Response of an Auroville Resident to The Observer Article

In response to the article published in The Observer on January 16, 2022, titled “Bulldozers, violence, and politics crack an Indian dream of utopia” by Hannah Ellis-Peterson, I, as a resident of Auroville since 1979, wish to provide some insights and perspectives on the issues raised.

I have been an integral part of Auroville, and I’ve operated a unit producing handmade pottery, which has transformed over the years into what we now call Mantra. I’ve also had the privilege of being a land steward, responsible for caring for about 10-11 acres of land within the city’s boundaries. It is important to note that this land plays a role in the context of the “Crown,” a designated area within Auroville.

It has been evident since my arrival in Auroville in 1979 that this land would eventually need development. I’ve been cautious not to plant anything of high value or create issues for future development, a situation that has begun to unfold 42 years later. The land I’ve looked after is characterized by gravelly terrain with a deep ravine. I’ve contributed to its recovery by fencing it off, preventing grazing and tree cutting, and actively engaging in conservation efforts. This approach has been adopted by many land stewards across Auroville. Land stewards have traditionally been individuals who work during heavy rains to divert water flows to enhance conservation efforts. This organic process has been crucial in making Auroville the green haven it is today.

However, there is a divide in perspective within Auroville. While some residents believed that a focus on reforestation would delay or prevent the development of a relatively dense urban area, others were aware that urban development was a part of the long-term plan.

Auroville’s master plan envisions a circular city with spiral arms, referred to as the “Galactic Plan.” The mid-to-late 1990s marked the point where it became clear that laying underground infrastructure, particularly water pipes, was essential. Drilling individual wells wherever necessary was no longer sustainable, as we needed to limit water extraction and prioritize conservation.

Auroville’s unique criterion is that it belongs to all of humanity and, therefore, no one can have individual ownership of land. All Auroville lands are vested in the Auroville Foundation, a corporate body established by the Auroville Foundation Act of 1988, an Act passed unanimously in the Indian Parliament.

In 2012, Cyclone Thane devastated the area, causing extensive tree loss and prolonged electricity outages. This event prompted Auroville to initiate the underground placement of electrical infrastructure. The plan includes harnessing wind energy and distributing it to Auroville. The installation of cables and optical fiber cables initiated a debate between those focusing on geometric perfection and those advocating for environmental preservation.

While the removal of a few trees raises concerns, Auroville residents possess the expertise to mitigate the impact through reforestation efforts. Replacing a 30-year-old tree with a sapling, placed in a suitable location, can ensure that it thrives unhindered. As Auroville moves forward with denser construction, it is important to consider the broader perspective of building the greenest city on Earth.

It is not my intention to write an extensive article on Auroville, but I believe it is essential for journalists to gather in-depth knowledge and information before expressing the opinions of a specific section of Auroville residents.

I recall that in 1996, a group of residents intentionally occupied the circular service road area and planted indigenous trees. Some residents also transformed a catchment pond into winding footpaths along the Crown’s line. It seems contradictory to now claim environmental degradation by developers when some residents participated in similar activities in the past.

In conclusion, it is my hope that responsible journalism maintains high reporting standards and avoids perpetuating a one-sided narrative.

Regards,
Nobody in Particular

A step towards Auroville as a place of unending education …

We are happy to share that Auroville Institute of Applied Technology (AIAT) and C3STREAM Land Designs have taken the initiative to open up possibility of collaboration with the University of Pondicherry (PU). A MOU that allows for collaboration with PU in higher education and R & D was signed in the presence of Prof. Gurmeet Singh, Vice Chancellor of the PU and Dr. Jayanti Ravi, IAS and Secretary of Auroville Foundation. This MOU is signed by Mr. Srinivasmurty, Under Secretary of Auroville Foundation, Mr. Lavkamad Chandra, Principal and Executive of AIAT and Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan, Executive C3STREAM Land Designs. The coordinators of the MOU are Prof. Nakkeeran at PU and Mr. Lavkamad Chandra at Auroville.
This MOU allows AIAT to offer post-schooling undergraduate programs under the vocational stream of higher education leading to a three year B.Voc (Bachelor of Vocation).
In addition, it allows for graduate programs of M.Voc or PhD when we choose to offer them.
B.Voc is part of the vocational streams of higher education that have been developed by the Ministry of Education to address the gaps in the theoretical undergraduate programs that exist in India currently. Under this progressive stream we hope at Auroville to have the freedom of designing our own curriculum in line with integral development of the youth and have PU as a partner to certify it.
The initial design of curriculum is planned for streams such as environmental technology (Renewable energy), Software programming, Computer center system Management & Data security, Electronics (Chip Design) and Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing) and we invite those in Auroville who have the skill to support such programs to join us in design and delivery of high-quality programs.
The curriculum we design with the support of PU staff needs approval under the general guidelines of University Grant Commission for skill oriented higher education by the academic council of PU. When we receive such an approval for our designed programs it will alow us to offer the programs needed by our youth, while certification will be handled by PU.
This allows youth at Auroville and the bio-region access to meaningful post-schooling education and certification in India including being able to concentrate 40% of their time to develop competence and inner-capacity including yoga, sports, meditation, leadership, communication, computer literacy, 3rd language development, Introduction to Integral Yoga and Indian culture. 60% of their time will be devoted to practical skill development in their chosen area. Students joining a B.Voc programs will additionally undergo internship in the field either at Auroville units or with industrial partners in Pondy and elsewhere.
AIAT aspires to become a centre of integral education with a focus on Environment technology.
Students who have passed +2 or equivalent (A level) will bei eligible to join the program. The Institute campuses are to be in Aurobrindavan and Irumbai near Auroville.

