Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988
Mar 2025 (7 months ago) Subscribers-only download Download PDF
A conversation with Auroananda — Interview conducted by Carel
The Auroville Visitors Centre is Auroville’s reception and information disseminating centre for the often thousands of tourists and visitors coming to Auroville daily. In 2022 a new management team was appointed for a two-year period. Auroville Today spoke to one of its executives, Auroananda Gajendran.
A conversation with Abha Tewari and Claude Arpi — Interview conducted by Carel
Claude and Abha have been living in Auroville since 1974 and 1978 respectively. For the last 45 years, Abha has been running the handicraft unit Shradhanjali while Claude has become a scholar who has authored several books and articles on Tibet, China, India and on Indo-French relations. Here they share their perspectives on the ongoing developments in Auroville and what could be done in future.
A conversation with Friederike Mühlhans — Interview conducted by Alan
Friederike Mühlhans has a long experience of working for Auroville International (AVI). Since 1997 she has been a board member of AVI Germany and since 2003 she has been Secretary of the AVI Board, with a four-year break when she served as Chairperson. She first visited Auroville in 1991 and has returned almost every year since, together with her husband Christoph and sometimes also with their children and grandchildren.
A conversation with Abishek — Interview conducted by Lesley
Abishek, a youth from Annai Nagar village, recently spent 18 months volunteering in Germany, as part of the Weltwärtsprogramme.
Art review — Story by Chandra
Set within Pitanga’s tranquil backdrop, this exhibition invites visitors to explore the interplay between natural material and artistic expression. Crystal’s work, executed on birch plywood, transforms a common material into a canvas that reveals both its inherent beauty and a deeper layer of meaning through deliberate artistic intervention.
A conversation with Krishna D. — Interview conducted by Alan
Krishna Devanandan has a background as a dancer, cultural event organiser and teacher of Tai Chi. She helped organise the Auroville Film Festivals and managed the Auroville Art Service from its inception in 2012 until 2023, when the Auroville Foundation appointed new executives. Currently, she supports and publicises artistic expression in Auroville.
Book review — Written by Lesley
If the self-help genre had a naughty cousin who snuck a whoopee cushion under the seat of life’s seriousness, The Joy of Living Lightly by Fif Fernandes would be it. This cousin coaxes the hesitant fun-makers to slink out the back door and blow bubbles, while everyone else meditates earnestly on their productivity hacks towards maximum self-optimisation.
Auroville Foundation (Residence Criteria) Standing Order 2024 challenged The Working Committee appointed by the Residents’ Assembly (RA-WCom) have published a legal opinion from lawyer Suchindran Bala Baskar as to the validity of the Auroville Foundation (Residence Criteria) Standing Order 2024 (AVFRC), which lays down certain criteria to be followed by the residents of Auroville [see AVToday # 426, page 2]...
Admissions & Terminations Scrutinising Committee constituted By Office Order dt...
Evergreen land dispute In two events in early February, residents visited the Auroville Foundation Office to express their deep concerns about the loss of Auroville land near Evergreen community and to request the Auroville Foundation Office to appeal the judgement in which ownership of the land, which had been in Auroville's ownership for 30 years, was passed to a property developer...
More trees cut On 29 January, a member of the Auroville Town Development Council constituted by the Governing Board (GB-ATDC) verbally informed community members that it now “had permission to increase the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to 30 meters wide”...
Road construction problems The construction of the Crown Road, ORR and various radials is running into problems as a number of private, temple or Poramboke (government) lands, which are necessary to complete the envisioned urban plan, have not yet been purchased...
Deviation from the Auroville Master Plan (Perspective 2025) The RA-TDC informed the community that on 27 January it had sent a letter to high government officials addressing ongoing concerns about non-compliance by the GB-ATDC and the Central Public Works Department which executes the road building in accordance with the Auroville Master Plan (Perspective 2025)...
Housing takeovers In January 2025, all of the volunteers and guests who were staying in Mitra Youth Hostel were asked to leave in order for the Auroville Foundation Office to house a group of 27 financial auditors...
Youth Center clarifies The Auroville Youth Center has sent out a mass bulletin to all residents stating that the Youth Center is a place of learning, exploration and personal growth for youth of all kinds and ages and that it has recently started to work closely with the community, creating various workshops such as welding, woodwork, kombucha making, mushroom cultivation; with more to come...
Revised mandate of Residents’ Assembly Service approved On 11 February it was announced that Auroville’s Residents' Assembly (RA) has approved the revised mandate of the Residents’ Assembly Service...
GB-FAMC challenged The RA-WCom has challenged the authority of the GB-FAMC which it described as “a group of individuals attempting to impose control over the rest of the community when it has not been selected by the Residents’ Assembly and does not respond to calls of collaboration or transparency...
Legal updates The RA-WCom has shared with the community an update about recent activities and hearings in the Supreme Court in New Delhi and in the Madras High Court...
15th Auroville marathon Run for the Joy of Running, the 15th Auroville Marathon, took place on Sunday, 16 February 2025...
Auroville choir performs On 15 and 16 February, the Auroville Choir, conducted by Nuria, presented songs composed by Ola Gjeilo, Elaine Hagenberg, James Eakin, Eric Whitacre, Jacob Narverud, Don Macdonald, Christopher Tin and Jake Runestad...
