Auroville Yesterday

Issue 400! What a great opportunity to review our collective history as seen through the pages of our journal; to be touched by the lives of those drawn to the Dream and Charter, inspired by projects, exclaim at the recognition of familiar faces, marvel at art, and view thousands of articles and photos conveying this laboratory of evolution. The back issues touched, uplifted and made me grateful for the experiment that is our community. To take a step back from daily life and notice all the goodwill that was inherent in the majority of the pieces; the aspirations, joys and realisations that come with dedicating oneself to this adventure. When I was a long-term overseas subscriber, I would experience something of that spirit and vision of Auroville as conveyed through the magazine, where each issue would ignite the longing to return and participate. With as exacting an eye on the realities of community life as the inspiration, scanning 399 issues felt like going through family photo albums.

In the end, community is made of people, with their joys and sorrows, inspirations and struggles. Auroville Today covers our humanity and aspirations, and gives a taste of what it means to be drawn to live here and take part in this utopian adventure.

Plus ça change

Interestingly, given the current challenges, Auroville Today started its first issue featuring the just promulgated Foundation Act, and what it meant for the community. There are many headlines from our past which remain topical in 2022. In issue 55, for example, there was a debate as to whether the Foundation Act was ‘A Springboard or a Straitjacket’. Issue 274 in 2012 led with the title ‘Trees versus Roads, Forests versus City’, whilst ‘Planning the City’ was a special issue in 2003, followed by Sauro’s take five years later on ‘The Challenges of Planning the City’ in issue 297.

Other repeating issues include, in an ever- growing community, the lack of housing. governance struggles, working with ‘divine anarchy’ has been a regular item. The energy and creativity of our youth wove itself through generations of YouthLink.

Social themes

The magazine has highlighted the realities of living in a multicultural community in India; including how to live in community, the Tamil culture, unknown Aurovilians, the secret lives of ammas, people returning to live in Auroville, mixed-race partnerships, the role of Auroville within India, and the life of women living here.

Environmental issues

Auroville is world famous for its re-wilding and ecological work. Many articles featured this aspect of our community, like coverage of Earth Days, water-saving initiatives, promotion of organic farming, the Auroville Herbarium, and reforestation of the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest. But also the environmental challenges, such as the health effects of pesticide use on cashew topes, our decreasing water table, or how we don't grow enough of our own organic food.

Crisis

There is an Auroville truism that a crisis brings the best out of our community and brings out those moments of tangible human unity. From the Auroville Act in the first issue onwards, Auroville Today has covered the effects and response to the tsunami, Cyclone Thane, the threat of a National Highway cutting into our forests, and the current existential crisis of governance.

Spirituality

Our roots in the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother have been honoured with articles and interviews, notably with Nirodbaran, Shyam Sunder Jhunjhunwala, Georges van Vreckhem, Peter Heehs, Manoj Das, Shraddavan as well as other teachers and writers of Integral Yoga. Huta’s paintings on Savitri were among inspirations.

Matrimandir

The building of the ‘Soul of Auroville’ has featured prominently, not only in talks with architects Roger Anger and Piero Cicionesi, but also reflecting views of the builders and visitors, accompanied by plentiful photographs by Dominique Darr, Ireno, Giorgio, Marco and others. Currently the Matrimandir gardens and lake are being captured in their new forms.

Times have changed

Which newcomer knows what Asia Urbs refers to? The EU- sponsored work in Auroville has not been mentioned much of late. Roger Harris in the early 1990s reviewed twenty-year old Auroville Notes from the early 1970s, including references to not having enough food to eat. Who remembers when all entry was paused till our housing situation improved? Or when the Newcomer period was two years?

As Auroville grew in size new themes emerged that were not important for a smaller community. How to deal with the mass of tourists became a theme twenty-plus years ago, and the growth of businesses has been a regular item. What to do with garbage and recycling is a newer issue that we wrestle with. Our emotional health is beginning to be valued as an important quality of life.

