Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988
Feb 2021 (56 months ago) Download PDF (free download)
A long read — Story by Helena Capková
The Mother’s stay in Japan between 1916–1920 was not only of profound importance for her spiritual explorations, but might also have had a big influence upon the development of Auroville. In 1938, for example, she asked the architect Antonin Raymond, whom she had met during her stay in Japan and who designed Golconde in Pondicherry, to prepare the first plan for what Mother later described as “a first Auroville”. In 1956, Raymond accepted, via Pavitra, Mother’s offer to conceive a second attempt to build an Auroville near Usteri Lake. Regarding the Japanese influence in Auroville, in 1965 Mother tells Huta that “The Mother’s Shrine”, the forerunner of the Matrimandir, would be modeled on Kyoto’s Rokuon-ji’ (Golden temple). “Child, this is exactly what we shall have except for the shape of the roof – it must be a terrace and a dome, but the surroundings will be the same – lake, flowers, trees, rockeries, small waterfalls and so on.” (It may also be mentioned that as late as 1987, Roger’s brief to the Matrimandir gardens designers was “symbolic gardens, in the Japanese way”.) None of Mother’s earlier projects for Auroville bore fruit, but they indicate how profoundly She had been influenced by the Japanese aesthetic and the connections she had made while living there. Recently, Helena Capková, an art history professor at Waseda University, Tokyo, published an article in Mother India which threw further light upon Mother’s stay in that country which we felt would be of interest to our readers. Here is an edited version.
A long read — Story by Alan
A couple of months ago, a poster went up on Auroville notice boards advertising scuba diving lessons offered by ex-Special Forces soldiers of the Indian Army. Those interested were asked to contact Quiet Healing Centre. Auroville Today went there to find out more, and discovered a fascinating project which may lead to future collaborations between ex-military personnel and Auroville which is being planned for the older members of the community.
A long read — Story by Ing-Marie
Before I had a child, I used to think that Auroville was an optimal place to raise children. There are forests to frolic in, fresh air, clean food, a kaleidoscope of colorful personalities and passions, activities from horseback riding to Awareness Through the Body, and, of course, the delicate and beautiful subtle atmosphere here. All of these things remain true. But after three years of being a parent of a young child, the cracks have also started to emerge areas in which we fail, as a community, to support parents and their kids. This is my experience and some suggestions for improvement, written in the early morning hours before my daughter wakes in the other room.
A long read — Story by Editors
A year ago, in February 2020, there was an attempt to survey a route through the Youth Centre and Bliss forest for the laying of a High Tension cable. The Forest Group and Youth Centre objected and proposed an alternative route following existing roads. The Town Development Council (TDC) requested an Environmental Impact Assessment to justify a deviation of the planned route as the HT cable ring project is Government of India funded. The EIA was completed in July: the conclusion was to lay the cable along existing roads rather than through the Youth Centre and Bliss forest. A community process was initiated on November 2nd with all parties involved, including the Youth Centre, the Forest Group, the TDC, thA year ago, in February 2020, there was an attempt to survey a route through the Youth Centre and Bliss foree Auroville Electrical Service, and the Government of India Grant Group. It was agreed by all that the TDC in consultation with the Bliss forest stewards will explore the alternative route along the roads and, if no consensus can be reached, a General Meeting followed by a Residents Assembly Decision process would be initiated. However, on November 9th, 2020, the Acting Secretary of the Auroville Foundation advised the Town Development Council (TDC) to clear all Right of Ways (RoWs) along the Crown, Outer Ring and all Radials on the basis of the Master Plan (Perspectives 2025); according to the Master Plan, the RoW for the Crown has a width of 30 metres.
A long read — Story by Anu Majumdar
If we stand by the Charter of Auroville then we must consider this: in January 1968, a city plan, commissioned by the Mother, was approved. Two weeks later She wrote the Charter. At the inauguration of Auroville, the city plan, soon known as the Galaxy Plan, formed the gateway to the Amphitheatre where the Charter pledged the city for humanity. The material and spiritual basis of Auroville, so established, gave it further dimensions as the City of the Future, at the Service of the Truth, a Town of Universal Culture, the City of Dawn, all on that same morning. It was a city born of a vision, for a purpose. We are only the participating custodians to see that Auroville fulfils its course both spiritually and materially. This is a recognition and respect for the givens we have been entrusted with.
Art review — Reported by Lara
A long read — Story by Peter
For the last two years, Aurovilian Nina Sengupta has been offering edible weed walks around Auroville. Every few weeks, participants venture out and discover parts of a hidden Auroville that are plainly in view.
A long read — Story by Lesley
In this month’s installment of our regular column about Auroville’s neighbours, we meet Rashmi Gandaki, who has been living next to Auroville for the last six years. A theatre actor and director from Bangalore, Rashmi also works for Auroville Art Service, undertakes qualitative research, supports rescued women, offers workshops to youths, and runs a farm.
Branch office of Auroville Foundation Secretariat A branch office of the Auroville Foundation Secretariat in Pondicherry was inaugurated on January 1st, 2021...
Auroville Foundation matters The Working Committee reported that the minutes of the last meeting of the former Governing Board, held on line on November 7th, 2020, have still not been received for information to the community...
Art for Land The 6th annual edition of Art for Land opens on 31st January at the Unity Pavilion...
Rains continue The month of January 2021 has seen an unprecedented rainfall of 208...
Nursing for elderly parents of Aurovilians The Auroville Health Services (AVHS), which provides social and medical homecare for senior Aurovilians, is often asked to extend this service to the elderly parents of long term Aurovilians who, for health reasons, need to be with their children in Auroville...
Patient conduct at Sante After an incident with a verbally aggressive visitor, Santé has issued a public statement that Santé is an essential service to the Auroville community and it is intended as a place of healing and care, and not a space for conflict resolution...
Auroville Board of Services As agreed earlier, the ABS monthly meetings now take place on the second Monday of every month...
Citizen’s Assembly film showing on water The Citizens’ Assembly and Auroville Water Group invited people to watch some video's of Aurovilian water players reflecting on our water situation...
Auroville International Potters Market Hundreds of visitors and Aurovilians visited the 3-day Auroville International Potters Market held at the Visitors’ Centre from January 24-26...
Land purchase Auroville has purchased 13...
Blind dinner On 27th January Solitude farm invited people to participate in a food performance with live music...
Centre Guest House ‘hangouts’ The ‘hangout’ is a space where people of all ages can come together socially, have some refreshments, chat with friends, read the newspaper, play games, learn Tai Chi or Quigong, enjoy regular dance nights and other such activities...
Selection of working group members The selection of new members of four main working groups (the Working Committee, the Auroville Council, the Entry Board and the Funds and Assets Management Committee) took place on January 21st and 22nd in accordance with a selection process that had been approved by the Residents’ Assembly in December 2020...
Housing matters The Housing Board decided on the principle that assets that have been left after the passing of an Aurovilian ought to, where possible, be presented to the community as houses against recognised work (formerly pro-bono houses)...
In remembrance of
Bhavani Shankar Sardar passed away on January 3rd in his home town Kurnool, in Andhra Pradesh at the age of 83. He first came to Auroville in 1991, and joined a year later. He started working for the Auroville Electrical Service in Abri, becoming its manager, and was known as a quiet, humble and very friendly person who unobtrusively did his work. His dedication to Mother and Sri Aurobindo, and advanced understanding of the yoga, was apparent in his way of being. His visits to Matrimandir were many. He lived in Promesse community from his early days till 2011, when he left Auroville due to problems associated with old age. He returned to Auroville after two years and stayed in Inspiration Community until 2018, when he finally left Auroville due to age concerns.
