In memoriam - Sharanam (Maria Desamparados Aznar Arce)

Sharanam (Maria Desamparados Aznar Arce) passed away on September 1st in the General Hospital in Pondicherry after suffering a heavy lung infection. She was 69 years old.

Hailing from Spain, Sharanam first came to Auroville in 1975 and lived in Utility community. She went back to her country and worked with the Institute of Evolutionary Research to assist in translating Satprem’s books into Spanish.

In the early eighties she returned and was one of the first to introduce Auroville Tai Chi, subtle energy work and body awareness classes. She also worked in places such as the old Auroville Bakery in Kottakarai, the Laboratory of Evolution’s raw food kitchen where her ‘Essene breads’ were famous, and in the then Entry Group. In later years, when her general health condition became weak, she became more reclusive, leading a quiet life in Dana while translating into Spanish texts of Sri Aurobindo, the Mother and Satprem, and about Auroville.

Sharanam’s remains were buried in Adventure’s Farewell Grounds on September 5th.