Born on 8th June 1946 in Nashik and brought up at Kolhapur in a family having rich legacy of Theatre, Shashikala got the artistic heritage from her grandfather Shamrao Shirgopikar.

 

Shamrao Shirgopikar had established the first children’s theatre group, Anand Sangeet Mandali in a village, Kavhte Guland in 1923.  This small group later converted into established theatre company.

 

Educated initially at Harihar Vidyalay, Kolhapur and then at Ahilyadevi High School, Pune, she obtained Master’s degree in zoology at University of Pune. She joined Abasaheb Garware College, Pune as a demonstrator and then went on to become the Head of Department (Zoology).  

 

She has co-authored 15 text books in Zoology, in addition, she has co-authored few books on zoology in Marathi with Prof. Ashok Marathe: ‘Mashi ga Mashi, Jeevsrushtitil Vaividhya, Pakshanche Sthalantar ani Na Udanare Pakshi.