Two more texts on and for Auroville

Two more texts on and for Auroville:

“Inversion” (March 2025)

“Where is the way?” (May 2025)

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INVERSION

(Can inversion bring about true progress?)

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March 20, 2025 Reading the Supreme Court Verdict.

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Here is the document circulated by the Aurovilians working closely with the Auroville Foundation and its Secretary, informing of the Supreme Court‟ decision. Ruling of the Supreme Court of India in favour of the AV Foundation on March 18, 2025. Press Note by the AVF: “AUROVILLE FOUNDATION Autonomous body under Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India Auroville-605101 Tamil Nadu. Supreme Court Upholds Auroville Foundation’s Authority and Validates Master Plan Implementation. The Auroville Foundation welcomes the recent landmark judgments delivered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on 17th March 2025, which have reinforced the Governing Board’s authority to implement Auroville’s vision as envisioned by the Mother and approved through a statutory Master Plan, and has clarified the role to be played by the Residents’ Assembly. The Auroville Foundation was represented by the Attorney General of India, Mr. R. Venkataramani, Adv. Mr. Vaibhav Venkatesh, the Legal Counsel of the Auroville Foundation, and Adv. Mr. Balaji Srinivasan. Verdict on Environmental Clearance and the Auroville Master Plan In the case of The Auroville Foundation vs. Navroz Kersasp Mody & Ors. (C.A. No(s). 5781-5782 of 2022), the Supreme Co urt: ● Set aside the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directions that had stalled the construction of Crown Road and other essential infrastructure projects aligned with the Auroville Master Plan. ● Affirmed that the Auroville Master Plan— originally envisioned by the Mother, approved in 2001 by the Governing Board and the Government of India, and notified in 2010 — has statutory force and does not require fresh Environmental Clearance (EC). ● Held that the Crown Road and related projects were part of an approved statutory plan and could not be halted by invoking the Precautionary Principle where no substantial question of environmental law was involved. ● Recognized that the area in question (Darkali) was not a forest and did not require clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

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Relevant excerpts from the judgment: Para no. 17 “…it is equally true that while the right to clean environment is a guaranteed fundamental right under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, the right to development through industrialization equally claims priority under fundamental rights particularly under Articles 14,19 and 21 of the Constitution of India. There is therefore a need for “Sustainable Development” harmonizing and striking a golden balance between th e right to development and the right to clean environment.” Para no. 18 “…in the instant case, no substantial question relating to environment had arisen, nor violation of any of the enactments specified in Schedule-I was alleged. The Tribunal therefore had committed gross error in assuming the jurisdiction and giving directions untenable in law.” Para no. 19 “In that view of the matter, the impugned Orders passed by the Tribunal being without jurisdiction and legally untenable deserve to be quashed and s et aside, and are hereby set aside.” In summary, the Court’s verdict recognizes that the Auroville Foundation has been acting fully in accordance with the law and that its development efforts are aligned with a legally approved Master Plan that requires no additional approvals or environmental clearances. Verdict on Standing Orders and Governing Board’s Powers. In a separate case, The Auroville Foundation vs. Natasha Storey (C.A. No. 13651 of 2024), the Supreme Court: ● Set aside the judgment of the Mad ras High Court that had wrongly invalidated Standing Order No. 01/2022 issued by the Auroville Foundation for reconstituting the Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC). ● Reaffirmed that the Governing Board of Auroville Foundation has full authority under the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988 to constitute and reconstitute committees, including the ATDC, for the efficient implementation of the Master Plan. ● Clarified that the Residents’ Assembly’s role is advisory in nature and does not extend to claiming a right to nominate members to committees formed by the Governing Board. ● Noted that repeated litigations by certain residents aimed at obstructing Auroville’s progress constituted abuse of process, and imposed a ₹50,000 cost on the petitioner for filing a frivolous petition. In short, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the supremacy of the Governing Board in overseeing Auroville’s development and validated the Standing Order 01/2022 aimed at ensuring smooth implementation of the approved Master Plan.