For more information pl. contact: lavkamad@auroville.org.in

Lawbeat.in: “Mere internal squabble that has been brought to the NGT”: ASG Shankaranarayanan in Auroville Crown Road Case

  • Thyagarajan Narendran
  • 09:14 PM, 06 Jan 2022

Additional Solicitor General R. Shankaranarayanan representing the Auroville Foundation today submitted that the dispute in Auroville regarding the felling of trees for laying the Crown Road is merely an internal squabble between two opposing parties of the township and that it does not warrant the interference of the National Green Tribunal.

When the hearing of the matter began, Shankaranarayanan took the tribunal through the pleadings and submitted that the petitioner is well aware that it is merely a construction of roads, however, the petitioners have dragged the issue to the tribunal for no apparent reason. He further submitted that as per the procedure laid down in the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988, the plans were placed before the residential committee and permission was duly granted by the committee. However, the petitioners are contending that the plans subsequent to the approvals of the governmental authorities were not placed before the committee and that it is not contemplated that they should do so.

Shankaranarayanan argued that what was being laid is not an expressway or a State High way but merely a pathway. He argued that the burden of proof to show that a reserved forest was being destroyed is on the petitioners. The Bench however told the ASG that in case of environmental matters, reverse burden applies. The ASG replied to this saying reverse burden applies only when the petitioners have established a prima facie case and not under any other circumstance.

The ASG submitted that the land was barren land and trees were planted in order to battle soil erosion and there was no existing forest prior to that. He further questioned the bonafide of the petitioners asking how their homes would have been constructed if not for felling a few trees.

The ASG submitted that the prayer of the petition seeks directions and a mandatory injunction which is in fact in the nature of a specific performance thereby making it a civil dispute. The ASG further submitted that the petitioners initially sought directions, then they changed their stance to seeking approval from the Town Planning committee thus not having a uniform prayer. The ASG submitted that a street to grant access to a place is not a development, it is merely an easement.

On the argument of the petitioner stating that the road could be deviated to save the trees, the ASG submitted that it will amount to expanding the scope of the petition and that more trees might have to be felled for that purpose since 90% of the construction has already concluded. The ASG further submitted that the revenue records make it clear that these were not forest lands and these were agricultural lands and that it does not come within the purview of NGT. The ASG concluded by saying that the petitioner was having a shack that was demolished for the purpose of laying the road, now that there is an interim order he has rebuilt the shack.

Nithyaesh Natraj, the Advocate, appearing for the intervenors in support of the project submitted that there has been no demonstrable environment issue and that the petitioners have been shifting their arguments from time to time. This is the case where all the lands are owned by Auroville which is deemed to be a State under Article 12 and that the activities of the State are deemed to be fair unless there is a prima facie violation of rights.

He further submitted that the project was first approved in 2001, if the petitioner was so aggrieved he could approach the NGT when the NGT act came into force in 2010. However, the petitioner has waited till 2021 to approach the tribunal just because his shack has been demolished. He submitted that the shack which has been reconstructed now is being used for all nefarious activities.

Natraj argued that each family most of whom are not Indian in Auroville occupies one acre of land for their residence, enjoy free food and other amenities all because Auroville receives substantial funding from the central government. He further submitted that none of Gram Panchayats in India enjoys such luxuries and now that there is a threat to that one acre being encroached for laying this road they have approached the tribunal.

Natraj submitted that all is not well with the organisation that is Auroville and its residents and that it

The grievance in the application was that the Auroville Foundation (respondent) was engaged in cutting large scale trees from the Auroville Forest area which has its own biological diversity and eco-sensitiveness.

