In memoriam - Klaus (Groujean)

On April 16th, long-term Aurovilian Klaus (Groujean) of Nine Palms passed away after a year-long struggle with complications of liver cancer. He was 68 years old. Klaus was well-known, driving the Auroville roads in colourful attire, long hair flying in the wind and radiating his flamboyant easy-rider image.

Klaus was born in East Germany in 1947, from where. as a 17-year old, he managed to escape to the West through a minefield in the north of the country. After years of staying in Germany as a refugee, he teamed up with his long-to-be partner Ingrid and they made their way to India, landing in Forecomers in 1972.

After The Mother accepted them for living in Auroville in 1973, they moved to the place that would become the Nine Palms settlement, which Klaus started by building a first major dam. During the next 42 years, he did important water conservation and afforestation work on some 80 acres of land and grew red rice and a variety of vegetables in order to raise and sustain his large family of seven children. In later years he did some serious writing on the side.

Klaus’ body was buried at Nine Palms on April 19th in a touching ceremony.