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Relevant excerpts from the judgment: Para no. 16 “From the conjoint reading of the provisions of the A.F.Act and the said Rules, there remains no shadow of doubt that the Governing Board is vested with all the powers and is empowered to discharge all the functions as may be exercised or discharged by the Foundation, and that the general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Foundation vests in the Governing Board alone.” Para no. 17 “Having regard to the statutory provisions in the A ct and the Rules, we are of the opinion that the impugned Standing Order 01.06.2022 containing the Standing Order No. 01/2022 does not suffer from any legal infirmity. There is no legal or statutory right conferred upon the Residents’ Assembly or upon an individual resident to be part of any committee/council constituted by the Governing Board in exercise of its powers conferred under Section 11(3), 16(1) and 17(e) of the said Act read with Rule 5(1) and 5(2) of the said Rules. The functions of the Resident s’ Assembly are confined only to advise the Governing Board in respect of the activities relating to the residents of Auroville and to make recommendations as specified in Section 19 of the Act, and not any further.” Para no. 18 “In that view of the matte r, we are of the opinion that the High Court has thoroughly misdirected itself in misinterpreting the provisions of the A.F. Act and in setting aside the impugned Notification containing the Standing Order dated 01.06.2022. The impugned Order being highly erroneous deserves to be set aside, and is hereby set aside.” Para no. 19 “As demonstrated earlier, some disgruntled and discontented residents kept on filing petitions one after the other dragging the Appellant Foundation into unnecessary litigations. The Writ Petition filed by the respondent before the High Court was one of such ill motivated petitions filed by her to abuse the process of law, to hamper the development of Auroville and to cause obstructions in the smooth functioning of the Governing Board of the Foundation. Hence, the Appeal is allowed with cost of Rs. 50,000/- to be deposited by the respondent before the Supreme Court Legal Service Committee within two weeks from today.” Commitment to Auroville’s Vision and Growth: the Auroville Founda tion remains steadfast in its commitment to realizing the vision of the Mother — establishing a universal township dedicated to human unity.

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With the Court’s endorsement of the Master Plan and the Governing Board’s powers, Auroville can now move forward without unnecessary hindrances or legal obstacles. Way Forward: Implementing Auroville’s “Vision Auroville” will resume all pending infrastructure projects aligned with the Master Plan, including the Crown Road and related developments. The Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC) will continue its work in line with the reconstituted structure approved by the Governing Board. The Foundation remains committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and growth while advancing Auroville’s mission. Gratitude and Appeal for Collaboration: all residents and stakeholders are invited to join hands in this journey of growth and progress by supporting all efforts to implement Auroville’s vision. Collective cooperation and harmony are essential to fulfilling Aurovill e’s destiny as a beacon of an Actual Human Unity.

(Issued by: Sindhuja, AVF Legal Coordinator Date: 17th March 2025)

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From now onwards, as per the ruling of the Supreme Court of India issued on the 18 th of March 2025, almost exactly 57 years after its inauguration, Auroville is to adapt to an inversion. The Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation, whose members, Chair and Secretary are selected by the Central Government of India, is to determine, di rect and conduct Auroville‟s affairs, development and progress according to its understanding of the Mother‟s vision of an international city dedicated to human unity. The residents of Auroville may convey their views to the Governing Board, but have no authority or power to implement any direction, nor is there any scope for cooperative or collaborative processes.

How the Governing Board is going to find its way to manifesting human unity is not specified.

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This is where we are. Having reached this actual reversal, which some Aurovilians cheer about – for the moment -, what shall we do, what will one do? Do, resist, offer, abandon, accept, fight, try and ignore, or sabotage, boycott, or yield to, try and fit in, or defy, challenge, oppose with more appeals and external support? Is it all unjust, unfair, the action of an obscure and hostile system or association of forces wanting to seize and make use of this coveted price that the material Auroville has become - as it now appears like a profitable vein to be exploited for the benefit of the nation on the international stage, worth investing in, provided all opposition is cleaned out?

