Issue Nº414 – In Memoriam

On December 15th, Mani Jayraman left his body at the age of 54.

Mani, as he was known in Auroville, was born in 1969, the year after Auroville was founded. He was part of Auroville’s early generation as his mother Poongavanam was one of the first Tamil Aurovilians. Mani was educated partly in Auroville schools, such as attending Auroville's first kindergarten in Aspiration and partly in the French Lycée in Pondicherry. Having an affinity for languages Mani spoke French, English and Tamil fluently. He was a good student and spent a year studying abroad in the US in Los Angeles. He was a remarkable sports person, excelling in basketball, cricket, tennis, kabadi.

In 1996 he married Saroja and they had three children: Surya, Malvi and Deeksha. He went on to give service in various set ups in Auroville Pour Tous, opening and managing for many years AV Transport Service (later New Creation Transport) and also serving in Auroville’s organisational structure. In 2004 when the tsunami hit he had a dedicated role in the relief organisation that followed. In his final years Mani lived a more withdrawn life.

Mani will foremost be remembered as a man with a radiating charming positivity, a good heart, and as a generous and caring friend.

Mani’s remains were cremated on December 16th at the Auroville Cremation and Burial ground.

Selvam Nadesan passed away on December 25th in a hospital in Pondicherry, after suffering health issues. Selvam, who had joined the community in 2018, was an accomplished carpenter and had been involved in many community services. His remains were buried at the Auroville Burial ground on December 26th.

Giorgio Luciani from Surrender Community left his body in Italy in the early morning of December 22nd at the age of 65. He had been suffering from cancer.

Giorgio first visited Auroville in 1988. He was working for the Italian company Ecoteco Piscine, building swimming pools. He came back for a visit in 1991, and then came every subsequent winter. In 1995, he and his wife Diana joined Auroville permanently. Giorgio started the Auroville unit EcoTeco Pools in 2003, and continued working in the swimming pool business as a representative of Ecoteco Piscine, addressing the interests of the growing number of affluent young Indians in having their own swimming pool.