Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988

Issue Nº362

Sept 2019 (74 months ago)
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Auroville offers alternatives to the mainstream world view

An interview with Debashish Banerji, By Alan

Debashish Banerji

Debashish Banerji is Haridas Chaudhuri Professor of Indian Philosophy and Culture and Doshi Professor of Asian Art at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).

MGEcoduties (MGE) goes TATA

Feature, By Carel

Margarita and Guidelma

In November 2015, (issue # 316), Auroville Today reported on the work of MGEcoduties, an Auroville unit that manufactures household and well-being products that contain probiotics, live microbes that confer health benefits.

Perceptions and misconceptions about Auroville

Reflection, By Abha Prakash

1 A busy day at the Visitors’ Center

What does Auroville represent to its immediate neighbours? To the average person in Pondicherry? To the average tourist? Despite it being a popular sightseeing destination on the Pondicherry itinerary, how is this town and its inhabitants viewed and understood by many Indians?

Another Auroville

Reflection, By Alan

Finding one’s own path: a profile of Sagarika

An interview with Sagarika, By Anusha

Exploring installations – Sagarika at Last School

Sagarika Bhati was born and raised in Auroville. She is among the few students who chose to follow the Free Progress system of education offered in some schools in Auroville.

A roller-coaster of a century

Feature, By Aster Patel

Translating and presenting Sri Aurobindo

Book review, By Alan

Aryamani in Brazil presenting her translation A Vida Divina

Many years ago, Aryamani decided to translate The Life Divine into Portuguese. “Initially, I was doing it for myself. Translating was a way for me to enter into this difficult and complex work.

New attitudes to work

Reflection, By Valentina B.

Valentina

I moved to Auroville in January 2018, and as a Newcomer I must admit I am still adapting to this very special place. While exploring different working places and activities, and trying to create a more conscious lifestyle, I find myself getting rid of many old conditionings in the way I used to conceive of work as the main activity and outer goal of my life.

Paintings of an Inner Journey

An interview with Hufreesh Dumasia Chopra, By Carel

Gateaway

Many years ago, in issue # 188 of September 2004, Auroville Today reported about the work of Hufreesh Dumasia Chopra, a young Auroville artist.

The Children’s Book Fair

Event review, By Hilary

Bioregion students immersed in reading at the Book Fair

From August 2-9, the 7th Auroville Children’s Book Fair was held at Ilaignarkal Education Centre in Auroville. This highly anticipated scholastic event showcases no less than 50,000 books in Tamil and English, specially selected for the young student audience.

Sustainable mobility for all

An interview with Debo, By Carel

E-cycles at Kinisi

Matrimandir

Gallery

A spectacular rainbow coloured the sky above the Matrimandir on August 14th, on the evening before Sri Aurobindo's birthday which is also the Independence day of India

Universal Basic Income There was a presentation on Universal Basic Income and the Sustainable Development Goals by Hilde Latour, a Basic Income activist from the Netherlands.

Film Appreciation course An eight day course in Film Appreciation: History & Aesthetics Course given by noted film academician Prof. Sudipto Acharyya, will take place in early October at MMC/Cinema Paradiso.

Silver Fund Although there is no “retirement” in Auroville in the sense it is used in the outside world it is felt that after a certain age a maintenance paid to an Aurovilian should not be tied anymore to a particular workplace or a particular work s/he is doing for the community.

Auroville Safety and Security Team (AVSST) Report AVSST is working hard to redirect visitors’ vehicles to the Visitor Center parking and make sure people who might disrupt the community are not let in.

Savitri Nursery Savitri Bhavan has set up a flower nursery. They explain that it is “dedicated to the spiritual atmosphere that flowers create. Here we grow environmentally adapted plants with joyful loving care, whose flowers are given spiritual significance by the Mother.

A Youth Human Library Event on international Youth Day The human library concept brings together people who might not normally meet to hear each other’s stories to challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue.

A very special 15th August bonfire The organizing group has received overwhelming support from the community for the decision to ban photography at the 15th August bonfire. It was felt that this resulted in a much quieter, more concentrated and dedicated atmosphere.

News and Notes suspended For some time the weekly community news bulletin, News and Notes, has not been published as the editors are busy trying to create a sustainable basis for the work.

Regarding garbage dumping in and around Auroville The Working Committee said that garbage dumping is taking place in and around Auroville by some Aurovilians/Auroville units and restaurants.

The Saints of Pondicherry On 10th August, in Cinema Paradiso there was the premiere of a documentary, The Saints of Pondicherry, on an old people’s home for the destitute and homeless in Pondicherry, which was founded by Aurovilian Albert Zwaan who passed away some years ago.

Invitation for feedback on new Matrimandir garden design brief The Matrimandir executives are starting a new international open design call for the next four gardens around the Matrimandir, namely Light, Life, Power and Wealth.

Residents’ Assembly creates study groups on organization Some time ago the Residents Assembly Service received a petition signed by 93 residents calling for a Residents Assembly to discuss and decide on the next steps for choosing the manner in which members for Auroville working groups are selected.

Rainfall Charlie reports that the Aurogreen community has received 260.90 mm this year so far. This represents a deficit of 29.23% over the average for this period for the past 42 years.

Opening of CRIPA’s new extension The new extension of the CRIPA building for performing arts was opened on Sunday, 25th August. Live music was provided by Matt, Holger, Suryan and Dhani.

NDTA update In a presentation to the Residents Assembly on 23rd August, the Working Committee reported that while there is agreement that private development within the Master Plan is one of the most serious challenges facing Auroville, there is no consensus on the possible solution.

New project in the International Zone UTSAV (meaning Celebration) – a mixed use commercial and residential development – along the Verite Radial in the Industrial Zone, is ready for the last phase of Building Application.

Report of the Working Committee on draft Entry and Exit regulations Shortly after a General Meeting held on the topic of these Regulations on 12th April, 2019, the Working Committee updated the Governing Board about this meeting and informed the Board about a section in the Form I of the 2019 Regulations stating that “[...]

The Part-Time Parenting Initiative YouthLink has launched a Part-Time Parent Initiative based upon the experience of two Newcomers who have developed a Part-Time Parenting process in their lives.

Peace Table On the 24th of August 2019, simultaneous concentrations for peace in the world happened around Auroville’s Peace Table in the Unity Pavilion and simultaneously around Peace Tables in Moscow and New York.

European House Vision Meeting On Saturday, 17th August, there was a meeting of all European pavilion groups to discuss the future of the European House.

Auroville Architectural Travel Guide A guidebook has been published on Auroville’s architecture written by Aurovilian architect, Anupama Kundoo, and Y. Joshi. The guidebook includes four Auroville itineraries structured around the experimental township’s Master Plan and a fifth itinerary located in Auromodèle, which is outside the main part of the city.

New Budget announcement from Budget Coordination Committee (BCC) The BCC announced that the budget for 2019-20 is ready and has been endorsed by the FAMC. 35 new full-time maintenance have been provided. The Auroville City Service contribution to be paid individually has been increased by 5% to Rs. 3,475 but this contribution is automatically waived for Aurovilians receiving a full-time City Service maintenance.