On Auroville 2022 to 2025

So far the Central Government was there as a protector, a guarantor and a benefactor; but it has recently shown signs of claiming the entire “project” as its own and being determined to manage it according to its criteria, with the help of its own machinery. Perhaps the fact that some of us have not only welcomed, but even invited this intervention out of their frustration with the lack of a unified vision for the outer development of Auroville, feeling entitled to do so as their service to its speedy materialization, has in the larger community taken on the character of a betrayal; it has reenergized the old divisive notion of “us and them”, and this has left everyone dazed and uncertain and prone to discouragement and doubt. So indeed, this would perhaps be a dual cause of distress: the heavy overtaking of a still fragile and fumbling collective balance by a blind exterior power fed with simplistic rules of engagement and conduct on the one hand, and on the other the consummation of a deep divide in our understanding or perception of the meaning and purpose of Auroville.

And this would be reason enough to try and call, in words, thoughts, feelings and commitments, the impregnable truth of Auroville.

Certainly we each and all have failed Her in so many ways. Certainly we each and all have tried and served Her in so many ways. Who is to judge, who is to check the scales?

Almost every time in the past that we followed the advice of trusted friends of Auroville and turned to the Central Government for help, be it legal or financial, we may have further compromised the destiny of Auroville; today the time seems to have come when this power claims its dues – and who are we to protest? Our schools have been funded by it, our built roads and some of our collective edifices have been financed by its grants; our remaining strengths in terms of independence and autonomy are that none of the lands have been bought with Government monies, nor most of our residences and infrastructure, services and productive units; but of course a Government has all the rights and as more than half of us are of “foreign” origin, we are but tolerated on the soil of India and have no say. Auroville is actually 54 years old. There are about 3.500 permanent residents and on any given day of the year there are many thousands more actively participating - employees and workers, relatives, guests and visitors. Not many of us who were amongst the first inhabitants are still here; many have died; many have moved away and come back, or not returned yet. Children born in the early years have in turn become parents and grand-parents.

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