Is this an undeserved intervention, an arbitrary punishment of sorts?

Or is this a passing tornado, a whim of circumstances and political configurations, unrelated to the actual stage of development of the community?

And yet, looking back and remembering, weren‟t there many a sign of an impending intrusion, or of an affirmation of a long quiescent but long standing claim of control and ownership on the part of the Government, and even of an internal call for it to be actualized, so that the situation could be “redressed” or corrected or re -aligned, according to a particular sense of priorities?

And weren‟t there also man y a symptom of a gradual erosion of our commitment and aspiration?

So now, how do we swallow the bitter medicine, let go of futile arguments and defensive posturing, without abandoning our commitment or yielding to the image of loss and defeat? It may be necessary to first draw, and fully acknowledge, an honest assessment of the years past in terms of conscious becoming – in terms of the progress of our collective and individual consciousnesses; indeed, have we, all of us and all the time, been faithful to our initial self-giving, our

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original commitment to serve the advent of the Truth-Consciousness in all we are and all we do? Have we not been lax, have we not indulged in lesser gains, have we not let the fire remain untended? Have we not accepted various justifications for the increase of mixture in our midst, for the drive of lesser motivations and lesser priorities in our lives? Whatever it is that seems to happen to each and to all of us, the only way to assimilate it is to learn the lesson it has to teach us on our way to union and unity.

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However, aside from our necessities in terms of our collective sadhana, we know that the laboratory and crucible of Auroville must work on the contradictions that occupy, challenge and tear apart, under so many guises, the whole of humanity in every country and society, contradictions that MUST be resolved if it is to enter a more harmonious future upon earth.

One of these contradictions is the opposition between development and natural equilibrium.

The Supreme Court in its judgment has put it in these terms: “…harmonizing and striking a golden balance between the right to development and the right to clean environment” ... referring to the Constitution. It can be identified in several other ways, such as the balance between external progress and inner growth of consciousness; or between innovative, creative material advance, and organic, wholesome becoming; or else between imposing a new order on life and circumstances, and aspiring for a new harmony to emerge from the living experience… Many, if not most of our difficulties over the past decades have arisen out of our inability to reconcile these opposing tendencies or drives, either because we tried to do so with outdated mental means, or out of attachment to the identity and positioning they offered.

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Yet we have been told, very clearly and repeatedly, that it is not a matter of giving each tendency the same “right” to express itself, but one of reaching for a consciousness that includes and integrates both in an as yet undiscovered living harmony. It is not just for our own destiny, the destiny of Auroville, that we must find the way forward: it is for humanity as a whole. Everywhere one looks, presently, one sees the dire effects of this dichotomy rapidly multiplying, with consequences that may become irreversible down to the very constitution of earth-matter. Let us look at the exemplary contradiction we have been living with, in Auroville, for more than fifty years: We have a plan of a city ready to descend and to imprint itself in the physical reality so as to hasten the manifestation of the vision of the future it represents. And we have an experience of collective awareness that seeks to grow and develop organically according to the necessities of life as it is permeated by the new consciousness, without any enforcement or predetermined criterion and in harmony with a prosperous natural environment. Both approaches can be found and encouraged in the Mother‟s words. There has been through the years a range of attempts to communicate and collaborate – and at times to neutralize one or the other approach or to put into practice a sort of hybrid expression of both. In more general terms, the contradiction lies between a vision that seeks to guide and direct the evolution of a particular situation so as to manifest an example of the conscious collective harmony that must reign upon earth, on the one hand, and on the other hand a sense of growth and progress that seeks to integrate and respect all aspects of life and natural integrity towards the realization of a plenitude and harmony yet unknown to humankind. *

Both may well be necessary.

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How, then, to resolve such a contradiction: At first one has to attentively ensure that neither approach will try and affirm itself at the expense of the other. Then, by exercising this care and attention, each approach realizes that it needs the other to become whole. And lastly, one discovers that the two approaches, once each one has integrated the other, have become a single base and living foundation for the way of the future upon earth.

