Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday gifted a car to the celebrated woman bus driver M. Sharmila from Coimbatore, who had to quit her job over a controversy involving DMK MP M.K. Kanimozhi. Sharmila resigned after a controversy erupted regarding issuing a ticket to Kanimozhi, who recently travelled in her bus.
The car was presented to Sharmila on behalf of Kamal Panpattu Maiam (Kamal Cultural Centre) to encourage Sharmila to be an entrepreneur and not restrict herself to being a driver. The 67-year-old actor and Makkal Needhi Madam founder said in a statement that he was saddened to hear about what had happened to Sharmila.
“I was anguished over the recent debate around Sharmila. She was a good example for women of her age. She should not remain a mere driver. She will continue her journey as an entrepreneur driving a rental car. When women, who were suppressed for centuries break barriers, it is the duty of a civilised society to stand beside them,” Haasan said.
Last week, DMK MP Kanimozhi travelled in her bus. During the trip, a controversy erupted when the bus conductor asked for a travel ticket from Kanimozhi. Sharmila, being the driver, got into an argument with the conductor. Kanimozhi, however, got tickets for herself and others who travelled along with her. Kanimozhi alighted at Peelamedu and presented a gift to Sharmila.
Later, Sharmila stopped the bus and went to the private firm she was part of to talk to the owner about the conductor’s behaviour and the controversy that erupted in the bus. But, the owner is said to have told Sharmila that she is doing all this for publicity. Sharmila left the job after an argument with the owner of the private firm.
Sharmila, the first woman driver to operate a private bus in Coimbatore, drove in the Gandhipuram-Somanur route. Being the first woman driver of a private bus in the state, she was looked at as a celebrity by the people of Coimbatore. Earlier, BJP MLA from Coimbatore Vanathi Srinivasan had also taken a ride in her bus and congratulated her.