Auroville
Auroville (; City of Dawn) is an experimental township in Viluppuram district, mostly in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, with some parts in the Union Territory of Pondicherry in India. It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa (known as "the Mother") and designed by architect Roger Anger. Etymology. Auroville has its origins in the French language, "Aurore" meaning dawn and "Ville" meaning village/city. Additionally, it is named after Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950). History. At its Annual Conference in 1964 and with Mirra Alfassa as its Executive President, the Sri Aurobindo Society in Pondicherry passed a resolution for the  establishment of a city dedicated to the vision of Sri Aurobindo. Alfassa was the spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, who believed that "man is a transitional being". Alfassa expected that this experimental "universal township" would contribute significantly to the "progress of humanity towards its splendid future by bringing together people of goodwill and aspiration for a better world". Alfassa also believed that such a universal township will contribute decisively to the Indian renaissance. Alfassa's first public message in 1965 stated: Site. A site, approximately 20 square kilometres of barren wasteland, some 10 km north of Pondicherry and 5 km  from the coast, was chosen for the city. Inauguration. The inauguration ceremony attended by delegates of 124 nations was held on Wednesday 28 February 1968. Handwritten in French by Mirra Alfassa (the Mother), its four-point charter set forth her vision of integral living: The Matrimandir. In the middle of the town is the Matrimandir, which was conceived by Alfassa as "a symbol of the Divine's answer to man's aspiration for perfection". Silence is maintained inside the Matrimandir to ensure the tranquility of the space, and the entire area surrounding the Matrimandir is called the Peace area. Inside  the Matrimandir, a spiraling ramp leads upwards to an air-conditioned chamber of polished white marble referred to as "a place to find one's consciousness". Matrimandir is equipped with a solar power plant and is surrounded by manicured gardens. When there is no sun or after the sunset, the sunray on the globe is replaced by a beam from a solar-powered light. Radiating from this center are four "zones" of the City Area: the "Residential Zone", "Industrial Zone", "Cultural (& Educational) Zone" and "International Zone". Around the city or the urban area, lies a Green Belt which is an  environmental research and resource area and includes farms and forestries, a botanical garden, seed bank, medicinal and herbal plants, water catchment bunds, and some communities. Legal status and government. Prior to 1980, the Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry legally owned all of the city's assets. In 1980, the Government of India passed the Auroville Emergency Provision Act 1980, under which it took over the city's management. The change was initiated when, after Mirra Alfassa's death in 1973, serious fissures in the day-to-day management developed between the Society and the city's residents. The residents appealed to  Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India for an intervention. The Society challenged the Government's action in the Supreme Court of India. The final verdict upheld the constitutional validity of the government's action and intervention. In 1988, after the verdict, a need was felt to make a lasting arrangement for the long term management of Auroville. The city's representatives along with Sh. Kireet Joshi, then Educational Advisor to the Union government, met for consultations with the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Later that year, the Auroville Foundation Act 1988, was passed by the Indian Parliament. The Act  stipulated the vesting of all movable and immovable assets of the city in a foundation, known as Auroville Foundation and the creation of a three-tier governing system: the Governing Board; the Residents' Assembly and the Auroville International Advisory Council. The Governing Board selected by the Government of India consists of seven prominent Indians in the fields of education, culture, environment and social service in the areas of Auroville's ideals. The International Advisory Council comprises five members also selected by the Government, chosen from people who have rendered valuable service to humanity in the areas of Auroville's ideals . The Resident's Assembly consists of all official residents of the city. All three governing bodies are meant to work in harmony and collaborate to accomplish the ideals of Auroville as mentioned in the charter, as per processes defined in the Auroville Foundation Act The Auroville Foundation, headed by a chairman, is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The HRD ministry appoints the seven members of the Governing Board and the five members of the International Advisory Council. There is also a Secretary to the Foundation, appointed by the Government of India, who resides and has  an office with supporting staff in Auroville. The Foundation currently owns about half of the total land required for the township. The remaining lands are being purchased whenever funds are available. Society and population. The township was originally intended to house 50,000 residents. In the initial 20 years, only about 400 individuals from 20 countries resided in the township. In the next 20 years, this number rose to 2,000 individuals from 40 countries. , it has 2,814 residents (2,127 adults and 687 children) from 54 countries with two-thirds from India, France and Germany. The community is divided up into neighborhoods  with Tamil, English, French and Sanskrit names like "Aspiration", "Arati", "La Ferme", "Auromodel" and "Isaiambalam". Demographics. The population break-down: Surrounding villages. Auroville works closely together with the surrounding villages, where mainly Tamil people reside, via the Auroville Village Action Trust under which many different projects including the villages fall. The biggest one under the trust is the Auroville Village Action Group (AVAG), which has programs for women's empowerment, education, and financial support, and also sells its own products in the name of AVAL, Surya and Kudumbam as social enterprise work. Other activities falling under the trust are the  Life Education Centre, Auroville Industrial School, Mohanam cultural centre, Auroville Health Services, Deepam school for handicapped