The Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Women's Studies Centre at the University of Pune remained under the direction of Sharmila Rege from 1991 until her death in 2013. A sociologist and feminist scholar, she altered Indian academic discourse by integrating Dalit perspectives into the study of gender, class, religion, and the structural violence inherent in caste systems.
Academic Contributions to Feminist Theory
Rege developed a distinct Dalit feminist standpoint, a framework that forced broader Indian feminist movements to acknowledge the intersections of caste, labour, and sexuality. Her research challenged existing historiography by highlighting the blind spots within the conceptualization of the Hindu nation. She consistently argued for the importance of B. R. Ambedkar in the construction of the modern Indian nation-state, advocating for his central role in political and social history.
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Beyond her theoretical writing, Rege operated as an activist within the university system. In 2002, she founded a child care centre within the women's studies department at the University of Pune, facilitating practical support for students and staff. She fought for the specific rights of Dalit students and pushed for fundamental educational reforms across the country, consistently linking academic practice to social justice.
Key Publications and Final Works
Her academic output spanned several significant volumes. In 2006, she published Writing Caste, Writing Gender, which remains a primary text in the field. Her essay 'Interrogating the Thesis of Irrational Deification' examined popular Ambedkarism during the 1990s and appeared in the collection The Hunger of the Republic: Our Present in Retrospect. Her final book, Against the Madness of Manu, published in 2013, focused on the ideological opposition to Brahminical patriarchy and its influence on gender-based violence.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Pune, India
- Died: 13 July 2013, Pune, India
- Field: Sociology, Political Science
- Notable Award: Malcolm Adiseshiah Award, 2006
- Key Publication: Writing Caste, Writing Gender (2006)
- Last Publication: Against the Madness of Manu (2013)
Questions readers ask
What was the focus of Sharmila Rege's research?
She focused on developing a Dalit feminist standpoint to critique the structural violence of caste, gender, and labour within Indian society.
What academic roles did she hold?
She led the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Women's Studies Centre at the University of Pune starting in 1991.
