Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan presented a new car to Coimbatore's first woman bus driver M. Sharmila on Monday, June 26, who quit her job last Friday shortly after a controversy erupted over the issuing of a ticket to DMK MP Kanimozhi. In a statement, the 67-year-old said that he felt sad upon hearing what had transpired with Sharmila, who earlier received appreciation for standing up as a role model for women everywhere by taking up a challenging job. Kamal Haasan stated that Sharmila should not restrict herself to her driver profession, but be an inspiration for women to be like her. He said, "On behalf of Kamal Cultural Centre, a new car is presented to Sharmila. She will continue her journey as a rental car driving entrepreneur." He further stated that civilized society should stand beside women when they break centuries-old shackles of suppression.
பேருந்து ஓட்டுனர் ஷர்மிளாவிற்கு புதிய காரை வழங்கினார் கமல்ஹாசன்!@ikamalhaasan #Sharmila #BusDriver #BusDriverSharmila #Coimbatore #Ulaganayagan #KamalHaasan #Galatta pic.twitter.com/bm0MHKOPh6
— Galatta Media (@galattadotcom) June 26, 2023
On June 23, Sharmila, who worked as a driver on a private bus between Gandhipuram and Somanur, was thrilled when Kanimozhi traveled on her bus. During the trip, Kanimozhi was asked by Annathai, the bus conductor, to buy a ticket in spite of Sharmila reportedly telling him not to do so. Six tickets were however purchased by the MP's personal assistant. Earlier, BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan had traveled on her bus. Kanimozhi, who alighted at Peelamedu, gave Sharmila a gift congratulating her for her work. Addressing the media, the DMK MP said, "Generally, when we say men and women are equal, people ask pointless questions like 'Can women drive a lorry or a bus?'. But today here you can see a woman doing that too. I feel happy to see women doing all kinds of roles and not just doctors or engineers. I had congratulated Sharmila over the phone earlier. She wished to meet me when I visit Coimbatore. So, today I came and traveled on her bus. I appreciate her and extend my wishes."
Hours after Kanimozhi's trip, Sharmila told the press that she went to the office to inform the bus owner about the conduct of the conductor for asking her to get a ticket despite being told not to do so. She added that the bus owner had told her that she was bringing famous people into the vehicle for the sake of her own popularity. The bus owner, however, has rejected Sharmila's claims saying that he never said any such thing to her and that she can come back to driving the bus whenever she comes back.
