Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988
Apr 2025 (6 months ago) Subscribers-only download Download PDF
Feature story — Written by Sindhuja and RA Working Committee
On 17 March 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered two judgements. One was on the appeal of the Auroville Foundation against the verdict of the National Green Tribunal passed in April 2022; the other on the appeal of the Auroville Foundation against the judgement of the Madras High Court of March 2024 regarding the Auroville Town Development Council. Here we publish the responses from the Auroville Foundation and from the Working Committee of the Residents’ Assembly.
Feature story
In March 2024, an Aurovilian filed two writ petitions at the Madras High Court. The first petition prayed the court to restrain the Auroville Foundation from land exchanges without following the procedures laid down in the Auroville Foundation Rules 1997 and the General Financial Rules 2017. In the second writ the petitioner prayed the court to direct the District Registrar to cancel all land exchanges from 2021 till date.
A thoughtful note — Authored by Frederick
As I was looking through the minutes of the last Governing Board meeting regarding proposed changes to the Auroville Foundation Act, I recalled that when the Act was originally being prepared, there were already two different tendencies.
An interview with Sandra and Bhakti — Interview by Chandra
It Matters is a space for artists and the community to connect, collaborate, and create. Rooted in Auroville’s spirit of exchange, it fosters dialogue and new ideas beyond the local art scene.
An interview with Daniel Greenberg — Interview by Alan
On Saturday, 1 March, the community was invited to come to Cinema Paradiso to hear community members telling short stories; transformative memories of the past or hopeful dreams about the future of Auroville. Eleven stories were presented, seven from the past and four imagining a very different future. The inspirer and coordinator of the exercise was Daniel Greenberg, a frequent visitor and Friend of Auroville with experience of running courses in storytelling.
Book review — Story by Alan
On Saturday, 8 March, It Matters hosted a book launch event. B (Bill Sullivan) was launching his book Being which, he explained, is to prepare young children for modern life: “The new ones who are coming now really need to get the best start because the world is in crisis. I wanted to warn them about the road ahead, offer solutions, offer hope that all would be well. Certain things in my life that really impressed me or helped me in some way I put in the book. It’s my whole spiritual journey.”
A few weeks ago a new biography of The Mother was published. The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Spiritual Collaborator is written by Peter Heehs, a reputed historian who has been a researcher in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives for over 50 years, writing biographies of Sri Aurobindo and publishing papers on related topics. This new biography covers familiar ground, but it also includes interesting new information on Mirra Alfassa’s (The Mother’s birth name) parents and relations and on her artistic career and relationships with artists in late 19th century and early 20th century Paris, all of which situate her very fully in that milieu. There is also fascinating new information on the background of Max Théon and his wife as well as on the fin-de-siècle occult revival movement which had an important influence upon The Mother’s early spiritual development, as well as on her life in Japan between 1916 and 1920.
Art review — Authored by Chandra
Founded in 2020, the BORN IN FIRE residency at Phoenix Potteries (Auromodѐle) has become an important space for ceramic artists to refine their skills in anagama (‘cave’ in Japanese, it is a single-chamber, wood-fired kiln, often built into a hillside, known for its unique firing process and the natural ash glazes it produces, creating unpredictable and beautiful results) and wood firing. Now in its fifth edition, the residency provides an opportunity for artists to work with the unpredictable conditions of the anagama kiln, requiring technical adaptability and problem-solving. It serves as a foundation for both emerging and experienced ceramicists, offering a space for learning, exchange, and collaboration.
Art review
It’s not easy to describe the emotion felt when stepping into a clearing in the forest, a magical place, perfect for hosting the portraits of 111 Aurovilians who have passed away in recent years. Each portrait is hung at different heights on the thorny trees of the clearing. Each one is illuminated by a small light and faces a central fire. It is only a part of the community, one that can no longer be physically with us but still communicates a sense of belonging to that Auroville that is still alive, yet frozen by the greed for power. It feels good down there.
Electrical arrears The Auroville Electrical Service informed the community that the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) has recently changed Auroville’s high tension connection tariff from the existing IIA tariff (meant for places of worship and educational institutions) into tariff V (General Purpose) because Auroville’s service connection has a mixed load...
Income tax and GST issues On 21 March, the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation called all trustees, executives, managers and accountants of all Auroville units for an urgent meeting at the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium to hear about Income Tax (IT) and General Service Tax (GST) issues...
Chartered accountants changes Further to the meeting of 21 March, Dr...
