The new Governing Board meets

On 2nd November, the new Governing Board met for the first time in Auroville.  They visited the Matrimandir and met a few working groups. It was subsequently reported in the Indian press that the Governing Board wanted a time-bound implementation of the Master Plan, and they discussed ways to carry forward goals in sectors ranging across housing, infrastructure and greening initiatives in Auroville. They also decided that the focus should be on creating infrastructure to accommodate at least around 15,000 residents who share the Auroville philosophy.

In the late afternoon, four members of the Board – Shri Ravindra Narayana Ravi (Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu), Shri Aravindan Neelakandan, Professor Goutam Ghosal, and Professor Sarraju, accompanied by Dr. J. Ravi, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation – attended an open meeting with the community. Here is a summary of what transpired. 

In an impromptu address, the Governor explained that although his higher studies were in physics, the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo “came to me as a legacy from my parents”. As a young student he was also familiar with Mother’s vision, “to create a place on this earth where people from all nooks and corners of the world could feel free…to coexist happily.”  

He noted that the foundation of this dream has been laid, but that there had been difficulties which required government intervention. Consequently, the Auroville Foundation was created 33 years ago with the” intention to help the growth of this city, help the realization of Mother’s wish, her dream”.  And with that vision, the Master Plan was designed to develop the city.  

He felt that the Aurovilians had done an excellent job, “but when we dispassionately look at the status of things here, there are questions that come to mind”.  For example, Mother had a dream that this would be a city of about 50,000 people but more than 50 years later, it has only reached about 8% of that number.  The population is aging because young people are not joining, and the basic infrastructure is lacking. 

“So I think somewhere something has gone amiss, and while individually we are all committed, collectively we are missing something, and we have to correct it, build the infrastructure and restore a spirit of collectivity in this small community.  We have to see that Auroville grows and the experiment becomes a resounding success, because 50 years down the line I’m afraid we have yet to give that signal that this is a great, successful experiment. Because the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and translating that into the vision which Mother did cannot be a failed philosophy or a failed vision.  It has to succeed, there is no alternative.” 

He explained that it was with this in mind, “that this experiment must succeed before it gets too late,” that the Prime Minister constituted this new Governing Board. “The Government is again here to offer a hand to assist this community to build the Auroville of Mother’s dream.” 

He concluded by urging all those committed to the dream to come together, “for you are the chosen ones… If there are differences, overcome these because the underlying unity is there.”

As to the role of the new Governing Board, he said they are here to assist the residents.  For “It is your place, you have to run it.”

After other members of the Governing Board said a few words, Frederick, a long-time Aurovilian, shared his thoughts. “I was asked in the morning why we take so much time (to manifest the city)… and I fully agree. I do not want to wait any longer. We want the city, we want Mother’s dream to show.”

However, he mentioned from his personal experience a few ways in which Mother had dealt with Auroville in the past.  For example, when she was asked if the Ashram teachers could come to help educate the Auroville children, she refused. “She said you cannot start something new by copying something from outside. You have to create it from within yourself.” Similarly, when he asked her if he should join Auroville, she told him that he should find the answer within.

Frederick felt that in evolution there are ‘leaps’. “And I feel Auroville is another leap. It is not a copy or an enlarged ashram….And the actual leap is in the working together, in the collaboration, in collective aspiration.”

He acknowledged the important role the new Secretary is playing in emphasizing the need for us to speed up. “But the process is the crucial thing…. and if you give us, not forever,  a chance to come from within, to listen within, and not take an outside solution and stamp it on top of us, I think you honour the spirit for which we all came. That is my appeal.”

After a few other Aurovilians shared their thoughts, the Governing Board was asked how they planned to work with the new International Advisory Council.  The Chairman replied that they had not yet had a formal meeting with them, but “within the ambit of the Act, we will definitely take all their views into account and your views, and will move forward with them.” However, he emphasized that it is the Governing Board that has the overall responsibility for the management of Auroville. 

As to giving the community more time to find a unifying solution from within, he remarked that “fifty years is too long if the people have not come together… There was a time after the Mother’s demise that the parliament had to intervene to save it. And now, again, after 30 years, we are still far away from the dream. So therefore the Government has come again and intervened in the way of giving financial assistance and asking our governing body to move it forward.”

He felt that people outside are losing faith in Auroville. “The dream of The Mother is being questioned; the experiment that she started is a failed experiment as it appears today.”  He feels that Auroville must become a “strong magnet” to attract people from all over the world. “That magnet we have to create and we will do that with the help of you all. Not that we are here to create, you will create. We are here as a catalyst, that is what our role is. We will give the resources and we will be a catalyst.”