Strengthening the link between Auroville and the world

I was born in Auroville, but at the age of 14 I chose to go study at the Kodaikanal International School. I had always wanted to get out. I was always told that Auroville is a special place, and my parents were both here for that reason; but when you grow up it is not so evident why Auroville is special. I was frustrated and felt that Auroville was small and boring, there was nothing to do.

I decided to continue my studies abroad. As I hold a Dutch passport – my mother is Dutch, my father Indian – I opted to study in The Netherlands. I got admission to Leiden University, the country’s oldest and most prestigious, and got a full scholarship. I was lucky as I escaped the burden of tuition debt, for which I am very grateful.

Living and studying in Holland broadened my understanding of Auroville’s significance in the world. Studying Sustainable Development broadened my understanding that there are many different ways of dealing with human and environmental issues as everything is interlinked.

The study in Holland was overwhelming; I would often come home after a discourse or debate quite depressed, realizing how difficult things are and that there is no one easy solution. Added to that, Leiden University is full of very smart, competitive, kids – that was a bit threatening. I was usually the quiet one; I’d never learned to talk like them and to argue my case but they did respect me. They knew that whenever I would talk, I would be able to contribute something meaningful to the discussion, often something from a different angle and from a life experience thanks to my background of having grown up in India. The exposure to poverty and biodiversity, for example, which is so common in India, is only theoretically understood in Europe.

These kids were mostly all from wealthy backgrounds, and I was not, and certainly not able to keep up with them. But I had gone through an identical experience in Kodaikanal, where I lived a comparatively minimal lifestyle, so it didn’t really impact me. In fact, I felt very comfortable living on my scholarship and believe I made the right friends within the University who will continue to support my work in Auroville because they remember me as ‘different.’

For my thesis I chose the topic of Eco-Villages. And that led me back right back to Auroville. I discovered that Auroville is the biggest ‘intentional’ community in the world, unique in its national and cultural diversity, and with its government and UNESCO support. I was forced to start understanding how Auroville functions and what living in an intentional community truly means.

But it is very difficult to communicate the Auroville experience: it is not communism, it is not democracy, it is not a cult or religion. I could talk about Auroville’s activities and achievements but its governance system wasn’t all that obvious. I hardly ever talked about Auroville’s spiritual background, and I didn’t feel the need to justify my inner experience, which I felt would be reduced by words.

After I got my Bachelors, I decided to come back to Auroville. I landed up at the New Era Secondary School as a substitute teacher and fund-raiser, and took up administrative work at the Entry Service to better understand Auroville’s ideals and structures of governance. And now I start understanding how Auroville works practically, in day-to-day life – something I was never asked to think about as a child. And I realized again how incredible lucky I am. Working at the Entry Service you meet all kinds of people who want to join Auroville but cannot find a place to stay; or former Auroville students who want to come back but have a study loan to repay. Years ago, my grandmother Lisa built a house for me in Auroville; and so I am grateful to have that aspect of my life here set up.

I see Newcomers coming through the Entry Service who have such beautiful aspirations and willingness to give. I also share this strong urge to keep giving to Auroville. But the only way I will be able to do that better is when I have learned, experienced the world, and developed my skills and self-confidence further. So now I hope to go study at the University for Peace, set up by the United Nations, in San Jose, Costa Rica. I may also want to work abroad for some time, but I will continue to return to Auroville.

The world outside needs more help than Auroville does. We need more Aurovilles in the world! I will always attempt to be an ambassador of sorts to strengthen this link between Auroville and the world. Studying outside Auroville has brought me in contact with many beautiful, inspiring people, from very different backgrounds, who I feel also have a lot to offer. We don’t call them ‘Aurovilian’ because they do not live here and perhaps don’t even know about Auroville. But this has shown me that Auroville and the Auroville ideals are not confined to this physical place in South India. There is an increasing global awareness of a sort taking place, and it is beautiful to watch!

My home, of course, will remain Auroville. Here I have a large network of friends and family, both in Auroville and the surrounding villages, and I know that I will be supported in whatever I choose to do. This gives me the confidence to work for what I believe in. I will ensure my children will also have a chance to grow from the Auroville experience as well.