UNESCO conference

In commemoration of Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary, an event was planned on 30th September at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Titled ‘Sri Aurobindo’s Dream of Human Unity: manifesting at Auroville’, the central theme was to be Sri Aurobindo’s five dreams, its message of a progressive unity and the next evolutionary step, along with a presentation of Auroville.

The event was organised by the Office of the Auroville Foundation, together with the Indian delegation to UNESCO, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India.

The programme included a panel focusing on “Building the city according to the Master Plan, presented before the world already in 1968” for which the Auroville panelists had been selected by the Foundation office. In response, concerned members of the Residents’ Assembly formulated an appeal letter, expressing gratitude to the Government of India and UNESCO for organising an event to honour Sri Aurobindo’s 150th anniversary, but also concern that this programme would not reflect the present reality or the aspirations of the community, and may be used to promote a dubious interpretation of Auroville’s aims.

A few days before the conference was due to take place, the Working Committee of the Residents Assembly reported that the conference had been postponed until further notice.