In memoriam - Gérard Maréchal

Gérard Maréchal, one of Auroville’s early pioneers, left his body in his Sukhavati home on January 2nd due to a fall caused by a heart failure. He was 71.

Gérard arrived from France in the 1969 caravan – after six difficult and tumultuous weeks on the road from Paris to Pondicherry – and settled in Aspiration on the 2nd October 1969 to wholeheartedly give his energies to the Mother and Auroville. Soon after arriving, he met The Mother, which left a profound impression on him. But it was with the construction of the Matrimandir that Gérard found his vocation. He shifted a few years later from Aspiration to the Matrimandir camp, and he was often seen riding the Matrimandir Bullet motorbike to buy materials for the concreting. He was truly one of the pillars of the Matrimandir, while at the same time taking a full part in the often tumultuous life of the community.

In the early nineties, he and his wife Fabienne left for Sudan where he oversaw various construction sites, and he was also able to provide work opportunities for Aurovilians. The couple returned in 2004 and moved into their new house in Sukhavati.

Gérard once again returned to Matrimandir, this time at a calmer pace due to a developing heart condition.

Apart from this work, Gérard was deeply studying the works of The Mother, Sri Aurobindo and Satprem. Just before his passing, his devoted work in making Satprem’s French translation of Sri Aurobindo’s epic poem Savitri available to a wider audience concluded in the publishing of a bilingual text of the epic poem.

Gérard’s body was cremated at Auroville’s Burial and Cremation Grounds at Adventure community on January 7th.

A moving interview with him can be seen at