Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988

Issue Nº391

Feb 2022 (45 months ago)
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The Dreamweaving has begun!

Feature, By Alan

2 Weaving Discussions

The ‘Dreamweaving the Crown’ is part of a process which attempts to bring down to the ground the Galaxy and the Master Plan in the form of a Detailed Development Plan (DDP).

The Secretary meets the community

Feature

On 31st December, the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, Dr. Jayanti Ravi, invited the community to meet with her the next day when she would answer questions.

Indebtedness in Auroville

Feature, By Carel

In the last two years, six Aurovilians (two individuals and a family of four), took their lives because of personal issues including being heavily indebted.

The Art and Craft of Catching Water in Auroville

Feature, By Gita

Darkali water catchment

Water has always been at the centre of Auroville’s story. The land sits on the ridge of the only plateau in the 740 sq. km. Kaliveli watershed area.

The Darkali Water Catchments: Integral Features of Eco-Intelligent Urban Park

Feature, By Gita

Darkali Water Catchment

35 years ago, much of the land intended for Auroville’s future Mahasaraswati Park, located near to the Town Hall, still belonged to neighbouring Kottakarai village.

Through a glass brightly

Feature, By Peter

Robert L’Heureux’s: Through a glass brightly

Robert L’Heureux’s last glass works exhibition from January 7 marks the swansong of his career as a glass worker. Eleven large pieces, some well over a yard in diameter, were shown in Centre d’Art for two weeks.

Alternative Futures

Feature, By Peter

Discussing Zanskar’s future

The distant worlds of Zanskar, in the north Indian Himalayas, and Auroville’s coastal plains, met in December through the visit of Lobzang Wangtak, a Zanskari activist who journeyed down for the Auroville Learning Exchange (ALE).

Feeling the silence: the new Japanese garden

An interview with Jyoti Naoki Eri and Noel Parent, By Alan

2 A pathway in the Japanese Garden

Quietly, without fanfare or publicity, a beautiful Japanese garden has been created in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens. We spoke to Jyoti Naoki Eri, the designer, and Noel Parent who coordinated the construction work, to find out more.

Reflections upon Psycho-Spiritual Obstacles on the Journey to the Divine – an insiders view

Book review, By Carel

Reflections upon the Psycho-Spiritual obstaclles on the journey to the Divine - bookcover

“This book is offered as an explorer’s source book in the mapping of various psychological problems inherent in the practice of Sri Aurobindo’s integral sadhana,” is how Dr.

A Unique Friendship – J.R.D. Tata and Auroville

Book review, By Carel

Cover - A Unique Friendship: JRD Tata and Auroville

This small book is a recollection of J.R.D. Tata’s involvement with Auroville as well as a meditative reflection by the author, Frederick (Friedrich Schulze Buxloh), of his very special relationship with this great man, one of India’s foremost industrialists who in 1992 was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to India’s development as the head of the then largest industrial conglomerate.

The value of art

An interview with Krishna D., By Archana

Krishna Devanandan

Krishna Devanandan studied and grew up in the forested hills and valleys of Kodaikanal. She is a Bharatanatyam dancer, she practices and teaches Tai Chi, helps manage Auroville Art Service and the Auroville Film Festival and is a member of the Funds and Assets Resource Group (FARG).

Governing Board meets The Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation held a meeting at Auroville on January 18th. Members of the International Advisory Council submitted their views on-line.

Working Committee presentation to GB Three members of the Working Committee discovered that the other four members had submitted a presentation to the Board bypassing them, which, they say, had “errors of judgement and facts and was undermining the role of the Residents' Assembly”.

Senior Aurovilians presentation to the Governing Board Six senior Aurovilians presented to the Board their account of the last two months, challenging some of the narratives of failure and stagnation, and how differences within Auroville have deepened since the current Secretary arrived.

Residents’ Assembly decides In a well-attended meeting of the Residents' Assembly (RA) held on January 2nd, a proposed decision to be made by the RA (RAD) was formulated:

Visa declaration On January 7th, a form was circulated to be signed by foreigners needing a visa recommendation from the Secretary, Auroville Foundation, which stated amongst others that the signatory agreed to 'Abide by the Master Plan of Auroville, based on the Galaxy Plan conceived by the Mother and gazetted by the Government of India, based on which the Auroville City will be developed and built", and 'I hereby state that I will in no way or form, obstruct of hinder its manifestation.

Award for B.V. Doshi Shri Balkrishna Doshi, the eminent architect and ex-member of the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation, received the RIBA Royal Gold Medal 2022, one of the world’s highest honours for architecture.

Visits from Regional Registration officers About 30 non-Indian Aurovilians who had joined efforts to stop bulldozers destroying the Crown Road stretch through the Bliss and Darkali forests, have received visits from officers of the Regional Registration Office, requesting to see their passport and Residential Permit, asking if they had been joining the ‘agitation’

Resignations from 150th anniversary core group The Working Committee announced that Hemant, Jürgen and Christine have resigned from the Core Group of Sri Aurobindo’s 150th Birth Anniversary team.

Outreach Media On January 21st, the Auroville Foundation instructed Outreach Media to vacate its office and surrender all its material and immaterial assets to the Auroville Foundation.

AV Council questions ATDC legitimacy On January 13, the Auroville Council published its note to the Auroville Town Development Committee (ATDC) stating “As you have misinterpreted the minutes of the Governing Board and at the same time intend to ignore the Residents Assembly’s processes, although you are constituted by the RA, we must on these grounds alone place your office appointments and legitimacy in question.”

AuroSur Auroville International Argentina has started AuroSur, News from Auroville which will appear every two months. For info contact www.escuchaintegral.com

Art exhibition at Kala Kendra In December last year, the Pondicherry Art Akademy showed 180 paintings by 90 artists from 19 states of India at Kala Kendra. The Akademy aims to help budding artists by showcasing their work along with those of eminent artists, and also to encourage women artists.

Retrospective 2021 Savitri Bhavan hosted an Auroville art retrospective 2021 from 17 December till 14 January. Works by Sathya, Shinso, Audrey, Hufreesh, Xinpeng, Abhijit, Sangara and Birgitta were displayed.

Wildlife in Auroville Aurosylle and Tim gave an informative introduction to wildlife in Auroville during a live and online event on 21st January in Bharat Nivas. Of special interest is that prior to 1972, Auroville had a count of 25 bird species.