This is perhaps what we need to learn right now.

But let us all remember that time is pressing, as far as “humanity as a whole” and the Earth are concerned.

Greetings to each and all !!!!

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Divakar

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Where is the way?

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May 5, 2025 – Auroville

Where are we? Where is the way of true progress, from today onwards?

Confronting us all today, as if standing at attention, are the contradictions that have for decades confused us, obstructed us, troubled and affected us, influenced and corrupted us, assaulted and delayed and misguided us, eroding our trust and confidence in the future of humanity, divided us and fragmented the truth of Auroville; it is as if they have been arranged and ordered to appear all in one array, so we can take stock and … offer it all…! Here is a tentative appreciation of our various “responsibilities” and “faults”, remembering HER: who never judged any one, but poured Her true love unconditionally, as the One True Guide to Truth… How can we, without judging, condemning, apportioning blame and further dividing, assess the present situation - insofar as it reflects, or results from, numerous failings – so as to unreservedly turn together towards a truer collective reality, more transparent and receptive to the Truth Consciousness? Not facing our shortcomings or various betrayals is not an option, as their consequences will further fester and contaminate any effort at genuine collective progress; but wallowing in mutual reproaches and exploiting guilt and remorse or revenge will not take us a single step forward either. *

So, where have we failed, where are we failing to abide by the truest guidance one is aware of? And who is “we”?

First, let us be reminded of the criteria or references for any assessment of a given situation of conflict – morals, ethics and dharma (and their laws, regulations and strictures) – and wonder or reflect upon “adharma”…

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On morals and ethics:

On the path of Auroville, opened by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother‟s work, it is clear to everyone that morals as such have no more place in one‟s aspiration and commitment to give oneself to the Truth-Consciousness. Morals are a product of social, historical and cultural environment and they differ from one part of the world to another, serving the limited purpose of social cohesion. Morals may help in the conduct of individual and collective life as long as one is bound by the exterior personality, which is an assemblage of different and often contradictory drives and demands responding to different determinisms; but as soon as one enters the spiritual path or experiences the spiritual birth, morals cease to be relevant and are replaced by the need and nece ssity to turn every part of one‟s nature to the spiritual force. Yet, there remains a sense of higher ethics, where ordinary life and spiritual existence meet and these higher ethics may be defined differently according to one‟s circumstances, but are ess entially the same everywhere, corresponding to the imperatives of truth, justice, good, benevolence, beauty, harmony, loyalty, steadfastness, integrity… Now, in India, we have a sense of “Dharma”, a Sanskrit term which has no exact translation in any other language, but has a deep and far-reaching significance for every person, whatever may be one‟s social place in the collective reality, and will remain significant and actual even when one has progressed beyond the realms of common human consciousness, for it will always reflect or represent one‟s highest commitment. Thus, throughout the entire fabric of Indian reality, each person, regardless of one‟s place or realization, will be aware of the necessities and calls of one‟s dharma. Where Auroville is concerned, each person relating to its mission and raison d‟être will come into a sense of dharma that is specific to its progress upon earth. This dharma will require great respect, discernment, plasticity, wideness, solidarity, readiness to advance on the way and willingness to change and offer all of one‟s limitations. One must be ready to constantly On “Dharma”:

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evolve in one‟s understanding and attitude towards the whole of life and the necessity of unity.

