If you ever find yourself on the streets of Ahmedabad on a breezy morning, keep an eye out for a scooter zipping past with two elderly women laughing like teenagers on their first joyride. That’s Mandakini Shah and her younger sister Usha—better known as the city’s beloved “Biker Dadis.” One glimpse of them is enough to brighten your day; one conversation with them is enough to change your perspective on life.
Mandakini didn’t grow up dreaming of riding a scooter. In fact, she didn’t even touch one until she turned 62. At an age when people are often told to “take it easy,” she decided to do the opposite. She walked into a quiet lane one afternoon and, with a mix of nervousness and thrill, learned how to balance, accelerate, and trust herself again. That day, she discovered something she didn’t know she’d been missing—a taste of freedom that felt like youth coming back to knock on her door.
Fast forward to today: Mandakini is 87, her hair a soft shade of silver, her spirit bright and bold, and her scooter the happiest machine in Ahmedabad. But what truly brings the magic alive is the woman sitting right behind her—her sister Usha. Together, the two form a real-life Jai–Veeru, not because they’re fearless rebels, but because they’re inseparable partners in mischief, memories, and the pure joy of being alive.
Ask anyone in the city and they will tell you: the Biker Dadis are impossible to miss. Maybe it’s their colourful cotton saris fluttering in the wind. Maybe it’s the old Bollywood tunes they hum as they ride. Or maybe it’s the way their laughter spills out into traffic, making strangers smile without knowing why. For many Ahmedabadis, spotting them feels like a lucky charm—an instant reminder that happiness often comes from the simplest things.
But behind this charming duo lies a lifetime of dedication and love. Before her scooter days, Mandakini spent years working as a Montessori teacher, nurturing tiny minds with patience and warmth. Later, she became deeply involved in social work, helping women build confidence and children find opportunities. Quietly, without fanfare, she changed lives long before she became a familiar face on the streets. Her scooter didn’t give her a purpose—it simply gave the world a chance to see the woman she had always been.
What makes her story even more inspiring is her complete refusal to be defined by age. “Why should I slow down?” she often jokes. “My knees may complain, but my heart never does.” To her, age is something that sits on paper, not on her spirit. She rides not just to get around, but to feel alive, to stay connected, and to remind herself—and the world—that independence has no expiry date.
