by Divya Dugar
Sunita Choudhary kick-starts the engine, looks at herself for a moment in the sideview mirror and then drives her auto rickshaw at high speed through the heavy traffic.
"It feels good to be the first female auto driver in this male-dominated field," says Choudhary. Having taken up the trade in 2006, she claims to be the only female professional driver in North India of the three-wheeler vehicles hired as taxis on city streets.
The 35-year-old -- who ran away from her village in Uttar Pradesh as a teenager to escape an abusive arranged marriage -- has come a long way.
Not only has Choudhary forced her way into the boy's club of rickshaw taxis, but she also filed for nomination in India's 2012 vice-presidential elections, hoping to help the people at the bottom of Indian society via a seat in government.
Choudhary was unable to get enough votes to win. "But one day, I will be able to navigate my way to the top of Indian politics," she declares.
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