Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988
Oct 2024 (12 months ago) Download PDF (free download)
In discussion with Dan Capdeville — Conversation led by Alan
In January this year, a project was launched called “Seeking Our Inner Being”. It aimed to gather information on individuals’ connections with their inner being or psychic being, as defined by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. So far, 35 participants have been interviewed on the topic (available on YouTube at ). A small team has taken responsibility for organising the project. We spoke to Dan, the initiator, about the larger intention behind the project, and his hopes about how it might develop in the future.
Story by Srimoyi
Letter to the community — Words by The Forest Group
In discussion with Jivatma — Conversation led by Chandra
Jivatma was born and raised in Auroville (in the 1980s) and after finding her path abroad, she recently decided to move back with her partner Daniel and young son Kailash.
Art review — Story by Lesley
Stepping into Deepti Munot’s Fragile Layers exhibition of collages at Centre d’Art, I was instantly transported to the sea-side rock pools of my childhood.
A long read — Story by Matthew Andrews
An Auroville health scare started some weeks ago, when three aggressive dogs were reported in and around the Auroville grounds. The Auroville Dog Shelter was on call, and was able to collect and quarantine all three dogs. The test results for all three came back positive for rabies.
A long read
The Auroville Foundation Act 1988 contains a special section on the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly. It states that:
Letter to the community — Words by Jasmin
Editor’s comment — Words by Editors
This issue of Auroville Today marks 36 years since our first issue was published in November, 1988. That issue also came out at a difficult moment in Auroville’s history. The Auroville Foundation Act had just been passed, and there were concerns regarding what a fuller government involvement in the community’s affairs would mean.
Reflections — Authored by Alan
These days, more and more of the space in Auroville Today seems to be taken up with obituaries. It made me begin to reflect upon death and our attitudes to it. These, of course, may vary widely. But this is also true of the past.
Confluence On September 17th, at the occasion of the pre-full moon, the Matrimandir executives organised a ‘confluence’ in the Peace Area of the Matrimandir Gardens, inviting Aurovilians, Newcomers and friends to a Coming Together in a consecrated atmosphere in silence, sound contemplation, walking, observing, listening, with simple offerings of flowers and candles under the Banyan Tree...
No news about new Secretary Still no news has been communicated to the Auroville community about who will replace the former Secretary to the Auroville Foundation, Dr...
Social science income tax exemption The Government of India has approved the Auroville Foundation as ‘Other Institution’ for Research in Social Science or Statistical Research for the purposes of clause (iii) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Income Tax Act, 1961...
Petition against FAMC decisions Concerned residents have submitted a petition to the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly (RA-Wcom), signed by 540 Aurovilians, regarding recent decisions made by the FAMC appointed by the Governing Board (GB-FAMC)...
Legal notice to GB-FAMC On behalf of the RA-WCom, a legal notice has been served to the GB-FAMC...
Legal opinion re RA-WCom status The RA-WCom shared with the community a legal opinion regarding the current status of the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly...
Legal opinion about the Entry Board The RA-WCom shared with the community a legal opinion on the functioning and validity of the “Admissions Committee” (also known as “Entry Board”) constituted by the Residents’ Assembly under the Auroville Foundation (Admission and Termination of Persons in the Register of Residents) Regulations 2020 (“2020 Regulations”) in the light of the enactment of the Auroville Foundation (Admission and Termination of Persons in the Register of Residents) Regulations 2023 and the stay granted against the same by the Madras High Court via order dated on 23...
Road safety The RA-WCom informed the community that, after the road accident that tragically took the life of a young volunteer at the road curve near Evergreen, it has approached the relevant authorities to urge them to put in place safety measures and ensure that the speed breakers that have recently been re-installed are adequately marked...
