Auroville's monthly news magazine since 1988
Sept 2025 (2 months ago) Subscribers-only download Download PDF
Feature, By By Carel
On 13 August, the managers of Annapurna Farm received an email signed by three working groups constituted by the Governing Board – the Funds and Assets Management Committee, L’Avenir d’Auroville (Auroville’s Town Development Council) and the Farm Service – stating: “It has been decided to allocate 100 acres of Auroville land at Annapurna for the IIT [Indian Institute of Technology, eds.]
An interview with Dr Karan Singh, By Carel
On 14 August Dr. Karan Singh, who has been Chairman of the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation for more than 20 years, briefly visited Auroville.
An interview with Amrit (Howard Iriyama), By Carel
In 2018, Amrit published ‘Children of Change’, a memoir recounting his early life and the difficult years in Auroville when he and others chose not to take sides in the bitter conflict between the Sri Aurobindo Society (SAS) and the then-dominant Auroville collective.
An interview with Chali, By Carel
Chali reflects on the fractures within Auroville and on the possibilities of restoration.
An interview with Deven, By Alan
Heartweaving is quietly bringing together Aurovilians with different perspectives to manifest possible ways forward through sustained inner work.
An interview with Dan Capdeville and Svenja, By Alan
In October 2024 we interviewed Dan Capdeville who launched the “Seeking Our Inner Being” project in January of that year. Now, one and a half years later, he has decided to formally close it down.
Art review, By By Alan
Auroville has a striking new art gallery – Maji. Located in the compound of Maroma, which is sponsoring the initiative, the first exhibition, ‘Petals’, opened in February 2025 and featured artists from the project’s first ceramics residency.
John Mandeen passed away just over a year ago. John was a photographer who worked for many years with the Ashram Press, but he also extensively documented life in Auroville from the early 1980s, including important stages in the construction of the Matrimandir.
An open letter, By By Dena Merriam, Gabi Gillessen and Michel Danino
Letter from three members of the Auroville International Advisory Council to the Chairman, Auroville Foundation, regarding Annapurna Farm & and the Memorandum of Understanding with the IIT Madras.
An open letter, By By Manoj Pavithran
To: Shri R.N. Ravi, Chairman, Governing Board, Auroville Foundation. Subject: The MoU with IIT Madras & Land Use Concerns Dear Shri R.N. Ravi ji,
Editorial, By By Editors
It would be inappropriate to use the phrase ‘healing Auroville’ in connection with the Auroville which, Mother said, had the sanction of the Supreme.
Reflection, By By Alan
Some would argue that healing is not possible without a change in the policies of the present administration which, they feel, is demolishing, brick by brick, what has been created over many years, and everything which they believe Auroville stands for.
VIP visits Lt General Dhiraj Singh, General Officer Commander-in-Chief, Southern Command of the Indian Army, visited Auroville on 17 August and interacted with the Secretary, Auroville Foundation, and other Auroville representatives.
Save Annapurna Farm petition A petition calling upon local authorities and decision-makers to save Annapurna Farm from conversion to an IIT campus in an ‘unjust transformation’ had received 13,780 signatures in support by 30 August.
A4A stepping into its 12th Year Acres for Auroville reminded purchase lands for Auroville. Its work has resulted in 187.14 missing Master Plan acres to be added to 41 Auroville communities, farms, forest areas, and nature preserves.
Request to stop land exchanges Through a 12-page letter to the Prime Minister and Minister of Education of India dated 31 July, Shri R Sarvesh Kumar, General Secretary Namo Peravai, Tamil Nadu, drew attention to large losses suffered by Auroville in recent land exchanges.
Discipline lands lost The Discipline community has lost 2.5 acres of forested land after the AVFO decided not to appeal a court order that awarded the land to private claimants.
Legal updates The Working Committee constituted by the Residents’ Assembly informed the community that the case concerning the Admission and Termination Regulations (published by the Secretary in the Gazette of India in January 2024) was heard in the Madras High Court on 31 July, in front of a Divisional (Appeal) Bench.
Matrimandir progress The August 2025 Newsletter of the Matrimandir highlights the work done in the Garden of Bliss, where the five bowl-shaped fountains are being illuminated, and the work for manifesting the Garden of Youth is underway.
Road diversion To enable the development of the Western portion of the Matrimandir Lake the road between the Matrimandir viewing point entrance and Town Hall has been closed from 4 August.
Master Plan implementation L’Avenir d’Auroville, Auroville’s Town Planning Council constituted by the Governing Board, informed the community that it is “taking decisive steps in the implementation of the Auroville Master Plan, which has been extended [by the Governing Board] to 2035 to allow for the complete realisation of the township as originally envisaged”.
Auroville Tomorrow On 20 August, the community was informed through mass bulletin that the last five issues of Auroville Tomorrow, a newsletter published under the Auroville Media Interface of the Auroville Foundation and focusing on Auroville’s life, activities, developments, and present and future projects, are now accessible.
Dalai Lama and Auroville exhibition On the occasion of the 90th Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture presented an exhibition on “Dalai Lama and Auroville—Three Memorable Visits (1973, 1993 & 2009)”.
Film Premiere: Sri Aurobindo - A Call to New India The premiere of the 12-minute animation film Sri Aurobindo: A Call to New India, dedicated to sharing Sri Aurobindo’s transformative vision with young people across the world, took place at Cinema Paradiso on 15 August.
Dominique Darr Grant exhibition The Dominique Darr Grant was launched this year to enable young photographers to exhib at Centre d’Art. The first such exhibition, with the theme “The Sun, the Moon and the Truth, three things cannot be long hidden”, opened on 15 August and featured the work of five young Aurovilians—Anantini, Simran, Aadi, Balaji, Arati and Bhavyo.
Audiobook rendition of The Life Divine PRISMA announced in its August 2025 Newsletter that in collaboration with many people and with Auroville Radio, it has released an audio version of the first 15 chapters of Book One of Sri Aurobindo’s Magnum Opus The Life Divine.
Auroville Dog Shelter update The Auroville Dog Shelter has warned that rabies continues to be present in the Auroville area. Due to budget constraints, it is unable to renew the 1500 dog and cat vaccinations it did last year and is also forced to halt its successful “1000-dog-in-a-year” sterilisation programme, which, it warns, will lead to an exponential increase in the number of puppies in the entire area.
69th Governing Board meeting further updates In the last Auroville Today, we reported that the 69th Governing Board meeting had taken place and we noted some of the major decisions which had been taken.
In memoriam:
Ricardo Martinez Delgado (New Creation) left his body on 26 July in Paris. He was 71. He will be remembered as a fine healer in kinesiology, joyfully serving the Spirit of Auroville.
Conductor and composer Eugeen Liven d’Abelardo passed away in Laren, the Netherlands on 18 August at the age of 75. Along with his impressive musical career, he was also known to be an enjoyer of life.
Colleen, partner of Jean from Two Banyans passed away at Marika home in Samasti, on 26 August.
Vijay (Vittorio Gresele) passed away on 30 August at his home in Baraka.
Nadine Fabret passed away in France on 7 August 2025 at the age of 59. A valued member of the Sve Dame community and a unique spirit, she could be warmly social yet also deeply comfortable in her own company.
