Auroville

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  ?Auroville
Tamil Nadu • India
Map indicating the location of Auroville
Thumbnail map of India with Tamil Nadu highlighted
Location of Auroville
Coordinates: 12°00′N 79°29′E / 12, 79.48
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s) Viluppuram
Population 2,047 (2007)
Codes
• Pincode
• Telephone
• 605101
• +0413

Coordinates: 12°00′N 79°29′E / 12, 79.48 Auroville (City of Dawn) is an experimental township in Viluppuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India near Puducherry in South India, whose stated purpose is to realize human unity in diversity. It is a popular tourist destination, and has been described as a "New Age metropolis conceived as an alternative exercise in ecological and spiritual living."[1] The township starkly stands out from the surrounding traditional Indian villages and farms. [2]

Those members of Auroville who come from abroad enter the country (India) on a special visa which are issued on the recommendation of the Auroville Entry Service, and the Secretary to the Auroville Foundation, a statuary body created by an Act of Indian Parliament in 1988 and which legally hold all movable and immovable assets of Auroville. Aurovilians act as volunteers in numerous sections of the community. Those who need can receive from the community a monthly maintenance of Rs.5000/- ($120) which can cover basic needs of life. In a recent initiative, wholesome food is provided free of charge to full time working Aurovilians from the Solar Kitchen.

Contents

[edit] History

Auroville was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as The Mother. She was a collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, who believed that "man is a transitional being". The Mother expected that this experimental community would contribute substantially to the progress of humanity towards its ideal future by bringing together people who thirst for all round progress, based primarily on the growth of consciousness. The Mother also believed that such a universal township will contribute decisively to the Indian renaissance. The Indian government endorsed the township, and in 1966, UNESCO also endorsed it inviting the member-states to participate in the development of Auroville. UNESCO re-endorsed Auroville three more times in course of last 40 years.

In the inauguration ceremony attended by delegates of 124 nations on 28th February 1968, the Mother gave Auroville its 4-point Charter setting forth her vision of Integral living:

  1. Auroville belongs to nobody in particular. Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. But to live in Auroville, one must be the willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness.
  2. Auroville will be the place of an unending education, of constant progress, and a youth that never ages.
  3. Auroville wants to be the bridge between the past and the future. Taking advantage of all discoveries from without and from within, Auroville will boldly spring towards future realisations.
  4. Auroville will be a site of material and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual Human Unity.
The Matrimandir, an unfinished golden metallic sphere in the center of town.
The Matrimandir, an unfinished golden metallic sphere in the center of town.

After the death of The Mother in 1973, problems arose through disagreements with some sections of the Ashram in Pondicherry and a period of turmoil followed.

[edit] The Matrimandir

In the middle of the town is the Matrimandir, which has been acclaimed as "an outstanding and original architecutal achivement". It was conceived by The Mother as "a symbol of the Divine's answer to man's inspiration for perfection". Silence is maintained inside the Matrimandir to ensure the tranquility of the space and entire area surrounding the Matrimandir is called Peace area. The Peace area in which the structure is situated is characterised by three main features: the Matrimandir itself with its twelve gardens,twelve petals and future lakes, the Amphitheatre and the Banyan Tree.

Inside the Matrimandir, a spiraling ramp leads upwards to an air- conditioned meditation room of polished white marble. At its centre, a 70cm crystal ball in a gold mount glows in column of sunlight.

Matrimandir has a solar power plant and is surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens.

Radiating from this centre are four "zones" as indicated by The Mother: the "Residential Zone", "Industrial Zone", "Cultural Zone" and "International Zone". Around the city area proper a so-called "Green Belt" has formed through rigorous and steady rehabilitation of the land, which includes farms and forestries.

In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Auroville residents assisted with collecting bodies and guiding survivors to shelter.[3] Auroville initiatives in this respect, originally called "The Auroville Tsunami Rehabilitation Centre" has subsequently emerged into "Auroville Costal Development Centre"(Ref.http://acdcindia.org/)

[edit] Government, belief system

Auroville is governed by the Auroville Foundation through an act of the Indian Parliament.[4] The Foundation, fully controlled by the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development, currently owns about half of the total land required for the township. Additional lands are being acquired through consistent fundraising activities by the Aurovilian residents with the help of Auroville International Centers.

