The view from next door

What is Auroville?

Arun Kumar: From my point of view, Auroville is the only place where so many people from so many countries are living together. It is known for its biodiversity, and recognised for promoting peace and equal rights for everybody. So, from my perspective, it is a special place that has the potential to become the future of the world.

V. Vignesh: Auroville is a centre for conscious living, humanity, spirituality and unity in diversity, but Auroville seems to be losing some of its original values as a result of its internal crisis.

Is Auroville welcoming?

Arun: In my experience, it has been a very welcoming place. Auroville welcomes all kinds of people for various purposes, such as studies, research, tourism, and those who want to become residents here.

Vignesh: Auroville is welcoming to people from elsewhere as well as to the local population, but somehow the process to join Auroville can be a little hectic.

Do you feel safe in Auroville?

Arun: I feel Auroville is one of the safest places I know, but living in a city surrounded by security measures is not necessarily comfortable. It has also become normal for outside police to enter Auroville without informing anyone..

Vignesh: I used to feel safe inside Auroville, but the current tension in the community has changed that to some extent. There is fighting, environmental destruction, and increased business activity, which doesn’t feel right to me.

What impact has Auroville had on you?

Arun: I would say that Auroville has had a profound impact on me. Growing up here, I had access to excellent schooling and actively participated in sports at Dehashakti. As a young adult, I sang and acted for a number of years with the Yatra theatre group in theatre awareness programmes. And I still play ultimate frisbee with the Alphas. These and other Auroville experiences have greatly influenced my personal growth and development, and I am grateful for the opportunities Auroville has provided. On the other hand, it can be challenging to live in Auroville as an adult. Finding employment and sustaining myself has been difficult, which has had an emotional impact on me. It has made me realise that life in Auroville is not always as fulfilling as it was during my school days or when I had time for sports. The need to focus on survival and work has sometimes caused unhappiness and feelings of uncertainty. Nevertheless, I recognize that these challenges are part of the journey and can contribute to personal growth.

Vignesh: Auroville has had a positive influence on me. It has enriched my life by giving me a sense of mindfulness and community living. I have been pleasantly surprised by how easily I have been able to learn foreign languages within the Auroville setting. The education system and its focus on sports have played pivotal roles in my personal growth. Moreover, Auroville has instilled in me a profound understanding of environmental conservation, highlighting the protection of forests, water, and sustainable living practices.

What impact has Auroville had on surrounding villages?

Arun: The establishment of night schools, which provide tuition and education in all the villages, has had a positive impact on the children in the bio-region, allowing them to learn spoken English, yoga, sports skills, and more. However, some people in the bio-region believe that some of the donations and support collected for these projects hasn’t always reached the intended population, so they feel dissatisfied.

Vignesh: The most significant and positive changes I see are related to child development and education (scholarships, international standards, and enhancing co-curricular skills such as sports, dance and arts). Auroville has helped with sanitation and hospital hygiene, and has participated in reducing local social disparities while promoting inclusivity and community living. The idea of living without money or religion has also been positive in my opinion. On the negative side, I think there are issues with Auroville’s acquisition of local land and the way commercial business has been promoted. I think the continued social disparities between the local villages and Auroville has created an inferiority complex. I also see a lack of communication and cordial relations with the local panchayats.

Do you think Auroville creates opportunities for local communities?

Arun: I don't believe Auroville is currently creating enough opportunities for people in the bio-region. While there are various opportunities available within Auroville, they are not easily accessible to those living in the surrounding villages. The decision making processes and control over existing opportunities are primarily held by Auroville's residents, which limits the involvement of people from the area. As a result, the benefits of Auroville's initiatives and development do not fully reach the local communities. I suggest that Auroville actively reach out to the surrounding villages and inform them about the available opportunities.

Vignesh: It does create more opportunities for the local population in different fields, but people often don’t know about the opportunities inside Auroville and don’t know how to approach the units to find work.

What changes do you hope to see in the future?

Arun: Looking ahead, I would like to see stronger integration between Auroville and local communities, including closer collaboration, joint projects and a genuine effort to understand and address local needs. Auroville should strive to ensure that project benefits are shared more inclusively. By fostering direct connections and transparent communication, Auroville can bridge the gap and provide more meaningful opportunities.

Practically speaking, I believe Auroville has the potential to contribute much more to the local education and health care sectors. Restarting Primary Health Centres in the villages, especially those that have been affected by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, would be a positive step. Moreover, establishing educational initiatives that support underprivileged individuals to access higher education and to meet their basic needs would be greatly beneficial.

Vignesh: Youth are the building blocks of tomorrow. I see a future where youth clubs are established in each surrounding village, creating a strong bond between Auroville children and local village children. It is crucial to raise awareness among both Auroville and bio-region youth about Auroville's purpose, significance, and role in preserving the environment, encompassing forests, water resources, hygiene, and more. Auroville should also establish platforms that offer employment opportunities and make the various workshops happening in Auroville more inclusive of the local population.

Would you be interested in joining Auroville?

Arun: Yes, I have completed my physiotherapy training and feel this will allow me to contribute something worthwhile to the community. I am in the process of becoming a Newcomer and will work at Santé as a physiotherapist.

Vignesh: Yes, I would like to join Auroville because it is a place for a more conscious and communal way of living. The education system is completely different from the Indian education system. Within Auroville, students have the opportunity to discover their life's purpose at a young age. It acts as a laboratory where individuals can explore their innermost emotions and aspirations. Additionally, Auroville provides access to worthwhile work opportunities.