Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988
Mar 2022 (43 months ago) Download PDF (free download)
After the event — Reported by Lili
On February 19th, a remarkable performance took place at the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium of Bharat Nivas. Inspired by the poem ‘Is this the end?’ by Sri Aurobindo, the Surya Performance Lab took the audience on a journey of two individuals who try to coexist and share in the experience of displacement, confronted by the harsh realities of a changing world. The theatrical and musical dance performance was directed by Philippe Pelen and performed by Huong Pham, Gopal Dalami and Thierry Moucazambo, with music and sound by Zan David. An impression by Lili Dreikhausen.
Feature
In January and February, Auroville’s Budget Coordination Committee (BCC) conducted a series of public meetings with the community. One purpose was to clarify the budgetary allocations; another, to help the BCC understand to what extent those allocations serve the needs of the community. Auroville Today spoke with five of its members: Suryamayi, Mahi, Inge, Aurosugan and Hans – three of whom are second generation Aurovilians.
Feature — Written by Divya Lieser
In our big Auroville family, just like everywhere else, loneliness affects all generations and backgrounds, from the misunderstood teenager to the senior in a retirement home, including single parents and people suffering from disorders. “Nowadays, we live in a society where we can survive alone, so it’s easier to become independent,” said Indra. Matthieu added: “The trend is towards a culture of spreading: youth leave their family earlier, they leave the village, they move away. Familial and communal unity is dissolving.” External happenings and other means of socialization provide an apt distraction from tedium and humdrum routines. Some people feel bored when these diversions are taken from them, whether or not they are surrounded by friends and/or family. What determines the shift from boredom or solitude to loneliness?
Feature — Written by Peter
Since the shocking events of early December, a few people have been working to transform and facilitate the trauma and emotions that were triggered. They have been offering differing therapeutic, movement and other modalities.
Book review — Reported by Carel
Manoj Das, who passed away on 27 April 2021, was an inmate of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and a well-known Indian author who wrote extensively in Odia and English. His novels, short stories, travelogues, poetry and his writings on history and culture won him many rewards, amongst which were the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest Civilian Award, in 2001, and in 2020, the Padma Bhusan, the third highest Award, both for his contributions to the field of literature and education.
Feature — Written by Alan
In early February, Ashwin Ezhumalai presented his photos of the Himalayas at an exhibition in Citadines Centre d’Art. Taken over six years during different treks with other Aurovilians in rarely visited valleys and passes in Himachal Pradesh, they capture the different aspects of this stark yet magical high altitude landscape: deep valleys, rock-strewn glaciers, grassy uplands, sacred lakes, immense starscapes, and stunning snow-capped mountains playing hide-and-seek with clouds.
Feature — Written by Archana
BnB Shifu is a one-year intensive course in skills of electronics (VLSI) and programming, competencies and inner capacity for the youth started in 2021 by Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan and his team at C3STREAM Land Designs (C3SLD). The project is administered through STEM land, the sister educational arm under SAIIER. Graduation for the first batch took place on February 1, 2022 and the new graduates looked thrilled to have completed the course. The graduation ceremony was a little different from usual ones with each graduate sharing their learning and growth and their individual mentors giving their own feedback about the growth of each student. Auroville Today talked to Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan and to Sivaraman, one of the graduates, about the programme.
Auroville Festival 2022 As part of the Auroville Festival to celebrate The Mother’s birthday and the foundation day of Auroville held from February 21-28, various events have been organized, amongst them were a number of zoom conferences on the themes of Mother’s Birth Anniversary and Charter of Auroville and Auroville as a Future Model for the World; Savitri, Cradle of the Overman; research on the Soul of Nations and National Pavilions; the practical manifestation of the city and the role of UNESCO and GOI; the spiritual significance of Auroville; the Five Dreams of Sri Aurobindo; and Towards Spiritual Education...
Sri Aurobindo’s Gayatri mantra live streamed The Auroville choir and instrumental ensemble live streamed a performance of “Om Tat Savitur”, a composition by Holger on Sri Aurobindo’s Gayatri mantra, on Thursday 17th of February...
Visa recommendations retricted The Secretary Auroville Foundation, who has been authorized to issue letters of recommendation up to periods of five years required for obtaining a visa or stay visa extension, has started to issue recommendations for one year only, including for long-term foreign residents who have received 5-year recommendations earlier without problem...
