A cycling revolution story that enabled mobility for rural women
While growing up, Jameela Bibi saw her mother persevere despite the obstacles of rural life. She did her best to educate Jameela and her siblings while toiling away to ensure good health and freedom from poverty for their family. Education may have taught Jameela the ways of the world, but when it was her turn to face a life full of obstacles – she chose to pedal through it on two wheels.
Pudukkottai is a small district in rural South India where thousands of women have turned cycling into a social revolution. In 1992, more than 100,000 rural women (mostly neo-literates) learnt cycling. Twenty years on, the humble vehicle is now their symbol of independence and capability.
Since the beginning, Arivoli Iyakkam – a social movement that works to empower women in rural India played an essential role in the Cycling Revolution of Pudukkottai. Arivoli recognized the need for mobility for women in rural India. The crippling dependency of women on men for commuting from remote areas to schools, colleges, and workplaces was hindering their progress. It undermined their confidence and limited their opportunities.
Arivoli activists began setting up training camps for women who wanted to learn cycling. They even composed a song to get people interested in cycling for women. When thousands of women were eager to learn and ride, women’s cycling got social sanction in Pudukkottai. Now, women like Jameela Bibi are proud to mount their bicycles to get to work every morning.
It is vital to mention that the cycling revolution was not without opposition. Women who were the first few to take to cycling in the 90s endured dirty remarks, judgemental attitudes and even family pressure. But the will to build a better life powered the revolution, two wheels at a time.
In Pudukkottai, cycling is a metaphor for freedom, a way out of enforced routines, and a means to scale male-imposed barriers. Women who are agricultural workers, stone quarry labourers, anganwadi workers, and school teachers – can be seen zipping about the quaint rural district on bicycles, as they go about their day. And the cycling movement has spread into more rural districts in the past decades.
Cycling not only helped in social upliftment but also had concrete economic implications for these women. Some women are small-scale farmers in rural India; they sell their produce in nearby towns and villages to earn a living. Getting their produce to their buyers is difficult if you don’t have a vehicle. They would either depend on the men in their family to drive them or take the bus. Both were not ideal.
Now, they ride their bicycles to make the sale. They can also return home in time to tend to their children or take the young ones along. Completing chores like fetching water and running errands is now a breeze. A breath of fresh air that rural Indian women have waited long for.
Despite the numerous advantages of cycling, women in rural India have hardly ever stepped up to claim their right to learn the skill. That’s why training camps became necessary. Women could learn the art of riding a bicycle and get social acceptance for it. These camps are now meeting places where female cycling veterans encourage and help neo-cyclists. They also talk about the benefits of bicycle riding to women who are too shy or hesitant to learn.
For those who live in cities like Bangalore, Chennai, or Mumbai – a few thousand women taking to cycling may seem like a tiny change. But for the women of rural India, it is nothing short of a miracle. It is an essential skill that gives them access to healthcare, education, and new opportunities for employment that they did not have before. Arivoli training camps continue to teach women to ride bicycles and encourage them to use cycling skills to improve lives for themselves and their families.
Today, Pudukkottai hosts training camps and cycling rallies on Women’s Day. Global organizations like UNICEF have also recognized Arivoli’s efforts in empowering rural women through literacy and cycling. Even though all women in Pudukkottai cannot afford a bicycle, the district will always be special for its revolutionary story. And for the stunning proportion of women cyclists and the enthusiasm for cycling in the town.
At Cycool, we firmly believe in the power of cycling as a life skill. People from all walks of life have something to gain from cycling. From life-changing opportunities like in Pudukkottai to fitness and fun, cycling has advantages for everyone.
Awesome! We need more Arivoli Iyakkams !!!