My experience of Satprem

the initial plan could have caused so many clashes and conflicts, so many judgments and so much misunderstanding. And so, the character of the cause to be served was being clothed in a pernicious emotion which, in fact, would bring about more division than unity. This adhesion or allegiance to a banner or a flag would soon culminate in the phrase: “if you are not with us, you are against us…!” Nevertheless, for a little while longer, the concrete situation on the ground served as a bond and kept us together. The legal authorities, the “owners”, by the law, of Auroville, of its land and its money (donations) as of its project, relied more and more on the existing external means and mechanisms to try and control us – or to replace us with more devout and docile candidates. To the displeasure of a few, my name was entered on a first list of 9 against whom cases were filed. Then, in a circumstantial and unpremeditated manifestation of solidarity, about 40 of us were “arrested” near the Banyan tree and taken to the prison in Tindivanam (half-way there the police constables made Krishna get down the van as he was an African black!), where we had to spend a few days and nights in a rather comic atmosphere, those remaining “outside” busying themselves to get us released. A whole series of additional court-cases were filed; ironically, the very fact that we were legally accused was making our physical presence in the country compulsory, even though our visas had been cancelled and the SAS people wished nothing more than to see us expelled. For me it was even more ironical – and useful, as I had no visa at all since the time the “Committee” had refused me… Satprem participated in these efforts and even came and visited the “prisoners”.

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