Sulakshana Petkar

Indian engineer who pioneered women's participation in STEM through educational reforms

Sulakshana Petkar (1948-2018) was a transformative force in India's engineering education, breaking gender barriers in STEM fields. As director of College of Engineering Pune from 1989-2000, she implemented groundbreaking policies like gender-neutral admission quotas and childcare facilities that increased female enrollment from 8% to 35%. Her 1995 report 'Empowering Women in Technical Education' influenced India's National Education Policy, leading to 200+ engineering colleges adopting her model. Petkar's creation of the AAWATE network connected 12,000 women engineers across rural India. Her advocacy for inclusive pedagogy led to the NASSCOM Women in Technology initiative. Despite facing resistance from traditionalists, her efforts produced India's first female robotics team in 1997 and contributed to a 200% increase in female engineering graduates by 2010. Her legacy continues through the Sulakshana Foundation supporting women in tech.