An Examination of Corruption Amidst Land Consolidation Efforts
The goal of Auroville, as envisioned by the Mother, is to build a place where unity, truth, and sincerity thrive — an experiment in Human Unity that attracts people from around the world. However, reports have surfaced of certain Aurovilians exploiting their position and the current land acquisition initiatives for personal gain. These accounts hint at a culture of corruption within Auroville’s Land Board, where individuals have allegedly maneuvered land transactions to profit through indirect ownership (benami) and questionable exchanges. This misuse of power contradicts the core tenets of Auroville, violating the principles of service, integrity, and truth.
In general, corruption has long been a societal affliction, eroding trust in institutions and disrupting social cohesion. Yet, when corruption infiltrates a collective like Auroville, founded on the ideals of Divine Consciousness and selfless service, it becomes even more disheartening. Such actions not only betray Auroville’s purpose but also damage its reputation as a place of material and spiritual purity. This is particularly unsettling because the perpetrators are, in theory, committed to the Mother’s vision of a collective that exists to transcend selfish desires, not to indulge them.
In recent instances, it appears that certain Aurovilians, entrusted with the responsibility of land management, have abused their position. Reports suggest they have engaged in dubious dealings, slowing down the purchasing process to frustrate sellers until they sell at lower prices to proxies or associates of these officials. Once in control, these individuals then flip the land, often through benami properties (purchased in the names of associates or family), ultimately profiting personally. This misuse of influence goes against Auroville’s purpose and reflects a moral failing that harms the entire community.
The Governing Board’s intervention is urgently needed to address these malpractices, as internal efforts to self-correct have proven ineffective against a network of unnamed (or unnamable) individuals who control or influence Auroville’s land dealings. In light of this, I would like to propose a structured, transparent solution: an auction-based system for land exchanges. This approach could introduce transparency and fairness into the acquisition process, prevent unchecked price inflation, and reduce opportunities for private profiteering.
