Issue Nº406 – In Memoriam

Rafael Vázquez Corona, named ‘Mali’ by The Mother, left his body in Spain on April 24th.

Mexican by origin, he was an Ashramite and an Aurovilian.

With The Mother’s approval, he founded the Utility community.

The Sri Aurobindo Center in Barcelona has a video where Mali recites, in Spanish, Sri Aurobindo’s poem ‘The Triumph Song of Trishuncou’. One of the lines is “My spirit shall avoid the hungry tomb…” Knowing Mali’s exuberant energy and undaunting spirit, he may have gone far beyond indeed.

Maurice Monier passed away on April 13th in his flat in Citadines. His friends at Citadines wrote:

“Maurice was born in Saint-Étienne, France, on June 18, 1938 and would have been 85 in June. In the years 1975-76, he stayed several times at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry before permanently settling in Auroville in 1986-87, where he fulfilled various functions, the main one being to dig wells with the Water Service for the community. Later he participated several years in the Housing Service, after which he actively helped in the development of the unit Aquadyn. His great availability and continuous presence in these services left a lasting impression with those who knew him.

Maurice has always been an ardent defender of Auroville and was totally involved in the community. His ability to be attentive, coupled with a humorous look at things, made interactions with him enjoyable and rewarding. His generosity and discretion were rare and precious qualities, which undoubtedly had a positive impact on the people who knew him. His sincerity and inner depth were testifying to an authentic and endearing personality.”

Maurice’s remains were cremated at the Auroville Burial and Cremation Ground on April 19th.

On April 2nd, Dutch Aurovilian Anna Oijevaar passed away. She was a lively, energetic and much appreciated Aurovilian, who came here first in 1988 and was registered as Aurovilian in 1993. She raised five children, Jonah, Jitta, Ofa, Anan and Anadi, and was one of the main initiative takers of the Auroville Lilaloka resource centre for children that came off the ground in 2011.

Anna’s children wrote on 2nd April:

“This morning Anna from Eternity passed away. She would have been 72 this year. Many years ago Anna had a dream of an Island to raise her family, a place of new awakening. A place of youth that never ages, where children could grow up to be their unique selves. This journey led them to Auroville. When she stepped out of the taxi for the first time in Eternity, she knew this was the place of her dreams. Anna and Yuval raised their 5 children there and, with the family, established a beautiful oasis on the beach.

She dedicated her life work to Integral education, to Mother and Sri Aurobindo and the Divine. We are grateful to have had her in our lives and everything she has given to us all. Her family and her extended family in Auroville and around the world will always hold her close to their heart.”

Anna’s remains were cremated at the Auroville Burial and Cremation Grounds on April 8th.