The Counsel appearing for the applicant had relied on certain newspaper reports to convince regarding the location of the area with a large number of trees and the manner in which cutting was done by using heavy machinery.

Though certain objections were raised before the authorities, no action had been taken by the authorities which prompted the applicant to file the application, claiming to be an environmental activist to protect the Auroville Forest area against destruction, sought-following reliefs:

a. Direct the 1st respondent to prepare a Detailed Development Plan including a mobility plan which is based on and respects the present-day ground realities, to be approved as mandated in the Master Plan and implement projects based on such plan after necessary impact assessments and feasibility studies in an environmentally sustainable manner.

b. Direct the respondents to pay costs to the applicant.

c. Issue such other orders as it deems fit in the interest of the case and renders justice.

The Counsel appearing for the State of Tamil Nadu had submitted that,

“Tamil Nadu Government has no interest in this matter. Though part of the area is falling within Tamil Nadu the area where activities are going on is exclusively in the possession of the 1st respondent- Auroville Foundation and high dignitaries are at the helm of affairs of the administration of the Foundation.”

On perusal of the facts stated the Bench was satisfied that there arose a substantial question of the environment as to whether any permission is required under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for cutting trees from an area which can be treated as a ‘Deemed Forest’ under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. As a result, the matter was admitted.

Considering the urgency of the matter, the Bench felt the need to pass an ex-parte interim as if no interim order was passed then it was likely to cause greater damage to the environment.

“Even under Order 39 Rule 1 read with Section 19 (4) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, if Court is satisfied that there arises an extraordinary circumstance which requires the Tribunal to exercise the discretion of issuing an interim order without hearing the other side, then Court can issue such order in order to protect and preserve the property which is said to be under danger,” noted the Bench.

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that he needs some time to reply to the arguments of the respondents. The bench has now posted the matter on Monday for the reply of the petitioner.

Case title: Navroz Kersasp Mody & Anr Vs The Auroville Foundation

https://lawbeat.in/news-updates/mere-internal-squabble-has-been-brought-ngt-asg-shankaranarayanan-auroville-crown-road

What is Happening in Auroville? A Surgery, Not a Destruction.

by Auroville Resident

Some of you must have seen videos and photos from Auroville with shocking remarks and
claims about forest being destroyed, Auroville being destroyed, police coming in. It must have
been very shocking, hurtful and moving.

There is chaos everywhere.

But beneath the chaos, there is a quiet silence.

When we see things on the surface, it is disturbing & shocking. But, like yogic knowledge tells us, if we are disturbed, we are necessarily seeing outside of the Truth. So it is important to tune into the underlying silence to be able to see and understand – what is going on?

To understand this, it is important to understand a bit of context. At the Crux of this experiment of human unity is the ability to be a willing servitor of the Divine
Consciousness. If that’s not there, then very quickly in the absence of normal social conventions and rules that are meant to keep a certain order in the society, the society will very easily fall into a false freedom of drugs, booze, false pleasure and an animalistic fulfilments of desires in the name of freedom. Auroville is meant to rise above the normal society, not fall below it. Though, somewhere in Auroville’s development, since we could not accept “willing servitor of
the Divine Consciousness” as the most important tenet, exactly what has happened is a falling into the lower, rather than raising into the higher.

Auroville when it was born, it was born on four solid pillars

(1) The Auroville Charter, which is the larger vision of Auroville,

(2) The Auroville Dream, which elucidates the shifts from conventional society to the new society with a “new consciousness”

(3) To be a True Aurovilian, a treatise on how the citizen of Auroville is meant to be,

(4) The Galaxy Plan, a concrete material plan for the manifestation of a city of 50,000.


As one moves from number 1 to 4, things become more and more concrete and real, and there is no difference between the abstract & concrete, spiritual & material. Somehow, over the course of Auroville’s history, order of the four documents also relates to the order of importance given to each of these. Charter & Dream have been owned up the most, for they are high level agreements amongst the residents, and each one can have different “interpretations” and so there is not much pressure of an actual unity. 3rd, that is to be a true Aurovilian & 4th, that is the manifestation of a city are difficult, for 3rd requires Sadhana, change of human nature – & as yet not all of us in Auroville have accepted that to be a fundamental indispensible necessity & the first & most important priority. Whilst softer forms of self-love, self-development, feel good spirituality are valued in the name of sadhana, there is an absence of serious Sadhana, that works with the vital and not indulges in it, that sees one’s own flaws than constantly blaming the systems, that serves the Divine Consciousness, cutting through one’s challenges, limitations, preferences and volatilities.

