Hema Sane

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 Hema Sane was born on 13 March 1940. She completed her PhD from Pune University and later obtained an MPhil in Indology.

She authored more than 30 books covering botany, medicinal plants, sustainable development, plant morphology, the trees of Buddhism and Indian flora.

Lifestyle and philosophy 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.

Death Sane died on 19 September 2025 in Pune at the age of 85 due to age-related ailments.

Legacy 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.

Selected works Medicinal Plants Plant Morphology and Anatomy Kahani Masalayanchi (story of spices) Marg Shashwat Vikasawa (on sustainable development) Buddh Parampara Aani Bodhivriksha (trees of Buddhism)