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This single mother of six took up taxi driving in Hyderabad to support her family

This single mother of six took up taxi driving in Hyderabad to support her family

After her husband's death, 67-year-old Basheeran made use of the driving lessons he'd given her to make ends meet
Updated 19 Mar, 2018

The taxi stops at the traffic signal and a pedlar runs up to the car with a pack of yellow dusters. “Chal bhag” [Go away] roars the driver at the wheel like a lioness, cursing him. She turns to look at me. “He wants 10 rupees for that?” Turning back, she spies a policeman standing at the traffic kiosk. “I have a love-hate relationship with the police, I’ll tell you how,” she says, switching gears as the signal turns green.

This is Basheeran, 67, who drives a Suzuki pickup as taxi for the past 30-35 years and is the only female taxi driver in Hyderabad city.

Basheeran got married in her early teens. “I did not even know how to hold a baby. I was pampered both at my parents’ and my husband’s home. He was a policeman and also owned a taxi, which he drove in his spare time. He loved me very much,” she recalls.

Despite her lack of interest, her husband insisted that she learn to drive, regardless of criticism from relatives. “He gave me driving lessons. Who knew that he would die and I will have to support our children.”

Her husband died of cardiac arrest after 13-14 years of marriage. At the time, they had six children — four sons and two daughters. “I was so naive that I could not find my way back home if I went to the market. After his shocking death, I didn’t know where to go and what to do,” she says.

After her husband’s death, her in-laws and relatives abandoned her. She neither went to her parents in Ranipur, nor to her relatives in Punjab. Instead, she decided to rent a house and live there with her kids. She started sewing clothes for a living and hired a driver to run the taxi, but things did not work as per her plan. The driver did not bring in much money, neither did sewing help her earn enough to feed, clothe and provide shelter to a family of seven.

One day, Basheeran put her sewing machine in the taxi and drove out. She doesn’t remember exactly when she started driving. “Perhaps some five years after my husband’s death, before Sindhi-Mohajir riots began. Back then, the price of five litres of petrol was 35 rupees only,” she recalls.

Basheeran first chose the route from Hyderabad to Kotri — the city’s longest route. “It was strange then for a woman to drive a taxi. Besides, I was young and beautiful, so people would give me strange looks. At first, I was frightened, but I had heard the song ‘Aye dil tujhe qasam hai, himmat na harna... [Oh heart, I besiege you not to lose hope]’ and I decided to fight my circumstances.”

Initially, Basheeran did not allow men to sit shotgun beside her. Either women would take the passenger seat with her or the seat would remain vacant. She would sew clothes while waiting for her turn at the stop. This is how she was able to raise her children and send them to school.

When the Sindhi-Mohajir ethnic riots in 1988 took place all over Hyderabad, her house in Latifabad was attacked and her taxi snatched at gun point. Basheeran had no choice but to move to another locality. This time she purchased her own home and two taxis (on installments, after paying some advance money that she’d saved bit by bit).

By this time, her two elder sons had learnt driving and were helping her make ends meet. Things were going quite well before her eldest son got married and moved to Punjab. Soon, two others also left after getting married. The fourth one got involved with hoodlums and started living on footpaths. The daughters too got married; one moved to Karachi and the other lives in Hyderabad.

Living on her own now in an empty nest, Basheeran took in a young girl whose family lived hand-to-mouth. “I adopted a neighbourhood girl whose mother had died. She was living in poor conditions with her father and brother. They did not even have a washroom to go to, and used the mosque’s washroom. She lived with me like a daughter [for 12 years] and I arranged her marriage. I did not consider marrying her to my youngest son because if he can’t support himself, how can he support a wife and children?”

Every morning, Basheeran wakes up at 4 o’clock; she says her prayer, reads the Holy Quran. At 8am, she leaves home for the taxi stop in Latifabad No 10. This is where I met her. While we stood there, she ordered tea in fluent Sindhi. “Most of my friends and acquaintances are Sindhi. One of my daughters is married to a Sindhi who works for a FM radio station. They are the only people left in the world who own me,” she says. “Baytay to kisi kaam ke nahe nikle, [My sons are of no use]” she whispers.

