Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988

Issue Nº347-348

Jul 2018 (88 months ago)
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How to protect the lands for Auroville

Feature, By Bertrand

On May 7th, the Land Protection Group presented in a public meeting its findings on the best way to protect the land needed for the Auroville township from unsolicited development.

A new anthology from Auroville Today

Book review

Can we talk about discrimination in Auroville?

Feature, By L’aura Joy

Feelings of discrimination surfaced after two Tamil members of the Working Committee were not given proximity passes for the Prime Minister’s visit on February 24th.

Is Auroville a post-racial society?

Reflection, By Manas

A new Land Board

Feature, By Carel

On May 12th, the Selection Committee for the new Land Board selected five new members to join the two continuing members. Their term of office started on May 21st.

The difficulties of building Auroville

An interview with Michael Gransitzki, By Carel

Michael Gransitzki first came to Auroville in 2008 and joined six years later. Here he talks about the problems of architecture, contracting, and the economic situation of Auroville.

The necessity of co-development with the local villages

An interview with Cristo, By Alan

Cristo has worked for many years on developing collaborations with the local villages. Why does he do it? What are the challenges and the satisfactions?

‘Everyone was caught in the churning’

An interview with Amrit (Howard Iriyama), By Alan and Francis

Amrit joined Auroville in 1969. Recently he wrote about his life and spiritual development before and during his residence in Auroville. As a member of the so-called ‘Neutral’ group, his account offers a very different perspective upon Auroville’s troubled history in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Searching for a model of governance

Reflection, By Manas

A determined pilgrim’s impressions of Auroville

Reflection, By Fiona

Back to the grassroots

Feature, By Emma

Auroville Botanical Garden’s Educational Programmes are teaching local students the importance of conserving our local biodiversity.

The Botanical Gardens educational programmes

Feature

Ranjith’s organic chicken farm

An interview with, By  Carel

As early as August 1970, the Administrative Committee of Auroville, which reported to The Mother, agreed that Auroville, like the Ashram, would have a poultry farm.

The Matrimandir water harvesting project

Feature, By John Harper

Visions of Champaklal at the Matrimandir

Book review, By Alan

The English of Savitri Volume 3

Book review, By Carel

Search for the Divine

Book review, By Carel

Letter

Letter to the Editors, By Angela, Belgium

Hello Aurovilians, Sub: The Tourism Challenge in the May 2018 issue # 346. This question from you: Does it help or harm us? But what about the opposite?

Sir Mark Tully receives Lifetime Achievement Award On May 18, 2018, Sir William Mark Tully, who has served 12 years as Chairman of the Auroville International Advisory Council, received the RedInk Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mumbai Press Club.

Four-Lane bypass threatens Auroville’s Forests Markings left by a consultant working for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) revealed that plans are afoot to design a 4-lane National Highway from Ayyur near Vilianur to the north of Kalapet before the toll gate.

Land purchase problems The ownership of a recently bought eight-acre plot of land on the tar road between Certitude and Edayanachavady, for which negotiations have been going on for almost three years, is in dispute and Auroville has been denied possession of the land.

Tibetan students help with land purchase Since 2010, the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture in Auroville’s International Zone has been inviting teenage students from the Tibetan Children’s Village school in Dharamshala to come to Auroville for a cultural exchange program during their winter vacation.

Careless driving brings speed breakers back The Auroville Council and the Auroville Safety and Security Team issued a public warning against careless driving which is on the rise since the speed breakers on Auroville roads were removed for the visit of the Prime Minister.

Smart Street Lights Auroville Consulting has designed and is in charge of implementing the installation of 87 smart street lights along the Crown road from the Farewell Centre to the Mahalakshmi Home, from the Visitors Centre to Savitri Bhavan and from the Matrimandir Visitors’ Gate to Solar Kitchen Roundabout.

Djaima community without electricity The residents of Djaima community have complained about their recurring problem with poor and inconsistent electric power supply. The residents often live with no current for two or three consecutive days and this results in a water problem, and the impossibility to use essential appliances such as washing machines and fridges.

Library expands With the opening of the new wing at the Auroville Library more space has become available in the main reading hall. Following a proposal from some readers the Dutch and Spanish sections have been made more attractive by expanding their shelf space.

Design invitation for the Matrimandir Garden of the Unexpected The Matrimandir is calling for design proposals for the Garden of the Unexpected. This garden was described by Roger Anger, the chief architect of Auroville, as a place where a child could have an initiatory experience, a place of wonder, a garden for discovering the unexpected.

Matrimandir Garden of Progress almost complete The Garden of Progress has been brought very close to completion. The 7 m x 7 m pool in its outer portion has been completed, as well as several details in the large central area which features an ascending line of granite stepping stones moving through the three level terraced areas of the garden.

AuroOrchard goes fully organic In October 2012 AuroOrchard converted to organic farming all of its central area of about 20 acres, where food for the community is cultivated: vegetables as well as the fruits like papayas, limes, avocados, coconuts, guavas, lemons, ramphal and some mangos.

Bamboo tower Mohanam and the Auroville Bamboo Centre are collaborating to create a unique helical designed 50 feet high bamboo tower as a tribute to 50 years of completion of Auroville.