Bryan Walton
A tribute to
Bryan Walton, one of Auroville’s early pioneers, left his body on March 8 in Wisconsin, USA at the age of 80.
Bryan left the USA in the mid-sixties for India in search for a better life, and eventually came to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in June 1971. Along with his then partner, Sally, he had several meetings with the Mother who approved of their idea to start a handicraft community which she named ‘Fraternity’ as village development work near Kuilapalayam. Although he had no experience in either crafts or business, Bryan felt a deep ‘yes’, and started the Fraternity project in February 1972, with many other Aurovilians and his future wife Fanou joining him over the years.
The community flourished in the subsequent years. With the help of Poppo, the original keet sheds over time morphed into permanent handicraft buildings, a kindergarten for workers’ and village children, and an overhead tank for fresh water. The proceeds from the production of handloom and other craft products supported the training of local village women and youth, a water system for part of Kuilapalayam, and a kindergarten with daily lunch, medical care and lessons in Tamil. Bryan’s extensive photographic documentation of the progress and life in Auroville at the time forms a precious addition to Auroville’s archives.
Pressured by the challenging circumstances Auroville went through in those years, Bryan and Fanou left Auroville in 1980 with their two very young children, Auromarichi (Christian) and Aurelia, for the USA, where they lived in rural Spring Green, Wisconsin. With another couple, they imported art and craft products from Auroville and other parts of Asia, and found markets through their retail store, from where they would always be of generous help to Auroville. Bryan also returned to his old skills and developed a treasure of colourful and highly artistic audio-visual presentations, quietly narrated by himself, based on his wide range of interests. These were pieced together from his research into Sri Aurobindo’s and Mother’s works, Integral Yoga, other inspiring world views, art works, books, articles, pictures etc. During his last year he was able to upload most of them as a fine gift to Auroville – a complete list with links will be available on the Auroville website.
Bryan was also an active member of the Board of Auroville International USA, and served on the Board of the Auroville International Association from 2007, where his calm participation, dry humour and hands-on knowledge of life in Auroville was esteemed.
Since mid-2021 Bryan had been coping with a returning, aggressive cancer which eventually led him to resort to two different sorts of chemotherapy. When these Plans A and B did not work for him, Bryan decided to switch to Plan M: “For me, no fear of the Great Adventure of the Spirit with Her, the Mother is with me, she’s with us all. Since 22 or so coming first back from India, I was ok with the ultimate adventure.”
An interview with Bryan and Fanou by Francis can be seen at
Audiovisual presentations by Bryan Walton
Mandala - the City, Part 1 of 4 Prehistoric and historic round towns (28:34)
Mandala - the City, Part 2 of 4 Ideal and utopian cities of Europe, unbuilt (28:52)
Mandala - the City, Part 3 of 4 Round cities of European Renaissance, built & unbuilt (19:42)
Mandala - the City, Part 4 of 4 Utopias in world literature; Auroville (38:36)
-
Labyrinth History, kinds and uses; making an Auroville labyrinth (28:37)
-
KRISHNA! Part 1 of 2 From birth and life as a cowherd in Gokula to royalty in Dwarka (44:21)
KRISHNA! Part 2 of 2: Pahari’s painters: Supreme Lord of Bhagavad Gita; passion as symbol of union (29:38)
-
Sri Yantra, Part 1 of 3 Symbolic Forms, Setting and Background (25:28)
Sri Yantra, Part 2 of 3 Basic Concepts in understanding Sri Yantra (28:54)
Sri Yantra, Part 3 of 3 This is the hard inner work, if you choose (40:38)
-
MANDALA - a universal form of art; Sand Paintings of the Navajo and Tibetan (41:19)
-
LADY OF LINES Paintings of women of India, many by Rabindranath Tagore (34:37)
-
Romantic Themes of Indian Painting, Part 1 of 3 Nayiks & Nayikas (heroes & heroines) (21:37)
Romantic Themes of Indian Painting, Part 2 of 3 Baramasa Seasons & Festivals (31:45)
Romantic Themes of Indian Painting, Part 3 of 3 Ragamalas - Ragas and Raginis (45:29)
-
Indian Mural Traditions, part 1 of 5 The Ajanta style (34:10)
Indian Mural Traditions, part 2 of 5 Early South Indian Styles – Pallava, Chola, Vijayanagara (36:34)
Indian Mural Traditions, Part 3 of 5 Later South Indian Styles of the Nayaka Period (38:02)
Indian Mural Traditions, part 4 of 5 Kerala’s Chera Period & Style (28:58)
Indian Mural Traditions, part 5 of 5 Rajasthani Style Murals in forts, palaces and mansions (34:45)
-
The Two who are One (23:01)
