In memoriam - Sanjeev Aggarwal

On February 24th, Sanjeev Aggarwal passed away at the age of 70 in JIPMER, after a cardiac arrest.

Sanjeev came to Auroville at the end of 1981, cutting short a successful career as a High Court lawyer in New Delhi. He was, with his legal background and formation, the right person to continue, as its administrative head, from 1992 onwards the immense challenge of bringing to further fruition the Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER), which had been set up in 1984 by Kireet Joshi and Alain Bernard. The Institute now oversees the many schools and other educational projects in Auroville and the bioregion. Sanjeev was its main pillar of strength throughout the years. His focus on Auroville’s Udavi school in Edaiyanchavadi village made the school expand enormously.

His greatest joy was in enabling young people to discover their goal and potential in the context of Auroville. He loved the concept of the Gurukul and brought up four girls in his own house.

His other passion was Auroville’s organisation. He was a member of three Working Committees and took up innumerable other administrative functions and, with them, the accompanying complexity and tension. With his strong-willed character and deep dedication towards the development of Mother’s Auroville, Sanjeev took part wholeheartedly in Auroville’s communal meetings and debates. In the last years, he curtailed his administrative work due to medical problems.

Sanjeev’s remains were cremated at Auroville’s burial and cremation grounds on March 1st.