The ‘Masculine’ Female: Asia’s First Woman Locomotive Driver

In September 1991, Mumtaz Kazi, barely 20 years old of age, operated her first locomotive amid thundering applause from commuters and colleagues. She became the first Indian woman to drive a diesel locomotive awing the entire nation- an achievement that would inspire several young girls to dream the impossible, to cross every hurdle that life has to offer.

EARLY LIFE: Hailing from a simple middle-class Muslim family, Mumtaz was born and brought up in Mumbai, the commercial capital of Maharastra. While all her parents cared was to provide their kids with the best education they could, they had a little idea that one of their daughters would soon be engaged to write history.

Her father Allarakhu Ismail Kathwala, was a trunk superintendent with the Indian Railways having a lot of motorman friends. His interesting and thrilling stories about motormen and their work let the little kid dream about becoming one of them. She speaks, "When I was a child, I always loved speed. I always dreamt of driving one (train) someday." To follow her dream, soon after completing diploma from the SNDT University, she applied for the job in 1988 and after clearing all the tests with high marks, she set to create history for Asia breaking all the gender stereotypes as she noticed out, "During the training, I was the only female in the batch of 50 men."

The road was not smooth for her a few of the family members including her father stood against her decision. But smooth seas do not make skillful sailors- after surpassing all the turbulences, she stepped into her career in September 1991 as a diesel locomotive assistant driver, and also happened to be the first Asian to be so.

CAREER- BREAKING THE PREJUDICES: In her career of almost 30 years, she never played the 'women card'. The rigorous tasks like, shunting, coupling, etc. which were once assigned only to men, she never shied away to do those. Technological knowledge coupled with meticulous physical labor and presence of mind is needed to be a locomotive driver and she never has disappointed.

Being a mother of two children, she has done both night and day shifts with immense punctuality without complaining, proving herself a responsible public servant and a dedicating woman towards her work. She too has passed through the horrors of work as she recounts, in 2005, she ran over a woman who was sitting on the rail tracks purposefully for committing suicide. She honked and gestured her frantically to move away while trying to apply brakes but with no success. This haunted her for some days but eventually gave her the lesson that her job comes with a lot of responsibilities and risks.

THE PERKS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: She made her way to the Limca Book of World Records in 1995 as the first female locomotive driver and the year 2015 brought another honor her way when she was facilitated with Railways General Manager Award. The entire nation was jubilant when the President of India Pranab Mukherjee bestowed the prestigious 'Women Power Award' in March 2017 to the Asia's First Woman Diesel Engineer Driver, Mumtaz Kazi.

Now, she pilots the local trains through India's first and most congested railway route, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus- Thane section. Mumtaz Kazi is not just a name with bags full of awards, she is an answer to all the gender stereotypes and prejudices which lag the women behind, forcing them to crush their dreams with salty water.