LGBTQIA2S+ Activist Sarang Punekar Passes Away in Jaipur, Last Rites Held In Pune
Pune/Jaipur, 23rd January 2025: Sarang Punekar, the first transgender student to pursue higher education at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), has died by suicide in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The 30-year-old activist’s last rites were performed in Pune today.
Sarang Punekar was a prominent figure in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) community, known for her academic achievements and social work. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she played a crucial role in supporting marginalized communities in Pune.
Dr Anagha Tambe, head of the Department of Women’s Studies Centre at SPPU, described Punekar’s presence as a unique experience for both academics and administrators, highlighting her sharp analysis of caste and power hierarchies.
Punekar was living with the transgender community in Jaipur and working for their rights. Journalist and Activist Ashwini Satav said that they had asked Punekar to return to Pune recently.
A supporter of the Ambedkar movement, Punekar had voiced opposition to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019 (CAA). She had worked as a regional coordinator for Samyak, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) focusing on marginalized women and gender issues in North Maharashtra.
Anand Pawar, Executive Director of Samyak, praised Punekar for breaking stereotypes by working on abortion rights instead of typical Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) prevention programs often assigned to transgender individuals in development sectors.
Punekar moved to Rajasthan in 2020 after completing a project that required coordination with government officials, doctors, and NGOs.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) spokesperson Sushma Andhare, who attended Punekar’s funeral, expressed regret that society couldn’t support Punekar’s dreams, noting her contributions as an enthusiastic speaker and advocate for gender rights.