Politics, religion, and most forms of private property are not allowed in Auroville. The township, not the inhabitants, owns the houses.[2]

Three central documents articulating the vision of Auroville are the following:

It is not necessary to be a disciple of The Mother or Sri Aurobindo to join Auroville.


[edit] Society and population

Although originally intended to house 50,000, the actual population today is 2,007 (1,553 adults and 454 minors), coming from 44 nationalities, 836 of whom are of Indian origin.Official census of April, 2008.

The community is divided up into neighborhoods with English, Sanskrit, French and Tamil names like Aspiration, Arati, La Ferme, and Isaiambalam. Here is a full list

Most residents travel through the township by motorbike or cycle.[2]

A BBC journalist, Rachel Wright produced several reports about Auroville in May and June 2008 [1] [2] contrasting the idealism of its founders with allegations by some villagers living near Auroville that the community tolerates paedophile abuse. A follow-up BBC television report featured a response by Carel Thieme, an Auroville representative, rebuffing the BBC report and the witnesses as wildly prejudiced. [3].

[edit] Architecture, technology, and education

The dream of building a new city for the future on a clean slate, with the purpose of promoting research and experimentation alongside integral development, has been attracting architects and students of architecture from all over the world ever since Auroville´s inception in 1968. Not having pre-defined by-laws or being bound by the conventions of human society has allowed a multitude of expressions to manifest in the course of Auroville´s development, as natural extensions of the quest for the new.

Satprem Maïni a French Aurovilian architect, the director of the Auroville Earth Institute, is representative for India and South Asia to the “ UNESCO Chair Earthen Architecture, Constructive Cultures and Sustainable Development”.

Some public drinking fountains feature "dynamised" water, which has been "made healthier" by having the water listen to Bach and Mozart.[2] Read more about dynamised water here

Classes are held at the "Future School" in the shade of a tree. Attendance by children is not mandatory.[5]

[edit] Economy

Paper and coin currency is not used in Auroville, by direction of The Mother. Instead, residents use electronic cards which connect to their central account. Visitors, however, are allowed to pay in cash.[5]

According to Auroville Today, one has to be "able to save the substantial amount required – of the order of Rs 15 lakhs (approximately US $ 35,000) upwards – to start a life in Auroville," thus preventing the local population from settling within the community.

Residents of Auroville are expected to pay a monthly contribution, and are asked to help the community whenever possible, by work, money or kind according to the guidelines laid down by The Mother. "Guest contribution", or a daily fee payable by the visitors of Auroville, constitutes a part of Auroville's budget. There is a system of “maintenance” (salaries), whereby some Aurovilians are supported by the community. Other Aurovilians who have their own financial means work for the community without any financial reward.

As states Auroville Today, "there are two more obstacles the lack of work opportunities and the low levels of ‘maintenance'. Auroville has only a small economic base and newcomers often cannot find suitable work in the commercial units or in the services. If they can, the levels of ‘maintenance' paid – Rs 5,000 for those who work full-time for Auroville's services, a bit more for those who work for commercial units – are just sufficient to cover basic living costs, but not to pay for a house, either as rent or by paying-off a loan.

Auroville finances itself mainly by receiving donations, and by its commercial units which contribute 33% of their profits to Auroville's Central Fund. There are hotels, building construction units, real estate companies, information technology, small and medium scale businesses, producing and re-selling items such as handmade paper for stationery items, as well as producing its well-known incense sticks, which can be bought in Auroville's own shop in Pondicherry, or are sold around India and abroad. Each of these units contributes a considerable part of their profits to the township. Over 5000 Tamil villagers are employed in Auroville.

Other activities include afforestation, organic agriculture, basic educational research, health care, village development, appropriate technology, town planning, water table management, cultural activities and community services.