Her complaints are valid. Her sons not only left her as they came of age, but also took her taxis and kicked her out of the house, three years ago. “Since they have the support of a corrupt policeman, the police is not willing to look into my case. I’ve filed a case in court and am waiting for the decision,” Basheeran tells me.

Since then, she has nowhere to live. Often she goes to her daughter’s home and, at times, to acquaintances but she doesn’t feel comfortable either way. Sometimes she locks herself up in her Suzuki and sleeps there. “This cab is my home, and everything to me,” she says.

While we’re talking, a man appears wearing a black shalwar kameez, a bead necklace, a black cap and holding a thick plastic cane. He looks like a fakir. He hands her a small dish and starts complaining of load-shedding and pain in his arm.

“He is my youngest son, my malang son,” she introduces.

“And she is our unfortunate mother, afflicted by sons,” he adds.

His name is Mureed Abbas. Basheeran has rented a room for him but doesn’t live with him. He is irresponsible and mostly lives out of home with other junkies, she says. But she still brings her son food from the hotel in the small dish. Some three months ago, Mureed Abbas had visited his sister in Karachi where he broke his arm in a motorcycle accident.

His mother scolds him now for not seeing doctor about his arm and inquires if he needs money. He shakes his head in denial. She insists that he take money from her and advises him to go to a hospital before his arm becomes incurable. He promises to go and says, “I’ll ask my friends for money.”

Dost paisay dete hain kya, pagal?” [Do friends give money, you fool], she says sarcastically and presses some bills in his hand.

Mureed Abbas disappears.

It is nearing 3pm in the afternoon as she awaits her turn to queue her taxi. If her turn comes after 4 o’clock, she won’t go. Instead, she’ll go home, say her prayers and recite the Holy Quran. She’s fond of watching the 9 o’clock bulletin as she likes to keep an eye on politics even though she has never cast a vote in her life.

3pm, and the man at the stand asks her to queue up her taxi for her third turn. Basheeran smoothly parks her car behind another one and begins cleaning its seats and windows. “Isn’t there any way you and your sons can patch up?” I ask. “They often come to see me. The second one who drives an air-conditioned coach came last night to apologise,” she replies. “Par tuti jo tanko ee konhe [Once the heart is broken, it can never be mended again],” she whispers in Sindhi.