In memoriam:
Vaishali Jain, a radiant 27 year old young woman, known to her close friends as Vishu, left her body on September 1st due to a traffic accident. Originally from Delhi, she made Auroville her new home in 2021. She immersed herself in the life and culture of Auroville, being active and volunteering for several activities in Auroville, such as the Youth Centre, Revelation Forest, Kalabhumi, Upcycling, and numerous art festivals and events. She was a beloved member of our community, touching many lives with her bright smile. Being an artist herself, Vaishali was also known amongst the artists of Auroville for her generous and open heart. She was passionate about the arts and organized spaces where artists could co-create and collaborate. She will be remembered by our community as a free-spirited, fun-loving, and kind soul who held space for the sharing of art in and around Auroville. Vaishali’s remains were cremated at the Auroville Burial and Cremation Grounds on September 3rd.
Aurienne Fator passed away on September 1st in the USA because of a stroke. Aurienne was born in Auroville on Dec 29, 1971 and was given her name by The Mother. She lived with her family, her mother Myrtle, father Kenneth and sister Durgaura, in Certitude. Myrtle and Kenneth had moved to India and the Ashram in 1965 and were early Auroville pioneers. Aurienne was very dedicated and began to volunteer in the kindergarten at the age of 15. She began her own home studies at this same time to complete her high school education, with the goal of attending university in the USA. She left Auroville in 1988 at age sixteen, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in English at the young age of 19. Her dream was to return to Auroville, but life circumstances came in the way. In 1998 Aurienne began a new chapter: being a mother to her son Kanyen. Aurienne lived her life with the true resilience of a child of Auroville. Regardless of the housing, work or financial challenges she faced, she was a fighter and found solutions and continued to create a happy and loving home.
Soham (Jacques C. H. Philippeau) passed away at his home in Transformation on 19th September, 2024, due to cancer. He was 73 years old. Soham spent some of his younger years in Corsica on an isolated goat farm, where it was hard to get even essential amenities. He came to Auroville in 1987, together with his former partner Djouna, and continued this simple life in Auroville. He was known to have been a disciplined and hard worker. As a lover of flowers and nature, he worked for a long time in the Matrimandir Nursery’s hibiscus garden, and tended with meticulous care to his own garden in Transformation, sharing his plants and flowers with others. Many years ago, Soham lost his voice due to cancer of the throat and began to feel isolated, and eventually fell prey to depression. He worked on overcoming the instability in parts of his being with the help of Dr. Alok Pandey. One of his carers mentioned that a recent insight of his was that his yoga was a selfish one and that he hurt people because of this. Physically he had to face many difficulties but managed to address his health problems using alternative means, and in the meantime kept his discipline and ability to smile. Soham was a gifted artist. He showed a deep understanding of mandala symbolism and intricate design. He recently donated his mandalas and other paintings to Art for Land. His paintings can be seen online in the website of Art for Land, artforland.in. He was immersed in the Mother’s and Sri Aurobindo’s writings and, at the same time, kept himself informed about happenings in Auroville and the world outside. He occasionally published long extracts from Sri Aurobindo”s works in the weekly News & Notes, adding his – equally long – unusual comments and distinctive views about Auroville and the world to it. During his last few months, Soham volunteered and was happy to do shopping for Mahalakshmi Home for the elderly. Soham’s remains were cremated on September 22nd at the Adventure Burial and Cremation Grounds.
Marry, also known as Marretje Kroon, passed away in Kalpana on 16th September, 2024. She was 76 years old. Marry was born in the Netherlands and joined Auroville in 2007. Her main interest was the study of the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and translating. Many got to know her through her knowledge of the Feldenkrais method, a series of physical exercises that enhance body awareness and wellbeing. For a number of years she offered good Feldenkrais classes and excellent individual treatments. She intended to stop with the classes and treatments and focus on her yoga, but continued with individual treatments till recently, on the request of many grateful Aurovilians who had benefited from her treatments. Since last February, Marry suffered from cancer (myeloma). She showed courage and was positive throughout. Her son and his family visited her a month ago, which made her very happy, and they were also very impressed when they discovered Auroville. After their visit, Marry prepared to go ‘through the tunnel of light’ as she put it. Marry’s remains were buried on September 21st at the Auroville Burial and Cremation Grounds.
