Clarifying misconceptions: a response to recent statements about Auroville’s governance

What does it mean to honour the Mother’s Dream?

Auroville has always been a place of diverse opinions and approaches to manifesting the Mother’s vision. This diversity is our strength, but it also requires us to be vigilant in maintaining open, transparent, and inclusive processes for decision-making and governance. Recent events have challenged these foundational principles of our community.

First and foremost, we must distinguish between the Mother’s spiritual vision for Auroville and specific development plans. The Mother’s dream of human unity and constant progress is eternal and evolving. It requires us to adapt our approach as we grow and learn, always striving to embody the highest ideals of our community. Plans fixed decades ago should not be confused with this living, breathing vision.

Moreover, we must remember that the Auroville Foundation Act of 1988 was created to protect and encourage the development of Auroville, and ensure that the residents can manage their own daily affairs. The current actions of the Auroville Foundation Office (AVFO) deviate significantly from the spirit of ‘free and fair’ collaborative governance.

When dialogue becomes a one-way street

There have been claims that the AVFO and its appointed working groups have made efforts at dialogue and consultation. However, the reality we have experienced tells a different story. Legitimate community decision-making processes, including Residents’ Assembly Decisions, have been repeatedly ignored or overridden. A stark example of this is the AVFO’s refusal to acknowledge the Residents’ Assembly Decision of May 10, 2022, regarding the composition of the Working Committee. This decision, made with the participation of nearly 900 community members was summarily dismissed without any genuine attempt at dialogue or compromise. All other Residents’ Assembly decisions were also ignored, even though they had the highest community participation in Auroville’s history.

This stands in stark contrast to our long-standing traditions of collaborative governance. Yes, our processes have been slow, often frustrating, and are still evolving. But to claim that “so many were excluded” is a serious accusation. All efforts are made to reach out through multiple channels, in multiple languages, to include the full community in processes of participatory governance.

It’s important to clarify that opposition to recent AVFO actions has been largely peaceful and grounded in our community’s values. And yet Aurovilians expressing disagreement with the bulldozing of our community processes and values have faced threats to their livelihoods, visa issues, and even attempts at criminal prosecution. Over 200 Auroville residents have had their maintenances (stipends) cut and over 200 have been impacted by visa issues, with some long-term residents facing potential deportation. In two particularly troubling cases, an Auroville-born resident and a long-term resident also received a Leave India Notice, and were expelled from the country. They still do not have an Entry Visa to return, and several other Aurovilians are also stuck abroad.

These actions are unprecedented in our history and have created a climate of fear that is antithetical to Auroville’s principles.

Our last resort to protect Auroville

The decision to seek legal recourse was not taken lightly. It came only after repeated attempts at dialogue were met with dismissal or silence. Even when courts have ruled in favour of maintaining Auroville’s established processes, these judgments have often been disregarded by the AVFO. A prime example is the Madras High Court ruling of August 2022, which emphasised the need for mutuality and collaboration between the three ‘authorities’ of the Auroville Foundation, namely the Governing Board, International Advisory Council and the Residents’ Assembly. This ruling was largely ignored and then appealed in the Madras High Court, with the AVFO continuing to make unilateral decisions without community consultation.

This pattern of behaviour has left many feeling that legal action is the only remaining avenue to protect the fundamental principles of our community. Moreover, attempts to criminalise dissent within our community and threats of deportation have been used as a means of control. These actions strike at the very heart of what Auroville represents – a place of peace, freedom, experimentation, and collective growth.

Bulldozing our past, present and future

Regarding the implementation of development projects like the Crown Road, we too understand the importance and necessity of change. Aurovilians have always been committed to manifesting the city the Mother envisioned. However, this should be done in a way that respects our environmental commitments, involves genuine community consultation, and aligns with our values and best practices of sustainable and experimental living.

The recent forceful actions, carried out without proper environmental assessments or community input, do not align with these principles. For instance, the clearing of the Crown Road path has resulted in the felling of thousands of trees, many of which were part of Auroville’s carefully nurtured forests. This action was taken despite a stay order from the National Green Tribunal, bypassing proper environmental impact assessments. We’re not saying that there should be no tree cutting: but it has to be carefully considered in light of larger environmental considerations. Manifesting the Dream cannot happen at the expense of the natural and cultural landscapes of the bioregion.

The AVFO has claimed to engage in dialogue about these development plans. However, true dialogue involves not just speaking, but also listening and being willing to adjust plans based on input received. Unfortunately, what we have witnessed has been more akin to a one-sided lecture, with community concerns and alternative proposals consistently dismissed or ignored.

Land is our sacred body

We are also deeply concerned about the lack of transparency in recent land exchanges. These deals, involving land that was acquired through decades of community effort and donations from supporters worldwide, have been conducted without proper consultation or clear justification. The undervaluation of Auroville lands in these exchanges raises serious questions about financial stewardship and respect for the contributions of those who have supported Auroville’s growth. In some cases, these lands were directly purchased and named by the Mother for the purpose of building Auroville. Disposing of them in a haphazard manner is an insult to her Dream.

Our analysis suggests that these land exchanges have resulted in a financial loss to Auroville exceeding 240 crore rupees (28 million US dollars). In one particularly egregious case, a portion of AuroOrchard, a farm established with the Mother’s blessings, was exchanged at less than 1% of its market value. This not only represents a significant financial loss but also disregards the historical and spiritual significance of the land, and raises questions as to who is really benefiting from these deals.

These land exchanges are just one aspect of a broader pattern of financial mismanagement that deeply concerns us. We’ve witnessed the takeover of community-generated and managed funds and assets, with decisions about their use being made without transparency or accountability. This lack of financial oversight puts at risk the resources that have been carefully stewarded by the community for decades.

Finding our way back to unity

In conclusion, we believe that the vision of Auroville born through the Mother and nurtured by so many is best served through open, transparent, and collaborative processes that respect the input of all community members. The current crisis presents us with an opportunity to recommit to these foundational principles.

We call upon all parties to return to the table in a spirit of genuine dialogue and mutual respect. Let us work together to find a way forward that honours our shared commitment to human unity and progress, while respecting the diverse perspectives within our community. No matter how long one has been in Auroville, or how far one has walked on the path of self-discovery, we believe that everyone who has chosen to join the community with a sincere aspiration has a voice and part to play. Auroville belongs to nobody in particular.

Auroville has always been an experiment in consciousness and human potential. Now, more than ever, we are called to embody the highest ideals of this experiment. We trust that through sincere effort and goodwill, we can overcome our current challenges and emerge stronger, more united, and better equipped to manifest the dream that brought us all here.

In service to Auroville,

The Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly (Aravinda, Bharathy, Chali, Maël (TOS), Matthieu, Prashant, Valli)