There is excitement in Dr. Awungshi Philamazan’s words as she talks about how she completed level one of a course for offroaders. The proud owner of a Force Gurkha, a four-wheel drive, she says she has been driving a 4x4 since she was 18.

On March 8, she joined nine other women in Thiruvananthapuram, all owners of 4WDs (four wheel drive) to go on a ride from the Thiruvananthapuram to Kovalam. Christening themselves the Jeeper Girls of Trivandrum,the women say what brings them together is obviously their love for the rugged four-wheel drive.