Monday, April 10, 2023

Shanti Devi, is probably India's only woman truck mechanic, 66, and a mother to 8, but she's fixing tires 12 hours a day


Shanti Devi was born in Gwalior and led a difficult life. She worked odd jobs like rolling beedis, cleaning, stitching and just when she had enough saved up, moved out of Gwalior and settled in Delhi. She even funded her own wedding with her savings of 4000 rupees.

She and her husband Ram Bahadur ran a tea shop. Later, as the tea business started making a little money, it made way for a repair shop.

“My husband changed tires. Later we employed a mistry. So I asked the mistry to teach me how to change and fix tires. But he didn’t have much time. I watched him work and taught myself. I’d hang around when they worked and after a few trials, I learned it all.”

There were times when I got so caught up in changing and fixing tires and running the tea shop that I forgot to eat”, she laughed. “And before I knew it, I was a full-fledged mechanic.”

“I wanted to help my family earn more. And I liked doing it, so I continued. I think it’s just like the work I do at home – I do it for my family. So it never felt odd to me. But yes, people did stare. Maybe they felt uncomfortable seeing a woman mechanic here. But they didn’t succeed in making me feel uncomfortable. Women don’t usually enter this field and even now I’m the only one in this area who changes truck tires or even car tires. It might be shocking for them but I treat it like any other work."

Via a mention in Variety.com who didn't notice they should do an article on her https://variety.com/2023/tv/tv-reviews/jeremy-renner-disney-plus-rennervations-review-1235576931/

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