Left alone by husband with 18-month-old toddler, Maharashtra woman now drives auto for a living. Her daughter takes a seat beside her every morning. ‘My only goal is to send her to an English-medium school.’

Life’s struggles often arrive unannounced, forcing individuals to confront financial hardship, emotional pain, and overwhelming responsibility all at once. From single parenting challenges to economic survival, countless people battle adversity daily while striving for a better future. Resilience, determination, and sacrifice become essential tools in overcoming personal crises and societal barriers. If you think your life is hard, then the story of Komal Gaikwad, a female auto rickshaw driver, who chose courage over defeat, might serve as the right dose of inspiration.

Woman was left alone with her daughter

According to a report by the Official Humans of Bombay, Komal Gaikwad, born in Parbhani, once envisioned completing her education, securing a stable job, getting married, and building a comfortable family life. However, financial hardship altered that path. After completing her 10th board exams, Komal’s family could not afford her college education. Around the same time, a marriage proposal from a respectable family in her village was accepted, setting her life on an entirely different course.


Following her marriage in 2018, Komal moved to Kalyan with her husband, who worked as an auto rickshaw driver. She embraced the role of a homemaker while learning how to drive an auto from him, an unexpected skill that would later become her greatest survival tool. In 2022, the birth of her daughter Teju brought immense joy, and for a while, life seemed complete.


But her world was upended when Teju was just 18 months old. Her husband left for Parbhani, claiming it was for temporary work, but days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. His repeated excuses left Komal abandoned, emotionally shattered, and solely responsible for raising her young daughter.

Determined to survive, she began searching for employment. Although she briefly found work as a security guard, childcare became an impossible obstacle. With no one to care for Teju and no option to leave her alone, Komal was forced to think differently. Inspired by the sight of other women driving autos in the city, she decided to take control of her circumstances and rented an auto rickshaw.

Woman drives auto with daughter for her better future

For the next several months, Komal drove daily with Teju by her side. Initially, she created a small sleeping space at the back of the vehicle for her daughter, but Teju’s discomfort led Komal to build a tiny wooden seat beside her driver’s seat instead. Every morning at 6:30 am, while most children remained asleep, Teju accompanied her mother on long workdays through the city’s streets.

Despite earning only Rs 400 to Rs 500 a day, barely enough to cover rent, food, and daily expenses, Komal remained focused on saving. Her persistence paid off when, five months ago, she purchased her own rickshaw on EMI, marking a major milestone in her journey toward independence.

Her life took an unexpected turn when a simple reel featuring her and Teju sitting together in the auto went viral on social media. The video resonated with audiences, drawing widespread admiration and heartfelt messages celebrating her resilience as a mother. Since then, Komal has continued sharing glimpses of their daily life, inspiring countless people with her determination.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Humans of Bombay (@officialhumansofbombay)

Today, Komal’s greatest dream is for her daughter. Having been denied higher education due to poverty, she is determined to ensure that Teju studies in an English-medium school. Her story stands as a powerful testament to maternal sacrifice, perseverance, and the extraordinary strength required to transform adversity into hope for the next generation.