Favourite Sons

Some people burrowed their way into Aurovilian's hearts and had prominent roles, reflected in their increased coverage. Dr Karan Singh, for so many years our Chairman, was frequently featured with his benign care for the community. Kireet Joshi and his critical work on the Foundation Act was another loved son. J.R.D.Tata was celebrated. Given their prominence in the magazine, former Secretaries Mr. N. Bala Bhaskar and Mr. M.V. Chunkath were widely appreciated by many Aurovilians.

Unique Articles

Some articles are more quirky, with some of the creativity that thrives in Auroville. Roger’s piece on the unique dialect of Auroville being a good example “Avlish” – he found the nearest was a West Indian white creole accent. Dianne’s numerous explorations, such as a simple piece on celebrating living ‘in the wrong end’ of Auroville in Kuilapalayam, were fun. David Clouston's piece on riding on the roof of a bus or his ‘conversation’ with Pelagius the cat were memorable.

Art and creativity

We live in a cultural and creative hub. Auroville Today has reviewed hundreds of books, countless exhibitions, photos, art, dance, pottery, theatre, musical performances, and poetry recitations. Not just from the more accomplished artists within and outside Auroville, but also children’s efforts have been often featured.

Special Issues

June-July’s 2019 handover to the Youthlink who created a ‘Auroville Tomorrow’ (actually the first use of this magazine title) which was humming with vitality. Jesse and Aurotaranti a generation ago in 1997 did likewise. Issues 244-5 focussed on the high quality of writing in our community. And then there was the reporting on ‘Beyond Asleep and Awake’, Auroville’s first home-made children’s musical, with a wonderful front page cartoon by Emanuele.

Pictures

Over the years some stunning images have graced the insides and covers of the magazines; Aurovilians, local villagers, nature, theatrical moments, character profiles, buildings and art works among thousands of snapped instants. To view back issues is a delightful way to recognise younger faces of today’s well-known residents, some unchanged (notably B and Archilles) and others with less or more hair and weight. Cartoons were often a prominent part of early Auroville Todays, notably by Emmanuele Scanziani and the punchier output of Laura and Charudatta.

Layout

The layout evolved from the folded up A5 format to the current version with its recognisable masthead. Postage evolved from fold-up aerogrammes, to (biodegradable) plastic covering to today’s paper A4 envelope. In 2008 colour photos appeared on every page. Initially quite dense, a noticeable graphic design evolution occurred fairly quickly. Now the magazine is available in both paper and virtual format with a recent change being a greater number of digital subscribers. The prices though have gone up somewhat from the original 66 rupees per annum.

Obituaries

From the initial issues onwards, we have covered those passing on. A testament to those who gave their lives to this adventure of consciousness. We featured well-known pioneers who gave their life’s work to this soil, those who were external advocates of Auroville, the tragic loss of young lives, as well as the lesser known sadhaks of Auroville. No matter how discreetly or prominently they lived, in passing they were honoured.

Still Today

One constant since the beginning are the two stalwarts who have kept the magazine going: Alan with his philosophical outlook, has run a tight ship dedicated to the highest editorial standards, and Carel, whose push kicked off the magazine in 1988, has long overstayed the six months he thought would be sufficient to get the magazine up and running and was still laying out the magazine and writing articles even when on the Working Committee. Amongst the hundreds of contributors, further credit must be given to Roger, Yanne, Lesley, Bindu, B, and Priya S. for their dedication. And to Annemarie, Franz and Jean-Denis for their background work in finalising articles and photos for publishing.

The Round Table

AVToday started in New Community, where the first meetings were held. The ‘office’ soon shifted to Auroville’s Centre for Scientific Research, using a donated computer with two floppy discs. It shifted again to a private residence in Samasti, where a top floor became the office and meetings were held downstairs. Then the Dutch ‘Stichting de Zaaier’ made a donation and the derelict water tower in Surrender community was converted into the present four-storey office of Auroville Today. Editorial discussions take place symbolically seated by a round table, where everybody’s input is valued.

Thirty-four years of our magazine reflecting Auroville today, conveying some of what makes life here unique. A celebration of what worked and a marking of struggles.

What will the next thirty-four years bring? All being well, a review in 2056 will reveal how we traversed the governance, land and environmental challenges and deepened our creative and spiritual journeys to become the city of the dawn that the Mother dreamt we should become.