Originally published in Dawn, EOS, March 18th, 2018

Comments

Zaheer Mar 18, 2018 09:57am
I saulte her.
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Zaheer Mar 18, 2018 09:59am
I Saulte her the way she has been facing this world; however, she could not manage to raise responsible citizens. Can not blame her.
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Sumit Mar 18, 2018 10:30am
My deepest respect for this lady. She is an inspiration for all those who are struggling to make both ends meet anywhere in the world, against all odds.
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Asfandyar Mar 18, 2018 10:34am
Mother Pakistan!
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nk Mar 18, 2018 10:43am
huge respect for this lady. we have to empower our women, so that they can stand on their own and they don't have to rely on their male family members for support.
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PopnRolla Mar 18, 2018 10:44am
Bibi, aapko India se salute.
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Shaukat Mar 18, 2018 10:45am
Awesome! She is a lioness.
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Rohail Mar 18, 2018 10:46am
More power to you Adi Basheeran.
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Waqas Mar 18, 2018 10:46am
When there is a will there is a way...This women can teach all those who have lost hope...thank you for covering such an inspirational story of a Pakistani mother always ready for any sacrifices.
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Hamid Mar 18, 2018 10:49am
A story of struggle
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Joe Mar 18, 2018 10:56am
Mother of 7..and then to support family..My hats off,but if you can't then why 7..
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Ahmed Mar 18, 2018 11:04am
If she can inspire other young mothers to take up such a job, at least, they will stop producing more than 1 child
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khan Mar 18, 2018 11:15am
Tears came in my eyes when i read it, Disloyalty of her sons who are rosed by her in a very troubled situation. Deepest respect for her!
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Zulfiqar Syed Mar 18, 2018 11:31am
An honourable lady, and certainly a victim of our destructive social values. In the world full of landlords, where the norm is a land cruiser, state comprehensively failing to look after its weak, needly and poor citizens. This should be a wakeup call
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mesotwisty Mar 18, 2018 11:37am
A great woman. We need many more like her. Our nation needs to learn the necessity and practicality of women working alongside men.
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imran Mar 18, 2018 11:45am
This is the kind of personal stories that Dawn should be celebrating about. The kids should be inspired from these gems and inspirational stories. So called commercial chick flicks and cricketers flogging shampoos and biscuits should be reserved for commercial/merchantile back pages. Active effort should be taken to wash away the brainwashing where commercial/habitual product sellers should be dissected form people who actually contribute to society. This is the kind of story I would want my kids to read about .
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A@A Mar 18, 2018 11:55am
Good luck brave Mam..,.!!
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Arfeen Khan Mar 18, 2018 12:00pm
She is the real face of the Pakistan..... Not extremism or political corruption. Salute to her. Wish the government stops taking loans. We the people of Pakistan don't need any luxury, but simple life with good education and a decent health system.
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Syed ali Mar 18, 2018 12:00pm
Respect for this woman. She earned it.
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Vijay B. Mar 18, 2018 12:05pm
First of all hats off to this brave and beautiful lady Basheeran who raised seven children on her own and shame on her ingrate sons that she is homeless at this stage of her life. It is a great irony of the human race that people will cheat, lie and steal, starve, struggle and strive the best they can for their children who may not do much for them in their own hour of need once they are grown, and they are rightfully dismayed and disappointed, but when it comes to their own parents who did all that for them, they shy away. Here are some heart wrenching quotes from this article itself: “Baytay to kisi kaam ke nahe nikle, [My sons are of no use]” she whispers.   she replies. “Par tuti jo tanko ee konhe  Once the heart is broken, it can never be mended again],” she whispers in Sindhi. They say "The worst humiliation is when you get humiliated by your own children." The disillusionment you get when people you have done good to turn out to be ungrateful shakes up your faith in mankind.
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Kmallah Mar 18, 2018 12:17pm
Very Inspirational,in this society where breathing space for working women keep squeezing
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sameer Mar 18, 2018 12:25pm
This sort person is to be presented as role model, did hard work and never give up. Thanks for sharing her story. I would try to meet this brave person.
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phaedrus Mar 18, 2018 12:37pm
while it is very important that you tell the people the challenges she has taken in order to meet the ends . it is very very important that she was put there in the difficult place because she kept making babies. if she had only two babies , she could hv provided well for them and some might have become engineer or doctor... y do you guys make so many babies when you cant take care of them properly.
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Zahid Sharfi Mar 18, 2018 01:10pm
Great strength and will power shown by this lady. Hats off to her perseverance. May she have good health and enough to go on. Best wishes.
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Hasan Mar 18, 2018 01:52pm
What an inspiration for all of us reading this while lazying around in our comfortable villas on sunday yet complaining about life ...
