Dr Hema Sane was not just a renowned botanist — she was a woman of principle, simplicity and unmatched dedication to nature. A former professor at Abasaheb Garware College in Pune, she spent over six decades teaching botany and authoring more than 30 books on Indian flora. But it was her decision to live without electricity that made her an icon of environmental consciousness.

She passed away on September 20, 2025, at the age of 85, due to age-related ailments.

A life rooted in simplicity

Born on March 13, 1940, Dr Sane lived her entire life in her ancestral wada (an old, traditional, and often large courtyard house found primarily in Maharashtra) in Pune's Budhwar Peth, a congested locality near the Tambadi Jogeshwari Temple. Despite living in the heart of a bustling city, she consciously refused to install electricity in her home. She believed food, shelter and clothing were enough — electricity, she often said, was optional.

In multiple interviews, Dr Sane explained that she had grown used to her electricity-free lifestyle and didn’t consider it a sacrifice. "I never needed electricity. People ask me how I live without it. I ask them — how do you live with it?"

Academic legacy

From 1962 to 2000, Dr Sane taught botany at Abasaheb Garware College, inspiring generations of students. After retirement, she continued her research and writing, often working by natural light or with the help of a solar-powered charger for a basic mobile phone gifted by a student. Her final project was a book on Indian flora during Emperor Ashoka's reign.

Known in academic circles as a “walking encyclopedia of plants”, she had a PhD and was widely respected for her grassroots knowledge of Indian botany.

A home shared with animals

Dr Sane lived as a true caretaker of nature. Her house — a tin-roofed shed nestled in a rare green patch amid urban Pune — was shared with her dog, two cats, a mongoose and numerous birds. She once declared that after her passing, the property would rightfully belong to these animals. “This is their home, not mine. I only look after it,” she had said.

A philosopher at heart

Critics who called her eccentric or out of touch did not faze her. Dr Sane often quoted Lord Buddha, saying she gave no messages to the world — only the advice to “find your own path”. She remained humble, focused and deeply connected to her beliefs.

A hint of modernity

Though she avoided most modern comforts, her lifestyle was not devoid of practicality. She used an LPG gas cylinder and, during her teaching years, rode a Kinetic Luna scooter around the city. Her minimalist lifestyle was a conscious choice, not a lack of access.

‘What a lot of things I don’t need’

Environmentalists and former students fondly remember Dr Sane as a remarkable inspiration. Echoing Socrates’ thought, “What a lot of things I don’t need”, she chose to embrace simplicity by creating a green oasis amidst the urban chaos.