Pune: First Transgender Student of SPPU, Sarang Punekar, Dies at 30
Pune: First Transgender Student of SPPU, Sarang Punekar, Dies at 30
Sarang Punekar, the first transgender student of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), died by suicide in Rajasthan on Wednesday. Her last rites were held in Pune on Thursday.
Punekar, 30, had been living with the transgender community in Rajasthan and working for their welfare. Pune-based writer Ashwini Satav, who worked closely with her, said, “We had asked her to come back.”
A supporter of the Ambedkarite movement, Punekar was vocal against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Known for her insights on caste and power dynamics, she made significant contributions to gender studies during her time at SPPU.
“She brought new perspectives to gender studies and wanted to create original work on the language and customs of her community. It is society’s failure that we couldn’t support her dreams,” said an academic from SPPU.
Punekar worked as a regional coordinator for Samyak, a Pune-based NGO focused on women and sexuality. Anand Pawar, the executive director, said she joined as an intern but was later absorbed into the team. Unlike the usual practice of engaging transgender individuals in HIV prevention work, Punekar broke stereotypes by working on abortion rights. She managed projects requiring coordination with government officials, doctors, and NGOs.
After her project ended in 2020, Punekar relocated to Rajasthan to work closely with the local transgender community. Her death highlights the challenges transgender individuals face despite their efforts to create meaningful change.