Since relationship to the Divine has not been taken seriously, the relationship with each other, creating bonds of attachments is seen as the highest spiritual manifestations of compassion and Love; whereas true human unity is based on Divine Love, not on human attachments, and in fact, it breaks through human attachments.

It is, for this reason, there is a lot of attachment to “my land”, “my home”, “my community”, “my family” in Auroville, for some of us are seeking human unity, without necessarily seeking the Divine with utmost, burning priority. If it does not go “via” the Divine, the creation of these attachments are but natural.

Next, 4th i.e. manifestation of the city is the most difficult because it makes things as concrete as they get. It is easy to agree in ideals and just as difficult to agree in action, matters of manifestation.

4th has also been particularly difficult for Auroville began with the reforestation of barren land, and over the years, people have grown very attached to their work, land, the trees they planted, the huts they have made, even though from the very beginning it was meant to be a temporary work of safeguarding and rejuvenating the land until the work for the city begins.

The original idea and intention of Auroville were to create an international lab for the evolution of consciousness, in which research happens in all aspects of city life, with 50,000 constantly-evolving residents from across the world & a complex architecture, that is at once eco-friendly, with 75% forest, as well as high-tech modern buildings. What we have created is beautiful and grandeur, but not the Galaxy, and that’s not just because we didn’t have the means we also didn’t have the intention, we didn’t have faith in it’s Founder, we didn’t feel it is important. Making the Galaxy meant us to let go of our single stories huts and homes on tracts of lands – not very easy.

Now that we had not taken Sadhana seriously, natural human attachments have taken over. Auroville then is no longer an experiment for the world, by the world, and of the world, but rather my little community, my land, my friends, my house to which I am very attached.
Emotional being is mistaken for the psychic being, when human relationships are built on attachment. Now, this is a big blocker, for a constantly evolving city like Auroville. In a place where nothing belongs to anybody in particular, tribal mentality, marking territory, not allowing the world to come & learn from Auroville, but using people to make money, is a serious misdirection that has taken over.

Auroville is not a tribal community where we have to love each other like family, hiding each other’s flaws and supporting each other irrationally, but rather widen our Hearts to love universally.

With the coming of Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary, a force is at work, and this is beginning to change. Auroville is undergoing a process of intense purification. The need of sadhana and of manifestating our ideals through serious work as a living breathing city of dawn & open it to the world to learn & engage is beginning to gain momentum.

But this radical shift will not be easy. As usual every great shift, this too is preceded by a battle. A battle of future and the past. The future that is determined and violently trying to shake the past. The past that is stuck and aggressive and refuses to move.

Today we are into this battle where the future is violently trying to leap and the past is aggressively trying to hold back in Auroville.
This is not a new problem, it has existed for over 25+ years, so if we see the dramatised narratives from yesterday in isolation, it will be biased. 25 years ago, Auroville fought a war against the spiritual hardliners, and in that process, a part of the Auroville mentality developed an aversion towards Divine, the Mother, Sri Aurobindo & themselves became environmental
hardliners.

The environment hardliners, using one or the other logic kept on blocking the manifestation of the city, losing often the sense of proportion – calling a few trees as a forest, instigating the youth to deliberately plant trees in areas meant for city’s manifestation, using the community process to hijack with loud voices and vital dominations to get their way through…

In all of this, the world has experienced a great loss; for Auroville has largely remain closed to receive the energy of the world, for Auroville is far from becoming the “city” the Earth needs.

Not just the world, in all of this, Auroville has really suffered with it’s collective processes becoming stagnant and redundant, sluggish and poor, youth often falling into drugs and pornography in the name of freedom in this spiritual place, and economy white and black, hardly thriving.

Auroville is undergoing surgery of a cancer that has been building up over the years. It is painful, but it is not the destruction of Auroville. It is the repair of Auroville. Nothing can and will destroy Auroville. Auroville’s development until now has happened with the hand of the Divine Mother, she brought the hippies here, they have regenerated the land. She is also behind all that is coming to Auroville, money, infrastructure and a space for sadhaks to come. The past was her doing, the present and the future too. The surface destruction is a part of the Leela. We play our part, and see Her birth the new world. It is not ideal that a war births
peace, and perhaps, it will not be required as we evolve. Where we are, that’s what seems to be unfolding, and we see the Divine Will behind it and play perfectly the little role given to us in Her play, which is beyond us.

