Tamil Nadu’s Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has gifted a car to a woman, who resigned from her job as a bus driver after she was allegedly reprimanded for issuing a ticket to DMK MP Kanimozhi. Sharmila, the woman bus driver from Coimbatore, became the first woman to obtain a bus driver’s license in the state in 2009. Kamal Haasan presented the car on behalf of the Kamal Panbattu Maiam (Kamal Cultural Center) to Sharmila, aiming to help her become a driver-entrepreneur.
The incident occurred on June 18 when Sharmila was asked to issue a ticket to DMK MP Kanimozhi, who was traveling on her bus. After earning the wrath of the depot management for handing over a ticket to Kanimozhi, she chose to quit her job instead of seeking forgiveness. It has since sparked a heated debate online with people from all walks of life coming out in support of Sharmila.
Kamal Haasan released a statement stating that he was upset about the recent debate surrounding Sharmila, who was a great example of women working in transport jobs. Haasan believes that Sharmila should not remain limited to bus driving, and there should be many more women like her.
The car is a symbolic representation of women’s empowerment and aims to help make Sharmila a driver-entrepreneur. I hope to create more such empowered women like her, Haasan added.
It’s commendable to see celebrities such as Kamal Haasan taking constructive steps to uplift women in society, especially those who work in male-dominated fields. Sharmila’s courageous decision to quit her job and Haasan’s support for her has demonstrated the impact of social media activism and how public opinion influences policy changes. We hope that more people will come forward and advocate for gender equality in the workplace.
