Acres for Auroville - a fundraising campaign

“Auroville is a gift of the Divine to the world,” says Friederike, Chairperson of Auroville International. “On February 28, 2018, the City of Dawn will celebrate its 50th anniversary. AVI France, in cooperation with LFAU, has started this great campaign to give back a gift to the Divine – the full protection and consolidation of Auroville´s heart and centre.”

In recent months, private developments in the planned Auroville Township area, such as the creation of Auropark [see Auroville Today, September 2013], have called attention to the urgent need to secure and consolidate the land in Auroville’s city area. Dr. Karan Singh’s letter and the Auroville Foundation’s call to dramatically accelerate the land securing process, the results of the Land Status Study Group (LSSG) with their conclusion that land acquisition must become a top priority, and the encroachments on International Zone land near the site of the future Language Laboratory and the Unity Pavilion, all serve to highlight the need for a fresh momentum and creative solution to tackle the task.

“The land in Auroville’s centre is in danger,” says Mandakini, a Friend of Auroville who first came to the City of Dawn in 1980, and who also launched last year’s successful fundraiser for Arogya, Auroville’s new Institute for Integral Health. “Like many people, I thought we still had all the time in the world to finish consolidating. Then I saw Carel’s article in Auroville Today with the photos of Auropark, and I woke up! I decided to do everything in my power to prevent future Auroparks in the Matrimandir area before it’s too late. We must secure the land before outside developers act first. If not, it will be lost to Auroville forever. And the Mother explicitly said the consecrated area of the Matrimandir must be protected. How can we consider ourselves faithful to the Mother and her City of Dawn, and allow this danger to continue?”

Aryadeep, chief coordinator of LFAU, has been a devoted activist for and exponent of Auroville’s territorial integrity since his first publication in 1994. “The land base is essential for Auroville to manifest her full possibilities,” he says, “and for her to develop cohesively and harmoniously.” And he adds that the Mother made a direct and pointed appeal for Auroville’s land “of a kind she didn’t make for any other work or creation she undertook, including the Matrimandir on which She laid unique stress by calling it the ‘soul of Auroville’.”

“We’re not on a deserted plateau anymore,” says Sigrid, who is a committed land activist. “Pondicherry is exploding and the same kind of multi-story apartment blocks I saw near the Chennai airport are now shooting up all around Pondy, and all in the past year! The risk for Auroville is that it becomes just a little oasis within Pondicherry city. How soon and how much of an oasis, even as a centre of integral yoga, depends on us!

“We needed a professional website to be an effective and dynamic information channel. After questioning for so many years why there was so little input into fundraising for land purchase, I decided to finally sit with Aryadeep, find people, and make a start.” Together, Aryadeep and Sigrid developed the Collaboration for Auroville Area Protection (COLAAP) website, with initial IT support from Sathish. (www.colaap.org)

Securing and consolidating Auroville’s material base is a complex task. Land is needed in the centre, in all the Crown Road area, in the outer circle, and in the Green Belt. Land prices are now astronomical compared to those in 1997. Despite the price, land purchase is the surest and simplest way to meet the urgent need. Land exchange is another crucial strategy, one which many Aurovilians support and certain landowners prefer. For some Aurovilians, selling outlying lands is the only solution, while this approach is hotly contested by others.

“The mission of the Land Task Force for securing all Master Plan land is critical,” says Mandakini. “But, until their job is completed, the land is in danger. One thing we can do right now is to acquire more acres before they are permanently lost to Auroville. About 10 % of the Matrimandir and International Zone areas are still needed to achieve their consolidation and protection. Our objective is to do just that by fundraising for the urgently needed donations.”

The Acres for Auroville land fundraiser aims at realizing three objectives:

(1) Acquiring the maximum number of plots of land in the area around the Matrimandir and in or around the International Zone to protect and consolidate them.

(2) Raising awareness of the urgent need for everyone to act in defense of Auroville’s territorial integrity.

(3) Creating a sense of unity, enthusiasm, and determination to reach these goals which support our collective aspiration and purpose.

As a consecrated offering, Acres for Auroville will fundraise most intensively in the months of August, November, February, and April – the four months with spiritually-significant anniversary dates in the lives of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. “Acres for Auroville unites three powerful symbols – the Mother’s Symbol, the Earth, and the anniversary dates,” says Francine, a longtime member of AVI’s International Board. “May the force of these symbols eradicate all the resistances, so we can complete the puzzle of Auroville land!”

Acres for Auroville continues a tradition of dynamic action by committed Aurovilians and members of Auroville International. There was Paul’s highly successful “Million Dollar Campaign” in collaboration with Aryadeep, Guy, and all the AVI centres. And there was Guy’s impassioned “House on Fire!” appeal to Aurovilians some years ago. “The physical integrity of Auroville is at risk,” he said then. “The future manifestation of the Auroville Township, as envisaged by the Mother, is under threat. Therefore, the first necessity for us is to be together and join hands to take up this major challenge in front of us. This is not the responsibility of a few working groups or a small team of people. This is the responsibility of all of us, of each member of the community!”

In fact, for Sigrid “every Aurovilian and friend of Auroville is a potential fundraiser! There is also a global family out there, people who do care about Auroville, who are connected to it and its vision. Each person can contribute, not only financially, but by communicating – by informing all their friends and their network of contacts. Every effort, big or small, counts! As a homeopath, I look for the little input that creates the biggest effect.”

“This is the opportunity for a collective action that people scattered all over the world can unite on. Through it, they can stay connected to Auroville, the Mother, and Sri Aurobindo,” says Francine. “It’s another diaspora, and another Promised Land!” Nadia adds: “So many people have been waiting for the moment when they can do something concrete to protect Auroville’s centre. Acres for Auroville is the opportunity, something we can all unite around.” And for Mandakini, “I have been moved by a deep and continuous inner feeling that the time to act is now. Previous campaigns have shown us that when we unite our aspiration, and our determination and energy in the right spirit, then the Help comes.”

The formal kick-off for the campaign is August 15th. Donations can be made on the anniversary dates or at any time, starting now, to the campaign’s account number (240001) or via the new dedicated button on the Auroville Donation Gateway. All donations will be held in trust for the exclusive acquisition of plots in the Matrimandir area and in or around the International Zone. Confidential access codes will permit donors to monitor our collective success and track the use of their donations. The campaign’s Success Barometer – in the form of the Mother’s Symbol – will be posted on the COLAAP website to show progress.

Donors will receive an Acres for Auroville Land Contribution Certificate, designed by Auroville artist Emanuele. “This is my offering to the Mother for the campaign”, he says. “Auroville’s land consolidation is like a jigsaw puzzle, with lots of pieces still missing. Each person who contributes to the campaign brings a needed piece.” Donors will also receive a packet of Auroville earth, a much appreciated gift sent in previous land fundraising campaigns.

Please join us when the Acres for Auroville campaign kicks off on August 15th Auroville needs everyone’s heartfelt energy, determination, and support!