Itinerary

And when the two “opposite camps” were so entre nched, there remained only one option, that of the intervention of an external force, superior in terms of ordinary power, to try and safeguard the material possibility of the adventure.

The second deviation occurred more gradually, once the dual administration as defined by the Act of Parliament which gave birth to the “Auroville Foundation” was set in motion. At first, the understanding was that this was only a temporary measure of unassailable legal protection which would provide the voluntary residents of Auroville enough time to work out their own organization according to their collective intuition of a future yet to be discovered. But then, almost insensibly, two temptations profiled themselves, with their conjoined effects and consequences: one was to seek financial assistance from the Central Government in order to help develop some domains of research of universal import, beginning with that of education. Mother had always been very keen on accepting only unconditional donations, or else such loans that would be flexible and comprehensive enough; likewise She had categorically repelled any attempt at interference on the part of any external organization in the affairs of the Ashram or those of Auroville, whatever might be the initial intentions.

Of this we did not take enough care.

And thus, once assured of a relative economic security and of the possibility of creating new structures without drawing from those funds generated by the productive and commercial activities of

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