Mangala Aaji isn’t ready to retire at 65, kickstarts her second innings on three wheels! Know her inspiring journey

In India, turning sixty is often seen as the beginning of a quieter chapter- slower mornings, limited mobility, and a gradual retreat from public life. But along the bustling stretch between Karad and Undale in Maharashtra, 65-year-old Mangala Awale has chosen a different script. Known affectionately as Mangala Aaji, she starts her auto-rickshaw each morning and heads out onto the road, proving that age can be an engine for purpose rather than pause.

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Her decision to drive is not merely about income. It is about reclaiming identity, sustaining dignity, and refusing to let circumstances dictate her relevance. For Mangala, the driver’s seat represents freedom- hard-earned and deeply valued.

A Lifetime of Strength, A New Beginning

Long before she gripped a steering handle, Mangala had been steering her family through hardship. Widowed at a young age, she raised four children single-handedly, working as a labourer to secure their education and future.

Today, her son works as a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) driver, and her daughters are married. For many, this stage of life would invite rest. For Mangala, it sparked reflection. Despite living with diabetes, she did not wish to depend financially on her children.

Instead, she searched for a way to contribute- to her medical needs and to her son’s household. That search led her to an unexpected path: learning to drive an auto-rickshaw at 65.

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Learning the Craft, Embracing Confidence

With her son’s guidance, Mangala mastered driving in just fifteen days. Soon, she began ferrying passengers daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., earning between ₹500 and ₹700 per day. Yet, her earnings tell only part of the story. The deeper reward lies in self-worth.

As she shared, “I used to stay at home, but I realized sitting idle wasn’t helping anyone. So, I learned to drive a rickshaw, with my son’s guidance. It turned out to be a wonderful decision. Everyone should try to show this kind of courage… I drive the rickshaw to help with my son’s household and my own medical needs… Driving doesn’t scare me at all, and the other drivers are very understanding, they even say, ‘Let the Aaji go first.’”

Her words reflect not desperation, but determination. Breaking Barriers, Earning Respect In many rural and semi-urban parts of India, elderly women rarely occupy public-facing professions- especially commercial driving, a field largely dominated by men.

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Mangala’s presence challenges these quiet stereotypes every day. Passengers recognise her instantly. Fellow drivers extend courtesy and encouragement. What began as a personal step toward independence has grown into a symbol of possibility for others who hesitate to step beyond social expectations.

When transport authorities required her to formalise her licence, she complied without complaint- completing the process despite limited formal education.

For Mangala, independence is meaningful only when paired with responsibility. Her story reminds us that ageing is not a retreat- it can be a powerful reinvention.