In many Indian homes, a mother is expected to put her dreams on hold, to stay back, adjust, and prioritise everyone but herself. And when there are five children, society rarely imagines anything different.

But Naaji Noushi, a 35-year-old homemaker from Kannur, Kerala, is rewriting that script.

Armed with a Mahindra Thar and an unstoppable spirit, Naaji has driven solo across India and the world — from deserts and mountain passes to international borders and conflict zones. She doesn’t travel to escape motherhood. She travels because of it — to show her children, and women everywhere, that ambition doesn’t end with marriage or motherhood.

From being married at 18 and a mother at 19 to now becoming the first Indian woman to drive solo to Iraq and Afghanistan, Naaji’s journey is about more than just miles. It’s about reclaiming space — for herself and for every woman told to sit still.

Drawing travel inspirations from Indian history

Naaji’s story is not one of privilege or grand planning. “I was raised in a typical Malabar Muslim family in Kannur, Kerala,” she says. She completed her Class 12 and got married at 18. At 19, she gave birth to her first child.

Yet, her fascination with history and Indian architecture kept her travel dreams alive. “My grandmother, Aamina, used to tell us a lot of stories about the British colonies and freedom struggles when I was a kid,” she recalls.

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“Listening to these stories pushed me to discover more, and as an Indian, I wanted to explore my own country first,” Naaji reflects, which became the driving force behind her remarkable journey. “My parents, including my husband, have been ardent travellers in whatever capacity they could,” she adds.

Where it all started

In 2020, when her youngest daughter was just six months old, Naaji embarked on her

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