children, Thamarai community centre, Martuvam Healing forest, and the Reach for the Stars! program enabling higher education for village youth. Concerns exist because of violence allegedly caused by criminal elements entering from the surrounding villages. Economy. Instead of paper and coin currency, residents are given account numbers to connect to their central account. Visitors are requested to get a temporary account and an Aurocard (debit card). Residents of Auroville are expected to make a monthly contribution to the community. They are asked to help  the community whenever possible by work, money, or kind. The "guest contribution", or a daily fee paid by the guests of Auroville, constitutes a part of Auroville's budget. There is a system of "maintenance", whereby those Aurovilians in need can receive from the community monthly maintenance which covers simple basic needs of life. Auroville's economy and its overall life are of an evolving nature and there are ongoing experiments to reach closer to the vision. The Government of India only finances a small part of Auroville's budget, which is mainly formed by contributions from Auroville's commercial  units which contribute 33% of their profits to Auroville's Central Fund and by donations, largely foreign, from Auroville's multiple international bases set up all over the world. There are guest houses, building construction units, information technology, small and medium scale businesses, producing and re-selling items such as handmade paper for stationery items, organic food, as well as producing its well-known incense sticks, which can be bought in Auroville's own shop in Puducherry. They are also sold online in India and abroad. Each of these units contributes a considerable part of their profits to the township . Over 5,000 people, mostly from the nearby localities, are employed in various sections and units of 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. Location. Auroville is composed of a cluster of properties some north of Pondicherry. It can be easily reached via the East Coast Road (ECR) which connects Chennai and Pondicherry. The visitor center and Matrimandir can be reached by traveling westwards from the signposted turnoff at the ECR Bommayapalayam. Turning east leads directly to Auroville's private beach called  Repos, several hundred meters away. Climate. It is included in the sub-humid tropics (wet-and-dry tropical climate) situated on a plateau region with its maximum elevation of above sea level located in the Matrimandir area. The annual rainfall average is mainly from the SW monsoon (June to Sept.) and NE monsoon (Nov to Dec) with a dry period of approx 6 months. The average maximum temperature is , average minimum . Communications and media. The Auroville website provides open as well as restricted forums for various projects, interests, organizations, and outreach which make up the life of the community. The  opinions expressed in these publications are not necessarily those of the community at large. The Auroville radio website provides recordings and daily news covering local events. Auroville also has an internal 'OutreachMedia' team to regulate visits of journalists and film/video makers, which has served the community for many decades. Their aim is to ensure that all journalists and filmmakers get official, up-to-date information and representative footage from reliable sources. Owing to recent and ongoing developments within the community, this team's legitimacy and sovereignty is currently under question. Films about Auroville. At present, any filming within and  about Auroville requires land permission from the Government of India. Many filmmakers visit Auroville, and a wide range of films are available. These include: 50th anniversary. By occasion of the 50th anniversary of Auroville on 28 February 2018 the Indian President Ram Nath Kovind sent a message to the community in which he called Sri Aurobindo "one of modern India's greatest sages". He also wrote that Auroville "represents humanity's aspiration for peace and goodwill" and that it is "a unique symbol of human unity." Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville on 25 February  2018. After a meditation in the Matrimandir and participation in some functions he gave a speech in the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium. He referred to the Auroville Charter and the basic principles of life in the community. Then he said, "Indian society is fundamentally diverse. It has fostered dialogue and a philosophic tradition. Auroville showcases this ancient Indian tradition to the world by bringing together global diversity." At the end of his speech, he expressed his wish that Auroville may continue developing and supporting new and creative ideas for India and the whole world. European media coverage of Auroville. By occasion  of the 50th anniversary, Deutschlandfunk (DLF), a national public service radio broadcaster, sent a staff member to Auroville for reporting on progress in the experimental city. Moreover, there were also reports by the German Christian journal Chrismon, the Schweizer Radio and Fernsehen (SRF), the British Guardian and the French "Le Monde". Deutschlandfunk. DLF had already reported earlier about the project. In a broadcast dated 18 September 2016 Sonja Ernst gave an introduction to the subject, mentioning that nation, gender, religion or money should not play any role in this place and that it should belong to humanity. Visiting the Solar  Kitchen at lunch hour, Ernst describes the scene there as looking like "a huge multi-generation-project". As for money, she mentions that Aurovilians receive a kind of basic income, but that many of them feel it is insufficient and therefore earn some more money through various jobs. Gerhard Richter followed up with his report on 28 February 2018 in a broadcast of DLF Kultur. Richter comments that Auroville with its population of 3500 is no more a village now, but rather a small city. Richter also reports about the functioning of Auroville and notes that as in the research  and development department of a company Aurovilians test what might be helpful for a future humanity, and mentions significant contributions in the field of afforestation, alternative energies, healing, education, ecological farming and construction technology. Chrismon. Chrismon has published its article on 21 February 2018. The author, Jörg Heuer, offers a report on life in the small city with the help of three members of a family, who represent three generations. He accompanies a teenager with German roots and describes her lifestyle with smartphones and social media etc. and mentions that, like many other youngsters, after completing her education she would  like to go out and discover the rest of the world. Heuer also gives a comprehensive overview of numerous kinds of sports practiced in Auroville including tennis, football, basketball, and volleyball, as well as cultural activities with theatre, music and yoga groups. He writes that internationally recognized school-leaving qualifications may be acquired and that 5000 jobs have been created for the inhabitants of the surrounding villages. After a brief stay in the community, Heuer concludes "that there is hardly a place on earth which would be better suited for finding yourself." Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen. The report by Christina  Caprez, dated 25 February 2018, focusses on various aspects of the project. She notes that Auroville should not be envisaged as a kind of communist paradise. "Although money and status should not play any role, there are obvious differences in the standard of living." Thus, wealthy newcomers who are accepted as members may finance large houses that belong to the community but can be used by them lifelong. She also mentions that all farms and companies are required to offer one-third of their net income to the community, but that some of them refuse to do so and that  no sanctions are possible. Nevertheless, she writes Auroville "remains a magnet for aspirants from all over the world." Caprez states that the attraction of the place is based on a loose kind of synthesis: "The ideas of a man from the East and a woman from the West are united here, Protestant diligence combined with Hindu community spirit." The journalist says that with this concept Auroville may be successful for another 50 years. The Guardian. Ian Jack, writing Online for the Guardian on 5 May 2018, refers to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and calls the meeting of Sri Aurobindo and  the Mother "a historic moment that produced a famous partnership and, in their case, a brand of spiritual thought that has attracted followers ever since." The author visits Auroville and notes that "plastic waste is now a ubiquitous feature of the Indian landscape". He writes that this can also be observed along the lanes "that lead to the Mother's most extraordinary creation, the 'international-universal' settlement of Auroville." He reports about the cycle paths, solar kitchens, reforestation schemes, windmills, and the Matrimandir. Finally, sitting in one of Auroville's cafes, he notes that "not a scrap of plastic could  be seen." Le Monde. The French newspaper "Le Monde" has reported several times about Auroville since 1972. In the current article, dated 2 March 2018, the Delhi correspondent Julien Bouissou gives a brief summary of the history and current status of the place. He notes that Aurovilians have not celebrated the birthday with a large bonfire, parade or dance and music, but preferred to assemble around a "Prayer for the Waters of the Earth" or an exposition on divine flowers. The French journalist continues to describe Auroville as a place that attracts travelers in search of spirituality as well as  backpackers. Bouissou refers to the Mother and her ideal of a humanity released from the grip of materialism, and points out that while at an early stage many newcomers came to stay in the city for the rest of their lives, the current trend is that "volunteers" spend some months or years there and then return home. He reports about Aurovilians doing their shopping in a cooperative supermarket without making any payment, and writes that at a time when people all over the world dream of a Smart City, Auroville focusses on sustainable development through various environmental projects. BBC child  abuse investigation. In May 2008, the BBC produced a 10-minute "Newsnight" film about Auroville, which was aired on BBC Two. A short version was aired on Radio 4's "From Our Own Correspondent". It also appeared on BBC Online. The reports contrasted the idealism of its founders with allegations by some people that the community tolerates pedophiles, especially in a school that Auroville has established for local village children. Auroville filed an official complaint to the BBC that the report was biased, untrue and contravened BBC editorial ethical guidelines. After investigations, although a few inaccuracies were identified, Ofcom did  not uphold the complaint. In order to protect children in the Auroville area from child abuse, the city instituted an Auroville Child Protection Service which has been in action ever since. As with other intentional communities, conflicts within Auroville are to be resolved internally, and "the use of law courts or referral to other outsiders is considered unacceptable and to be avoided if possible". Controversial development plans. On December 4th, 2021, local police, joined by a group of outsiders, began demolishing the Auroville Youth Centre – uprooting the surrounding trees with the help of JCBs. Despite the protests by the residents , on December 5, more than 900 trees were bulldozed across 67 acres in Auroville. An internal petition signed by more than 500 Auroville residents requested postponement of the development work on the Crown Road ‘Right of Way’, until the Auroville community would arrive at a collective agreement on a practical way forward. An application filed two residents of Auroville- Navroz Kersasp Mody and Sandeep Vinod Sarah, against the ongoing illegal clearing of forests by the Auroville Foundation led the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) of India to order an interim stay on felling of trees on the  17th of December, 2021. This ban against tree felling inside Auroville was extended by the NGT until the next court hearing on January 3, and is as yet to be declared. Meanwhile, development continues in Auroville in parts under less scrutiny with pre-existing conflicts in the name of resolution of the other conflicts. More recently, foreign residents of Auroville, including many early settlers, are facing issues with visa extensions, threatening not only the lives they have built in Auroville with their families but also their work and their economic conditions. The New York Times sent a reporter in March  2022 to investigate this issue amongst others in Auroville's current predicament, while the Wall Street Journal sheds light on some possibly deeper connotations and consequences of Auroville's present day turmoil for Auroville and the BJP.