AV Council report In the latest Auroville Council report, the Council wrote that it is exploring new ways of organising itself...
In memoriam:
On February 24th, Sanjeev Aggarwal passed away at the age of 70 in JIPMER, after a cardiac arrest. Sanjeev came to Auroville at the end of 1981, cutting short a successful career as a High Court lawyer in New Delhi. He was, with his legal background and formation, the right person to continue, as its administrative head, from 1992 onwards the immense challenge of bringing to further fruition the Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER), which had been set up in 1984 by Kireet Joshi and Alain Bernard. The Institute now oversees the many schools and other educational projects in Auroville and the bioregion. Sanjeev was its main pillar of strength throughout the years. His focus on Auroville’s Udavi school in Edaiyanchavadi village made the school expand enormously. His greatest joy was in enabling young people to discover their goal and potential in the context of Auroville. He loved the concept of the Gurukul and brought up four girls in his own house. His other passion was Auroville’s organisation. He was a member of three Working Committees and took up innumerable other administrative functions and, with them, the accompanying complexity and tension. With his strong-willed character and deep dedication towards the development of Mother’s Auroville, Sanjeev took part wholeheartedly in Auroville’s communal meetings and debates. In the last years, he curtailed his administrative work due to medical problems. Sanjeev’s remains were cremated at Auroville’s burial and cremation grounds on March 1st.
Dakshina Vanzetti, a ballet dancer, artist, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Lodi Ashram, California, passed away on February 17, 2022 at the age of 65. She had been suffering from cancer. Dakshina was a dear friend and a spiritual sister to many. Her spiritual path first brought her to the Atmaniketan Ashram, but later to the Sri Aurobindo Sadhana Peetham in Lodi, California, where all those who, in The Mother’s words, “wish to serve the Divine” could offer themselves in all their parts and activities in a collective sadhana. She started ‘Auromere’, a commercial undertaking which sold books, shampoo, incense, toothpaste and more and donated 10% of the proceeds to Auroville while the balance supported the Ashram. She also served on the Board of the Foundation for World Education and built Mother’s House for guests visiting the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry. “Her dedication and discipline and love of beauty was an inspiration to all who knew her,” wrote Julian Lines. “The last days of her life and her moment of departure were calm, graceful, and filled with the presence of the Divine,” recounts Govinda. “She lived out her final days in the beautiful atmosphere of her own room, and a profound peace enveloped the entire ashram.” A short video about Sri Aurobindo Sadhana Peetham can be seen at
Saraswati Helene Champaloux, an early Aurovilian, passed away on February 5th 2022 in France after a long struggle with cancer. She was 75 years old. Saraswati received her name from Champaklal in 1991 and joined Auroville two years later. During her time in Auroville, Saraswati researched the several levels of the energetic patterns that surround living beings and earth and she developed a deep emphatic connection with the world. She was working in connection with the Angelic Entities and she was painting them in Auroville when they allowed her to reproduce their energetic pattern. She had an Angel’s theme exhibition in September 2000 at Pitanga art gallery in Auroville. These art works were deeply inspiring and with a wonderful presence. Apart from being an artist, she worked as an assistant to Dr Kamala Tiwari at the Health Center, at the Matrimandir, and at CSR with Aurosatprem. The funeral of Saraswati’s remains took place in France on 16 February. Her Auroville friends bade her farewell during a silent gathering at the Matrimandir Banyan tree.
On February 18, 2022 Amit Bawa passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age 48. Hailing from Srinagar, Aamit came first to Auroville in 2008 and became Aurovilian in 2011. With his friendly, outgoing and ever-smiling nature, he was a welcome figure in the various Auroville services to which he contributed, such as Deepanam School as learner and facilitator, as member of the Matrimandir Access group at Matrimandir and the Visitors’ Centre, as active participant in children’s school camps, and more. In later years he oversaw Swagatham guest house in Bharat Nivas, where he lived peacefully with his cat family and transformed the gardens into a true flower paradise. His dedicated and cheerful presence will be sorely missed. Aamit’s remains were cremated at the Auroville mandapam on February 20th.