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abdulrahman Mar 18, 2018 02:01pm
The peace of article is excellent! it reminded me Charles Dickens style. Adi Basheeran is a brave woman and a symbol of freedom, hard-work, nobility, self-respect, patience, confidence, courage and virtue. Dawn did a great work to bring her in focus. However, my opinion is 'she is a classic example that can be used to boost the morale of women in Pakistan. So, make her a role model and ‘statue of liberty of Pakistan’. This is an opportunity the time has given to Pakistan to set her an example for others irrespective of genders including the Trans. I am a man by gender but I can understand the difficulties of a woman to raise her children in absence of her man. She swam against the current. A grand salute to her!
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sqb Mar 18, 2018 02:05pm
Shame on her sons, respect for her, what a woman.
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syed s ahmed Mar 18, 2018 02:12pm
This is not only her life.This is cause of our decline in Muslim life.
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RationalBabu Mar 18, 2018 02:23pm
An inspirational brave lady, but she failed dismally to raise good kids who should have turned out much better numan beings after witnessing her dedication and struggles. Inspiring but sad story!
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Pakistan_Zindabad Mar 18, 2018 02:46pm
This is a good example of self respect, hard working and urge to earn 'halal' money. Our corrupt politicians, dishonest buerocrats and greedy businessmen should learn from this very rare and proud women of Pakistan!
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Ali Mar 18, 2018 03:27pm
i am amazed to see such a courage. She is truly an inspiration for all. I am so sad that her sons have abondoned their mother who struggled so much to raise them yet they abondoned their mother, what a pitty. Jannat ma kay pau kay nichay hey!!
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Abdul Malik Khalfan Mar 18, 2018 03:33pm
Bravo! Hats off to her courage and bravery in this male dominated and chauvinist country of ours .
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Patriotic Mar 18, 2018 05:30pm
oh man, what an iron mother she is, she deserves some medal, maybe Sindh Police department give her some home but sorry from the state department.
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Vijay B. Mar 18, 2018 05:42pm
It is often said"You will never realize how much your parents love you until you have your own children." As a corollary to that I say "Love your parents as much as you love your children."
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Anthony (Tony) Fernandes Mar 18, 2018 07:22pm
Brave lady she is amazing
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rich Mar 18, 2018 08:43pm
salute oh women, a mother love from india
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Sachin Mar 18, 2018 10:23pm
Nice story. May she get all the happiness and health
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Asif Mar 18, 2018 10:33pm
How tragic and unfortunate. I wish her sons' go back to her and take care of her at this age. But life is full of such stories which is a reality.
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Salman Mar 18, 2018 11:09pm
Khala Bashiran, You are a role-model with a very touching and inspirational story. Thank you for sharing.
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Fahim Umrani Mar 18, 2018 11:18pm
:)!
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shamsuddin Mar 19, 2018 12:35am
She is a great person.
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Nimi Mar 19, 2018 12:40am
Breaking stereotypes.
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Latifa Mar 19, 2018 12:48am
This incredible lady Basheeran struggles remind us of the extent that mothers go to so that they can provide a better life for their children. Many humble Pakistani women are the REAL strength of this country and time and again prove their worth but unfortunately it's menfolk frequently come up short.
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Shahzad Akhund Mar 19, 2018 02:36am
Bravo, Mai Basheeran, and good luck.
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RKRAO Mar 19, 2018 05:16am
What a wonderful lady. I am saddened to see the lack of state support for vulnerable women in the subcontinent. Wish to see her succeed and her children grow to look after this great mother.
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Che Mar 19, 2018 06:04am
پر ٽٽي جو ٽانڪو ئي ڪونهي[Once the heart is broken, it can never be mended again]. Respect.
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Illawarrrior Mar 19, 2018 06:56am
@Joe The children were all born, when her husband was alive to support them.
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tania Mar 19, 2018 07:46am
No words to describe my feelings. I salute her. she should come to the forefront to encourage women like her to become independent.
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Ummer Zargar Mar 19, 2018 08:26am
why you salute her? this is tge sad story of your society. You politians are engaged in corruption and accumulate national treasure through illegal means.. You should rise to the occasion and help financially this lady so that she lives a happy life at the age of 67. This is the story of every common Pakistani though in different forms.. Nawaz Sharief and Zardari wants another term to loot and make corruption.. Pakistanis needto introspect themselves as they have not learned from the past.
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M. Riaz Mar 19, 2018 10:17am
How great to see a woman in power by driving a motor bicycle and cars why not we should come out of negative thought this is the 21st century
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Zahra wasim Mar 19, 2018 10:11pm
She did so much for her children and look what they did to her. Sad. But she is one courageous lady out there. Unstoppable is the word for her. Much inspiration. Love
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Ali Jan Mar 20, 2018 05:15pm
@Zaheer great
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