She received her PhD in History from Warwick University, in the United Kingdom and has published articles in journals such as the Journal of Women’s History, Contributions to Indian Sociology, Economic and Political Weekly and the Indian Journal of Gender Studies. Her research interests encompass modern South Asia, Dalit Studies, Women, Gender and Feminism, Social and Political movements, Oral history, and Caste and Race. Based on her dissertation research, Shailaja is currently preparing a book manuscript which uses the lens of education to examine the social and cultural history of Dalit women in Maharashtra (Western India), from 1930 to1990.