New Governing Board members

They were busy days for the new Governing Board. On Sunday August 13th, Chairman Dr. Karan Singh, who had been re-appointed for another term of office in October last year, met with new members Dr. Prema Nandakumar, Dr. Nirima Oza, Prof. Sachindanand Mohanty and Dr. Anirban Ganguly. In the afternoon they attended presentations of Wasteless, Humanscapes, the Auroville Institute of Applied Technology, the Sustainable Livelihood Institute and the Auroville Sports Resource Centre. Later, the members received the first copies of the new biannual journal Bhavishyate and of the book The Inauguration of Auroville – Concept and Purpose and interacted with members and the community.

On the morning of August 14th, Dr. Karan Singh inaugurated the new building of the Auroville Electrical Service and Solar Service. Then, for more than three hours, the Board interacted with the Working Committee and with other working groups on issues such as the Matrimandir, Visa, Auroville finances, the Government of India grant, fundraising, land consolidation and protection, housing needs and the suggestion that Auroville be declared an Institution of National Importance for Human Unity. Much time was given to discuss the plans for Auroville’s 50th anniversary. In the afternoon of that day, the Board had its own meeting. In this issue we present interviews with Dr. Sachidananda Mohanty, Dr. Prema Nandakumar and Dr. Anirban Ganguly. An interview with the fourth member, D. Nirima Oza, is scheduled for later.