Issue Nº331

Feb 2017 (105 months ago)
Download PDF (free download)

Kailash – a journey through time

An interview with, By Inge van Alphen

Caretakers and former and current residents of Kailash

Kailash, a youth community in the centre of Auroville which houses 14 teenagers between 16 and 21, celebrated 15 years of existence in September last year.

Experiments in Alternative Eduction: The Learning Community (TLC)

By Manas

Comparative tasting of yogurt for Annapurna farm

Manas discovers in Auroville the educational experiment he dreamed of years ago.

Caring for emotional and mental health in Auroville

An open letter, By Inge van Alphen

Treating mental disturbance

An interview with Dr Alok Pandey, By Carel

Dr. Alok Pandey from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, has been involved in treating people from Auroville who are experiencing mental problems.

Sri Aurobindo about Jyotish Ghose

From the margins

“The present condition of passivity and indifference is a reaction from a former abnormal state to which he was brought by an internal effort not properly guided from without or from within.

Mental health care in India

Opinion, By Lesley

Every day, thousands of health seekers of different faiths, the mentally ill and the spirit-possessed, travel from villages and cities to faith healing shrines dotted throughout Tamil Nadu that are reputed for their curative powers.

“We have to focus on the big Auroville”

By Louis Cohen

Louis Cohen, who first came to Auroville in 1971, is one of the original pioneers. He continues to be very active in the development of the town.

The Kaza Eco-Community Centre

An interview with Satprem Maïni (Aurosatprem) and Lara, By Bindu

Earthquake-resistant features: buttress walls, ring beams and CSEB u-biocs allow for lateral stability

The Auroville Earth Institute (AVEI) managed by Satprem (founder), Lara, and Iyappan is internationally known as a centre for excellence in earthen architecture.

Bharata Natyam with a difference

An interview with, By Lesley

In conversation, the brothers are a force of high energy and passion for their craft. They finish each other’s sentences, spark each other into tangents and backstories, and articulate each other’s feelings.

News in Brief

Failed monsoon Auroville’s last monsoon season (Oct-Dec 2016) witnessed the lowest rainfall for over 100 years. Over the previous 12 months, less than half the average amount of rain has fallen in and around Auroville.

Land protection workshops A series of workshops were held to explore possibilities in regards to protecting Auroville land. The first two mornings focused on ground realities and provided the outlines of four proposals.

Auroville and Puducherry PV collaboration A 45kW rooftop solar PV system was designed and installed by Auroville’s unit Sunlit Future on the French Consulate in Pondicherry. Auroville has collaborated with Pondicherry previously providing rooftop grid-connected solar PV systems for two residences, as well as some buildings of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

Auroville Farm Festival Aurovilians, guests, volunteers and children of all ages enjoyed three days of the Auroville Farm Festival held 21-22 January. The first day was a celebration on the plot of the upcoming Foodlink site near the Certitude corner and included games and activities for children.

Auroville Appeal Process By a majority vote of 214 ‘yes’ against 23 ‘no’, the Residents Assembly has approved an appeal process. Individuals can now ask an Appeal Body to review and possibly change a working group’s decision.