subjected to
humiliation and torture by her hus-
band — a common scene witnessed in
a cause most of the Indian families. Narrating
her ordeal, the woman biker said, “I was
disturbed, depressed as my husband
was torturing me every single day. I
somehow mustered courage to get out
of this hell-hole but the task wan’t that
Tabassum Ali is a feminist easy as it seems. For a divorcee, pursu-
on-the-wheel who rides ing dreams was difficult but persever-
ance and social involvement gave me
motorcycle to take strength and courage to walk solo”.
While taking about the life of single
women-related issues to • Helping on wheel Tabassum seeks to woman, she said in era of freedom and
every nook and corner of the help stressed women live a comfortable life development, it is not astonishing fact
country, writes shamshad ali that women, both married or unmar-
ried, should wish to breathe the pure
he is tough, determined, “It was my dream to travel the whole pride”. fresh air of emancipation like men. •• Heavy duty Tabassum prefers to ride Royal Enfield as the bike matches her work profile
dedicated and sees life country on a motorbike which gives “Why the life of women is steeped in “The single women are defenceless and
from a different perspec- me enough pleasure to see the beauty misery and subjugation for being sin- life for them has become tougher these ship, and others”. gets enough time to fight for the cause
tive. Tabassum Ali has dedi- of nature while doing my job. She said gle? Shouldn’t a woman, who remains due to the biased view of the patriarchi- Like Tabassum, Jyoti Kiran also feels of the society.
S cated herself to the cause of bike is a cheaper and more convenient single throughout her life, deserves cal system. I am getting messages from the same pain but she thinks it’s better Talking about a particular incident,
women and chosen to ride motorcycle option than the rest. social and cultural recognition like the unknown people for being single as to be single than get married. “It may Tabassum mentioned how she helped
to reach every nook and corner of the Speaking about her risky jour - rest of the society?” she continued, “In they want to know my status including be difficult to live a lonely life but not a woman from Bihar to get separated
country. Her only aim is to free women ney, the woman biker said, “I trav - India, our society has accepted Single marriage, children, husband, relation- impossible at all”, the Delhi-based jour- from her husband legally. The husband
from the shackles of anxiety and domi- elled throughout Bihar, Uttarakhand, nalist said. Jyoti, who got her inspira- had abandoned her without filing for a
nation. She thinks women are born Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Punjab tion from her aunt who was a former divorce as a result the woman was run-
equal in rights to men and being single for the cause of women. During my stay civil servant, said being single, one ning from pillar to post seeking justice.
means the woman is strong enough to in the states, I found the opportunity to gets enough time to work for the soci- Now she works at a private company
wait for what she deserves. interact with several traumatised single ety while a married woman shoulders while her children and parents are
While speaking to a group of profes- women who bore the agony in silent in- many responsibilities and he hardly supporting her to live happily.
sionals, students, and activists in Delhi’s dignation due to the atrocities commit- Lauding at the efforts of Tabas -
Hauz Khas, Tabassum said she has un- ted by their families against them. sum Ali, Executive Director, ActionAid
dertaken several motorcycle journeys This is travesty of justice that peo- Daredevil Tabassum Association, Sandeep Chachra said she
across the country with the sole inten- ple who do good to others also face is standing like a pillar to help the single
tion of helping stressed women to live the wrath of the society for no satisfac- has travelled nearly women who gave difficulties in patri-
a comfortable life. Daredevil Tabassum tory reasons and Tabassum was not five states so far archal societies. “We need a national
has travelled nearly five states so far to immune from it. Recently, the Uttar initiative and policy for single women
educate people championing the cause Pradesh Police intercepted her and to educate people that redefines the definition of a single
of Single Woman. For her, a single asked her to produce all valid papers woman and includes widow, unmar-
woman has abundant time for herself of her bike in the state’s Bijnor district. championing the cause ried, separated and divorced. Single
to pursue her ambitions more easily Speaking about the stereotype that of Single Woman. For women must be given priority in all the
and work for the all round develop- is still prevalent in the society, Tabas- state welfare schemes,” said Sandeep.
ment of the society. sum said, “It seems as if the UP cops her, a single woman ActionAid Association through its 12
When it comes to visiting places, have never seen a woman riding a bike. has abundant time for regional and 2 field offices have sup-
she prefers to ride a Royal Enfield as They stooped me inside the police sta- ported 6537 single women to get own-
the heavy bike matches her work pro- tion and asked few random questions herself to pursue her ership of homestead land.
file. On being questioned about her including how my parents allowed a ambitions more easily
tryst with Royal Enfield, Tabassum said, single woman to travel to satisfy their letters@tehelka.com

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