Sociologist,writer and feminist Sharmila Rege died after a prolonged illness in city on Saturday evening. She was 44. She breathed her last around 4 pm in a local private hospital,her close associates said. Author of the book Writing Caste,Writing Gender: Narrating Dalit Women's Testimonies among other noted publications to her credit,Rege has been associated with Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Women's Studies Centre at the University of Pune as a reader and director since 1991. It is believed the research and teaching in areas of Gender and Dalit Studies and Gender and Cultural Studies at the Women's Studies Centre were further strengthened during Rege's long stint. She had received the Malcolm Adiseshiah award for distinguished contribution to development studies from the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) in 2006. Rege has left behind a legacy of strong political conviction and fighting for the rights of those who do not have a voice,or the agency to speak for themselves, University of Pune,in its condolence message,said. Rege is survived by her husband,father,brother and sister.
