Enlightenment
Cupertino, CA
2023, Senior, Art
Climate Hero: Dr. Hema Sane
Reflection
Reflection
Dr. Hema Sane is a retired botany professor from Pune, India, who has not used electricity for more than seven decades. An average American uses about 13,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, while Dr. Hema Sane uses nearly 0. Her hut feels like a woodland sanctuary in the midst of a bustling city. In my artwork, I portrayed Dr. Sane as an angel in the darkness holding a lantern as the guardian of the city of Pune. I chose to portray her as my hero because she lives in harmony with nature. She is very humble on the outside and incredibly wise on the inside. While leaving a minimal carbon footprint, her wisdom demonstrates humility. By producing this artwork, I hope to convey the message that although we may not be able to emulate her lifestyle, we can definitely contribute to the cause she is working for by conserving precious resources and preserving what we can for our future generations. She serves as a model for our generation on energy conservation and how to be happy with a simple and unique life. Dr. Hema Sane is the true embodiment of “Be the change you want to see in society.”