Madam Secretary Dr. Jayanti Ravi will address the community

Dear Sisters and brothers of Auroville,
Greetings to each one of you as we get ready to usher in the new dawn full of light and promise.
Over these last six months, I have had an earnest desire to meet each and every one of you individually and know every one of you personally. While we would certainly want that to happen, for the present, I thought I should interact with all of you and address all of you and answer some of your questions as well.
I have felt strongly that my pleasure and enjoyment of meeting has been limited to some and not to all Aurovillians. So a meeting with you all has been scheduled for 3 to 5 pm today, 31st December, at the Unity Pavilion. I sincerely invite each one of you and hope to see you all today.
We are all here for collectively manifesting Human Unity and the City of Dawn. Manifesting Mother’s vision is our motto.

Regards
Dr Jayanti Ravi

Venue: Unity Pavilion

Time: 3 to 5pm

“Always you will see that within you the shadow and the light are equal: you have an ability, you also have the negation of this ability. But, if you discover a very black hole, a thick shadow, be sure that somewhere in you there is a great light. It is up to you to know how to use the one to realize the other.”

― The Mother

Hamara Bharat: At Auroville, “Model City For Unity”, Road Project Triggers Clash

At Auroville, 'Model City For Unity', Road Project Triggers Clash
Residents allege they were attacked when they tried to stop an earth mover

Chennai:

Tempers are running high at the tranquil enclave of Auroville in Puducherry where a group of residents are protesting against the administration’s plans to build a road envisaged by Auroville founder Mirra Alfassa.

The 4-km inner ring road would connect all four zones of the model city. However, a section of residents says the road plan, named the Crown Project, cuts through a forested area called Bliss and Youth Centre. They are demanding that the plan be slightly altered keeping ecological concerns in mind.

In the latest flare-up, workers from nearby villages, who had been engaged by the administration to help in the project, allegedly roughed up a section of residents, including women. The residents allege they were attacked when they tried to stop an earth mover brought to clear the Youth Centre.

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Divya, a resident, has sent a representation to Auroville Foundation, which runs Auroville. “Today, I climbed on top of the JCB which was working at the Youth Centre and asked the driver to stop the machine. The driver was scared, he would have stopped. But 20 goondas surrounding the JCB lifted me off and carried me away. Of course, in the process I got hurt physically, but that is not the point.”

“Human Unity will not be built by bringing police or goondas from villages. Neither will the city be built by this way. You all know that but at this moment are blinded by the narrative of perfect circle and sacred geometry,” she has stated.

Responding to the allegations, Auroville Foundation’s spokesperson Sindhuja Jagadeesh said, “We had engaged the workers to form a chain around the earth mover so that protesters can’t come near the machine. They are our work force from nearby villages. It is the protesters who behaved like goons. They will face the consequences.”

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Citing the ecological concerns surrounding the Crown Project, a resident Suhasini Ayer said, “There is a low-lying area at the head of a watershed. We need to have a plantation and we need to work on how to protect the watershed.”

The Foundation’s stand is that the road is part of the master plan of the township as envisioned by the Auroville founder. It also said the residents were aware of the course of his road, but still went ahead and started plantations.

Sindhuja Jagadeesh said, “A feeling of land ownership and entitlement has slowly crept in among residents. At Auroville, we are stewards and not landowners. The master plan stands and we will implement it.”

The Foundation also said they will transplant trees that may need to be removed or plant fresh saplings.

Joel Van Lierde, another spokesperson for the Foundation, said, “You should know that for each tree that will be removed, four trees will be planted.”

The protesters, however, are adamant that no trees should be removed.

An experimental township, Auroville is located mostly in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district with some parts in Puducherry. It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa – known as “The Mother” to her followers and designed by architect Roger Anger.

The vision behind Auroville is that it becomes a universal town where people of all countries are able to live in peace and unity by rising above creeds, politics and nationalities. While it was originally planned for about 50,000 residents, its population has hovered around 3,000 over the past few decades.

“What is going on in the name of Mother and Sri Aurobindo here in Auroville right now is a travesty. The Auroville Foundation is imposing a 20-year-old Master Plan which hasn’t been updated and whose DDPs and Implementation Plans have not even been made, using JCBs against the youth of Auroville, without even showing work orders. We are not against development, but we want development that is ecological and inclusive. Auroville is meant to be a place of human unity. This violent top-down implementation of a rigid plan, ignoring all alternatives suggested for the route, has absolutely nothing to do with human unity,” said Mita Radhakrishnan, another resident.

https://www.hamara-bharat.com/at-auroville-model-city-for-unity-road-project-triggers-clash/
https://www.ndtv.com/south/at-auroville-model-city-for-unity-road-project-triggers-clash-2644914