Hema Sane
Hema Sane | |
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| Born | 13 March 1940 |
| Died | 19 September 2025 (aged 85) Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Alma mater | Savitribai Phule Pune University |
| Occupation(s) | Botanist, writer |
| Years active | 1962–2000 |
Hema Sane (13 March 1940 – 19 September 2025) was an Indian botanist, environmentalist, educator and author, known for her minimalist, electricity-free lifestyle and long service in botanical education.
Early life and education
[edit]Hema Sane was born on 13 March 1940.[1][2] She completed her PhD from Pune University and later obtained an MPhil in Indology.[1]
Career
[edit]From 1962 until her retirement in 2000, Sane taught botany at Abasaheb Garware College in Pune.[1] She served as the head of the Botany Department and mentored many doctoral students.[3]
She authored more than 30 books covering botany, medicinal plants, sustainable development, plant morphology, the trees of Buddhism and Indian flora.[1][4]
Lifestyle and philosophy
[edit]Sane was known for living without electricity in her ancestral four-storey wada in Pune’s Budhwar Peth, considering it consistent with her principles of simplicity and ecological harmony.[1][4] For decades she refused modern appliances: she used kerosene lamps, relied on natural lighting, and owned minimal possessions—only books, papers, and a few saris. [1]
She shared her home with animals including cats, a mongoose, and birds, often describing herself as their caretaker. [1] She often quoted that electricity came later in human history and that basic needs were food, clothing, and shelter.[5]
Death
[edit]Sane died on 19 September 2025 in Pune at the age of 85 due to age-related ailments.[1][5]
Legacy
[edit]Hema Sane is remembered both for her scholarly contributions to Indian botany and her role as an exemplar of sustainable, low-consumption living. Her life and work continue to inspire discussions on ecological consistency, minimalism, and the integration of scientific knowledge with philosophy.[4][1][5]
Selected works
[edit]- Medicinal Plants[1]
- Plant Morphology and Anatomy[1]
- Kahani Masalayanchi (story of spices)[1]
- Marg Shashwat Vikasawa (on sustainable development)[1]
- Buddh Parampara Aani Bodhivriksha (trees of Buddhism)[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Botanist with 'wicked, wicked' way of sustainable living passes away at 85". The Indian Express. 2025-09-20. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
- ^ "Who was Hema Sane? The fearless, nature-loving botanist who lived without electricity". 25 September 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
- ^ "Botanist Sane passes away at 85". The Times of India. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- ^ a b c Butler, Rhett Ayers (2025-09-26). "Hema Sane, botanist who lived without electricity, died on September 19th". Mongabay Environmental News. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
- ^ a b c "Botanist Hema Sane, known for her eco-friendly lifestyle, dies at 85". 20 September 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
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