In memoriam - Nolly Senden

During the afternoon of May 17, long-term Dutch Aurovilian Nolly Senden passed away at the JIPMER hospital due to a stroke. She was 85.

Nolly was temporarily residing at the Mahalakshmi Home to recover from a leg injury when she became unwell and started experiencing COVID symptoms. After testing positive for COVID-19, she was brought back to her house in Samasti, where she was supported by a medical team and volunteers. On May 15th, when her condition worsened, she was taken to JIPMER hospital where she received oxygen and medication. However, two days later she expired. Nolly had not taken any vaccination.

At the end of the eighties, Nolly frequently came to Pune, India, to be trained as a qualified Iyengar hatha yoga teacher, and started visiting Auroville at the same time. Having completed the study, in 1992 she came for good, and financed a Yoga Hall for the the new Pitanga building. She also built a Pitanga caretaker house where she lived for several years.

From the moment the hall was ready, she taught hatha yoga to increasingly large groups of eager residents, at times gaining the nickname of ‘General’ for her no-nonsense, commanding approach. Also, in her work as executive of Auroville’s Small Employees Welfare Association, SEWA, as well as in her dealing with the many workers who worked with her during the years, she would show her sternness, dedication and, at the same time, empathy and compassion. After suffering a mild stroke, Nolly stopped teaching yoga and moved to Sri Ma for five years and then built another house on the outskirts of Samasti.

In accordance with government protocols for deaths due to COVID, Nolly’s remains were cremated at the Karuvadikupam crematorium in Pondicherry on June 21st.