Issue Nº1

“Auroville Today”. O.K.: It is not the most exciting title in the world. But we felt that “New World” or “Transformation” were a little, well, premature.

After months of speculation and incertitude, the Auroville Foundation Bill was passed in both Houses of Parliament in early September. There is no doubt of the historic importance of this bill in terms of Auroville’s growth.

City of peace and god’s unguarded light. City of silence and the rich unfolding word, City of love and a laughter of the Gods, City of man his labour born of dream.

Evening. Cutlery gleams on burgundy tablecloths. White-shirted waiters glide in and out, taking orders and delivering dishes with quiet panache.

Many months of work in the merciless sun led up to two all-night concretings this summer on the cap of the Matrimandir. The cap is a protective platform that crowns the top of the structure.

Tripura Pavillon, le centre culturel indien, accueille depuis plusieurs semaines une très interessante exposition de poteries et de “terre cuite” réalisées par Angad, Patrick et Michel, ainsi que des peintures et des miniatures de Anna-Maria.

Esteemed Sir, I feel obliged to inform you that last night, while perambulating around the periphery of Matrimandir Gardens, I happened to see a Pterodactyl Indica, a large prehistoric bird of rather unpleasant habits, grazing daintily off a Hibiscus flower.

The wonder of this country is Return: Always, it seems, The same sun, Winking off leaves and mud, The same boys, Splay-toed, Chanting after dusty cows.

I dream’d in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks of the whole of the rest of the earth, I dream’d that was the new city of Friends,

These are extracts from an interview with the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, by François Gautier on the 24th of February, 1988.