Fear Turned Into Finest Skill: Meet Mani Amma, Who at 74 Holds 11 Driving Licences, Proves Age Is Just a Number

Thiruvananthapuram: It wouldn't be wrong to say that by working through fears, one can transform them into strengths and such is the story of Mani Amma, a woman from a small town in Kerala.Raised in a middle class family and married after completing Class 10, Mani Amma once feared driving. But today, at 74, she holds at least 11 driving licences, including for heavy vehicles, having turned her fear into a finely tuned skill.Not just sharpening the skill, together with her husband, she went on to establish a driving school.In a post shared by The Better India on LinkedIn, her inspiring journey is highlighted as one of overcoming fear and mastering a skill that became her greatest asset.The LinkedIn post reads, "Ever wondered what it takes to drive

not just cars, but buses, cranes, and excavators at 74? Born in a small village in Kerala and married just after her Class 10 exams, Mani Amma grew up in a middle class family where her father worked with coir and coconuts."

"Driving was never part of her early life, and in 1981 she was terrified behind the wheel, worried she might hit someone," the post continues."With daily practice and her husband’s constant encouragement, that fear turned into mastery. Over time, she earned eleven driving licences, including for heavy vehicles, and together they founded a driving school to train others," it adds.Commending her efforts, the post reflects on her journey and says, "Her story proves that age and fear are no barriers. To every woman who’s been told ‘you can’t’ or ‘that’s not for your age,’ take the wheel and write your own story."