IIT Madras Sustainability Campus An article in the newspaper Business Line of 25 March mentions that the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is planning to develop a cutting-edge Sustainability Campus on a 100 acre site given to it by Auroville, with 20 acres dedicated to the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET)...
Voice of Auroville – issue 08 The Working Committee appointed by the Residents’ Assembly (RA WCom) shared with the community the eighth issue of the quarterly journal, Voice of Auroville, which aims to inform well wishers and friends of Auroville across India and the globe on the current unfolding events with factual updates and articles...
Youth Choir performs On 29 and 30 March, the Auroville Youth choir gave two well-attended end of season performances of western classical music in CRIPA...
Concern about bypassing laws On 19 March, three Residents’ Assembly appointed working groups, the RA-WCom, L’Avenir d’Auroville (RA-TDC) and the Auroville Council, sent a joint letter to the Matrimandir Team and the Auroville Town Development Council constituted by the Governing Board, warning about non-compliance consequences with Indian law, which requires obtaining necessary quarrying permits for ordinary earth excavation and approvals and environmental clearances for the creation of water bodies of the magnitude of the Matrimandir Lake...
Auroville Cyclothon 2025 The second year version of the Auroville Cyclothon was flagged off on March 2...
ATDC recruits The Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC) constituted by the Governing Board has advertised for talented and passionate architects and engineers to join its team...
Recruiting for the ATR The Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee (ATSC) constituted by the Governing Board has called for people to maintain the Admissions and Terminations Registry (ATR)...
Secretary meets with residents On 27 February 2025, at the invitation of Mr...
Reporting arrival and departure dates The RA-WCom clarified its understanding of whether or not it is required for Aurovilians on a valid Auroville Entry Visa to inform internal groups and/or the RRO/FRRO when leaving or returning to India...
Financial Service operations minimised B...
In case of departure The Working Committee approved by the Governing Board has issued “Procedures and guidelines for the use and allocation of an Auroville residential asset in the case of departure of an Auroville resident from Auroville or the death of an Auroville resident...
In remembrance of
Daniel of Tanto (Daniel Emdin) left us suddenly on 4 March 2025, due to cardiac arrest. He was 77 years old. Daniel came to stay in Auroville in 1977, after having visited a few years earlier. At the time he lived at Sri Ma, then called Far Beach. He left in 1981 and returned for good in 2004. From then on he was fully involved in various activities and working groups of Auroville, where he shared his visionary ideas.
In remembrance of — Story by Janaka
Jean-Claude Bieri passed away at his home in France, Pyrenees-Orientales, on 11 March. He was 79. He lived with his partner, Marie-Jo, and was the father of two daughters born in Auroville, Hebaragui and Mindelai. We met him in 1967, when we were both landscape decorators in and around Paris. We talked to him about the Auroville project, for which we had just received an invitation to the inauguration. At the beginning of 1969, when we met Vicenzo in Roger Anger’s architect office, who was working on the plans and models for Auroville, we became enthusiastic about the idea of a caravan of vehicles to transport people and materials for the establishment of the first Aspiration colony. With Jean-Claude and a small team, we refurbished the second-hand vehicles we had acquired to make them roadworthy, with departure set for 15 August, 1969. In December 1974, he organised a second caravan of cars from France, with around thirty people. A photographic retrospective of the fiftieth anniversary of the event was held last December at the Tibetan Pavilion. Jean-Claude has invested in Auroville a great deal of time and effort, fulfilling his mission as a pioneer and getting involved in the “Dream”. In particular, he has helped Jacques Verre with the technical and electronic realisation of the Kuilaypalayam dental clinic. Available to all, Jean-Claude was a good companion, always cheerful and discreet. He was laid to rest on 17 March.
Stephanie left her body in Frankfurt on the night of Sunday, 10 March, after a long journey battling with her health, surrounded by the love and care of her family. She was 57 years old. Stephanie dedicated much of her life to Auroville, working with various groups and initiatives. Driven by her deep belief in the power of education, especially for young women, she founded in 2011 the Reach for the Stars programme. This programme aims at giving talented but underprivileged students from the villages surrounding Auroville a scholarship to pursue their dreams of higher education. The funds have consistently been donated by European supporters. The programme continues and has just begun its 14th year. Stephanie had a deep love for the ocean and found joy in surfing. Above all, she was a wonderful mother, an amazing aunt, and a kind soul whose warmth touched many lives.