Auroville's irrigation system developed the once barren plain into fertile land. This, along with the expansion of the nearby city of Pondicherry, led to a rapid increase in the value of the surrounding land. The community had intended to buy this land, but now probably cannot.[2]

[edit] Location

Auroville is composed of a cluster of properties some 12km north of Pondicherry. It can be easily reached via the East Coast Road (ECR) which connects Chennai and Pondicherry. The visitor centre and Matrimandir can be reached by travelling eight kilometres westwards from the signposted turnoff at the ECR. Turning east leads directly to Auroville Beach, several hundred metres away.

[edit] Communication and media

The Auroville website accesses journals and newsletters providing open as well as restricted forums for various projects, interests, organizations and outreach which make up the life of the community. Note: The opinions expressed in these publications are not necessarily shared by the community at large.

Auroville has a small but dedicated 'OutreachMedia' team who regulate visits of journalists and film/video makers. Their particular aim is to ensure that all journalists and filmmakers get the official, up-to-date information or relevant/representative footage from the correct sources so that generally their visit is a fruitful and constructive one.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ McClarence, Stephen. "Where Om comes with a French accent South of Madras, Stephen McClarence explores a town that has boules and baguettes as well as an ashram", The Daily Telegraph (London), 2006-07-29. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Huggler, Justin. "Universal City: No Drink. No Drugs. No Politics No Religion. No Pets... So Is This Utopia? Amid the Quiet, Traditional Villages of South India, 1,800 People", The Independent (London), 2005-08-18. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 
  3. ^ McDonald, Hamish; et al.. "Wave of Humanity; Tsunami", Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), 2005-01-08. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 
  4. ^ The Auroville Foundation Act (1988)
  5. ^ a b Ingle, Roisin. "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this? Auroville is India's 'future city', a socialist Utopia - with maids", The Irish Times, 2004-01-27. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 

[edit] References

English Titles:

  • Abundance Publications. The Auroville Handbook.Pondicherry: All-India Press, 2003.
  • Auroville  –  Development Perspectives 1993–1998  –  An Invitation To Participate, Typoscript, Autoren/Hrsg. Auroville Development Group, Bharat–Nivas, Auroville 1993, no ISBN
  • K.M. Agarwala (Hrsg.): Auroville - The City Of Dawn, Sri Aurobindo Center New Delhi 1996, no ISBN
  • Auroville References in Mother's Agenda, Auroville Press, Auroville, no Y., no ISBN
  • Jerome Clayton Glenn: Linking the Future: Findhorn, Auroville Arcosanti, published by Hexiad Project/ Center on Technology and Society, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1979, no ISBN
  • Lonely Planet 2005: India, no ISBN
  • Peter Richards: Experience!Auroville  –  Guide Book for Guests and Visitors, Pondicherry 2000, no ISBN
  • Savitra: Auroville: Sun-Word Rising  –  A Trust For The Earth, published by The Community of Auroville, Auroville 1980, no ISBN
  • The Auroville Adventure  –  Selections from ten years of Auroville Today, published by Auroville Today, Auroville 1998, no ISBN
  • The Auroville Experience  –  Selections from 202 issues of Auroville Today, November 1988 to November 2005, published by Auroville Today, Auroville 2006, no ISBN

German titles:

  • Mira Alfassa: Die Mutter über Auroville, Auropublikations (Hrsg.), Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, Pondicherry 1978, no ISBN
  • Renate Börger: Auroville  –  Eine Vision blüht, Verlag Connection Medien, Niedertaufkirchen 2004, 3. veränderte Aufl., ISBN 3-928248-01-4
  • Alan G. (Hrsg.): Auroville  –  Ein Traum nimmt Gestalt an, o.O. (vermutlich Auroville/ Pondicherry) 1996, 1. dt. Aufl., o.ISBN
  • Michael Klostermann: Auroville  –  Stadt des Zukunftsmenschen; Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Frankfurt/M., Februar 1976; ISBN 3-436-02254-3

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 
 ( http://www.earth-auroville.com

Articles and photos about Auroville in the web site of Italian writer Manuel Olivares: http://www.manuelolivares.it