A 74‑year‑old woman from Kerala has captured nationwide attention after a video of her driving a Rolls‑Royce Ghost through the streets of Dubai went viral on social media, reinforcing her reputation as one of India’s most unconventional and accomplished drivers.
Radhamani Amma, popularly known as Mani Amma or Driver Amma on Instagram, where she has more than one lakh followers, is best known for holding 11 different driving licences spanning cars, buses, trucks, cranes, forklifts and other heavy machinery — a rare distinction at any age. In the now‑viral clip, shared on her Instagram handle @maniamma_official, she is seen confidently navigating the luxury vehicle in a saree after presenting her International Driving Permit, a legal requirement for driving abroad.
The video has drawn widespread admiration online, with users praising her confidence and defiance of age and gender stereotypes, including Mahindra Group chairperson Anand Mahindra. He had shared her story on X and called her his “MondayMotivation” and applauded her “insatiable appetite for life.”
Co-founded school to train bus, truck drivers
Beyond viral clips, Mani Amma runs a driving institute in Kerala that trains people to operate heavy vehicles and equipment. She is the co‑founder of the A2Z Institute of Heavy Equipments, which evolved from a driving school she established decades ago to train drivers in operating trucks, buses and construction machinery. Through her work, she has consistently encouraged women to enter professions traditionally dominated by men.
Speaking to The Indian Express in 2024, Radhamani traced her journey back more than four decades. “I first ventured into driving when my husband suggested,” she said, adding that she obtained her four‑wheeler licence in 1981 and her heavy vehicle licence in 1984 — at a time when it was uncommon for women in Kerala to drive heavy vehicles. She recalled that obtaining such licences then required significant effort, including legal battles to establish Kerala’s first heavy vehicle driving school in her name.
"In the past, driving was viewed as a means of livelihood, but nowadays individuals from various professions pursue driving as a passion, irrespective of gender differences. Driving is now considered a necessity for both men and women," Radhamani told the publication. "Those who possess driving skills have significantly more opportunities than those who don’t. Therefore, I believe everyone, regardless of gender, should consider entering this field.”
After her husband’s death in 2004, Radhamani faced both personal and professional hardships but continued running the institute, eventually expanding it. “The one decision I made back then has proven to be right, and today, the institute has grown to such a level,” she said.
Makes it to India Book of Records
Her achievements extend beyond driving. Radhamani has received recognition from the India Book of Records for holding the maximum number of driving licences by a septuagenarian. She was also named ‘Inspirational Personality of the Year’ in 2022. Despite her age, she continues to pursue formal education and recently completed a diploma in mechanical engineering in her early seventies.
On Instagram, Mani Amma regularly posts videos driving everything from cranes to road rollers, alongside reflections on discipline and patience. “The best drivers are not those who drive fast, but those who drive with calm and control,” one caption reads.
Asked what message she has for others, particularly women, she said driving should never be seen through a gendered lens. “If you truly desire something, with dedication and belief, you can achieve it,” she said, adding that learning, in her view, “is an eternal voyage.”
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