A modest proposal

I’m not the most observant of mortals, but even I have noticed, over the past couple of years, that two different worlds have been forming in Auroville. Each has its own groups, its own meetings and conferences, its own media outlets. Each has its own understanding of the Foundation Act and its own version of what Mother wanted for Auroville, and it uses this to construct its narratives and justify its actions.

(Of course, generally Aurovilians don’t like to think of themselves as being members of distinct ‘groups’. They prefer to think of themselves as individuals standing for certain ideals who happen to be aligned with others of the same perspective. But those with shared orientations do develop shared narratives etc. which begin to identify them, in other’s eyes at least, as a ‘group’. And there is nothing wrong in belonging to or being identified with a group. In fact, a group fulfils a basic human need, which is to want to be with people who think and act like you do.)

At present, there seems to be no exchange, no communication, between these different groupings, these different worlds. They seem impermeable to each other and to operate as parallel yet opposed universes. 

The problem, as I see it, is that this separation doesn’t go far enough.

Let me explain. Let’s say you are enjoying a pleasant walk in the forest. Suddenly, you see coming towards you someone whose allegiance you are not sure about. Is he a ‘floater’? Does he belong to the other group? Or is he one of yours? Given so many unknowns, if he smiles at you, do you smile back? If he tries to engage you in conversation, what do you talk about? Which topics must you at all costs avoid?

Or you meet someone who is plainly from the other group. What do you do? Turn aside into the bushes? Too late, she’s already seen you. What to do then? Turn around, walk away? But this could look like cowardice or defeat. Keep walking then, but ignore her? But what if she’s doing the same thing, and you collide? Or do you give her a disdainful look as you pass, implying that you recognize an asura when you see one?

It’s damn difficult to deal with these moments when these different universes are brought into abrupt juxtaposition.

The solution is obvious, and I really don’t know why somebody has not thought of it before. We need to construct Auroville in such a way that the members of the two groups never have to meet each other again, and never have to consider any other views but their own. How? Well, each group will have not only its own meeting places (a promising beginning has already been made here) but also its own housing, shops, health facilities, songs, art, rituals, perhaps even its own dress code, and, of course, its own footpaths and roads because otherwise there would be a danger of meeting someone from the other group on a common road. (Of course, we won’t create another Matrimandir or Amphitheatre as yet but each group will be given different times to visit.)

Granted, this duplication may not seem to be the most efficient use of resources (although, apparently, we can never have too many roads). But given this desire for separation it would provide the necessary impetus to build the city quickly – which seems to be the most important consideration at the moment.

But what about those who don’t want to be part of either group, who want to inhabit what they term the ‘middle ground’? Well, clearly, they should form another group and create their own facilities, too. For today we can forget all the airy-fairy talk about collaboration and togetherness. Apparently, at present separation is the only thing which will make everybody happy.

Or have I missed something?