Matrimandir Wealth Garden opens As an offering to the Mother on Her Birthday, the Wealth Garden, one of the 12 gardens of the Matrimandir, was opened on 21 February...
Humility ’25 Festival In the birthday week, the Auroville Foundation hosted the Humility ’25 Festival, an eight-day celebration that embodies the essence of humility...
Birthday week events Among other events happening during the Auroville birthday week there was a Bansuri flute recital offered by Aurovilian Chandra in the Matrimandir amphitheatre on Mother’s birthday, 21 February...
In remembrance of
Shipra Di from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram passed away on 2 January at 2:35 pm in the Ashram Nursing Home. Born in 1935, she spent her early years in Delhi and Shimla. In 1956, having completed her undergraduate studies in history, she started teaching at the Mother’s School in New Delhi, which is where she met Chamanlal Ji, whom she married in 1962 with the Mother’s blessings. The Mother gave permission to the couple to work in Australia for some years, where Chamanlal Ji worked with the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization), and where Shipra Di served as a librarian. Her visit to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1968 was profound. She was tasked by the Mother to be part of the cooking team for delegates during Auroville’s inauguration, and from that time she maintained a deep bond with Auroville. In 1972, she took up Mother’s invitations to join the Ashram and reside permanently in Pondicherry. Shipra Di played a pivotal role in several organisations, including the early development of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in Pondicherry, establishing the solar energy unit in the Ashram, and serving as a founding member of the Keystone Foundation in 1993. Shipra Di’s exceptional work in documenting and disseminating research and experimentation in renewable energy earned her the reputation of being a “human google” long before the search engine was invented. With her remarkable memory and vast network, she could effortlessly connect people to ex-students, publications, or projects, providing the exact documentation, research, or information they needed. For over two decades, she served as the key point of contact for the renowned Golconde building in Pondicherry. Architects, planners, and designers visiting the Ashram were treated to Shilpa Di’s personalised tours, enriched with captivating anecdotes about the building’s history, along with insightful interpretations of its spatial design, materials, and architectural details. These tours inspired many visitors to feature Golconde in prestigious journals and author monographs about the building. While she dedicated herself to supporting the complex technical and administrative work of Chamanlal Ji, Shipra Di was cherished for her warmth, hospitality, and remarkable ability to create a welcoming environment. Her home was a hub of inspiration, where she hosted distinguished personalities, JRD Tata, Eckhart Tolle, Dr. BV Doshi and many more, leaving a lasting impression on all who crossed her path. Her vibrant and nurturing spirit touched countless lives, especially students, who continued to hold her in their hearts through the decades. She was a motherly figure to many, radiating kindness, grace and unconditional love throughout her remarkable journey. Her cremation took place on 28 January at the cremation ground at Karuvadikupam, next to Muthialpet.
Donald “Don” Kelman (91) passed away on 30 January 2025 at his home in the Prarthana Community in Auroville. He had valiantly fought dementia for several years with the support of his loved ones and a community of dear friends. Don dedicated his life to the craft of teaching and to serving his community wherever he lived. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, he taught math and chemistry in the USA and Germany. Shortly after his return to the USA, he was granted a position in Kyoto, Japan, where he studied at a traditional art restoration workshop for several years. One thing led to another, and he embarked on a career at the prestigious Doshisha University as the head English teacher for their International High School, working with Japanese students who had returned from living overseas. Upon retiring in 1988 after 30 years in Japan, he moved with his wife Marie-Ange to Auroville to start anew. He served in several areas, including the library, Pour Tous (PTDC), Entry Service and others, contributing tirelessly to the community for over 20 years before he was struck by various illnesses. Don was a deeply social and warm-hearted person, known for the kindness and affection with which he addressed everyone. He had an incredible ability to make people feel seen and valued, greeting each person with genuine warmth and enthusiasm. Whether sharing a story, offering advice, or engaging in long conversations over a cup of coffee, he always exuded a sense of ease and camaraderie. His love for classical music was well known, and many of his friendships were built on a shared appreciation for the arts. His funeral took place on 31 January at the Auroville Burial Ground.
Joya Diane Skye left her body on 19 February. Born 13 April 1945, Skye (known as Diane from the early days), arrived in Auroville in May 1970 with her partner Philip and unborn child Lunaura. They stayed at the Ashram for the first three months and then moved to Aspiration where they participated in building the keet-roofed homes of that time, meditation, community building, tree planting amongst others. Skye and Philip built what has come to be known as The Center Guest House in Center Field in 1976. They later built a Kindergarten next to the house to help provide a place for the children of Auroville to learn and play. This Kindergarten is still there today though the keet roof building has been replaced. Skye was an international songwriter with five gold records to her name in the USA. In Auroville, she was always ready to get creative, share her music, lend a hand or an ear. When Skye was just 26, her heart stopped in a doctor’s office and she had an ‘after death’ experience. She has always felt she would return “there” and “there” she felt “the greatest unconditional love”. She has always considered Auroville her home and the Divine her place of belonging. Skye sent her love to ALL of Auroville in her final hours.