And where the Government of India is concerned, each person related to it through one‟s competence, function, position or consecration, must respond and relate to the dharma of all servants of Mother India, Bharat Mata, which implies selflessness, integrity, enthusiasm, inclusiveness, utmost care and respect for Her land and people, constant adherence to the ways of harmony, yet also constant readiness to stand and fight in obedience to Her high mission upon earth. Evidently, whosoever comes to join Auroville is bound to carry within oneself numerous weaknesses and obscurities, and thus each Aurovilian at one time or another is bound to betray and fail, and must learn to let every part and every element and every movement be offered to the light and workings of the Truth-Consciousness; each one bring to the task a representation of such contradictions as must be illumined and resolved for humankind to open to the future – to the evolution of consciousness. And for a long time, it is definitely easier to see another‟s faults than one‟s own. It is part of the task: every negation of the true consciousness has to be offered to the Spirit of Auroville* (see addendum) , till it changes. This is one of the unique purposes of Auroville and, so far, there is no other such site or living laboratory dedicated to the task of offering our human nature to the Unity of the One. This is not so where the Government – the multitude of its ministries, departments, missions and outposts – is concerned: its servants and members are expected to meet certain requirements so as to serve the country in the most diligent, faithful and effective way, but they are not meant to offer their entire being to a transformative action on the way to a yet unknown condition upon earth. On “Adharma”:

Here, we have an inextricable conundrum: the Mother specified that, in order to take part in the organization of Auroville, one has to be committed

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for life; such condition would naturally bar the way to Government officers wishing to interfere in or even to seize control of the affairs of Auroville. This is not a matter of qualities, aptitudes or behaviours, but one of the deepest sort of commitment and self-giving. One may debate rationally the pros and cons of some working compromise so that a degree of willing collaboration may be achieved between those who have chosen to give their lives to Auroville and those who represent the Central Government at this critical moment of transition, but there must be a deeper understanding of the profound difference in the nature of the choices made for any compromise to have a chance of progress and fulfilment. Auroville has much to offer to the nation and its people and for this sharing and diffusion to happen harmoniously, mutual respect and caring awareness must be established. In terms of dharma, one can cite positions and actions on the part of the Government that do not meet the demands of either the Auroville‟s dharma or its own. The Central Government has no “right” to nominate or designate any Government body, such as the Auroville Foundation, as the owner and proprietor of Auroville (its lands and assets), since the Parliament Act‟ original intention was for the Central Government to protect Auroville precisely from such claims of ownership and provide it with a legal status which would allow it to develop according to its goals as stated in its Charter. Therefore it is “adharmic” for the Central Government today to claim complete control over the land and assets of Auroville, which belong to “nobody in particular, but to humanity as a whole”. The many individuals who offered – to the Mother - all the plots of land which now technically belong to the Auroville Foundation, to be managed and cared for on behalf of humanity as a whole at the service of the Divine Consciousness, never intended for these donations to be used by the Government for its own ends and this arbitrary imposition of Governmental control constitutes a breach of trust.

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The arguments presented by the Government to justify its takeover of the affairs of Auroville are convenient fabrications based on distorted facts and records. Here are a few examples. One: it is incorrect to affirm the so- called “Master Plan” or “Galaxy City Plan” is of equal value and preeminence as the Charter, written by Mother, adding that it is Her plan, seen and blessed by Her and down to such details as the radius of the circular crown road while, in fact, the plan being referred to in the current implementation drive, made possible by the financial and authoritarian involvement of the Central Government, was arrived at only in 1999, after many various and differing versions, and was neither a final nor a detailed plan ready for execution, but merely a template to be gazetted, under the lead of the Governing Board and its Chairman, and therefore made legally binding on any further development. To define it further as one of “two foundational pillars” of Auroville‟s existence and mission, is therefore tantamount to a gross ethical violation. That there exists sufficient documentation to support the validity of a general “galaxy” plan (yet less so than that of the previous “nebula” plan which Mother had clearly appreciated) is certain; but to affirm its realization is as essential and crucial to Auroville‟s future as the contents of its guiding Charter, verges on grave interference. Two: it is incorrect to affirm that the Aurovilians – or a dominant majority of them – consciously blocked, prevented or obstructed the external manifestation of such a plan and sought to retain sovereignty of the entire “project” for their own limited and privileged benefit and usage. What the inhabitants of Auroville have been able to accomplish in 5 decades cannot be denied; yet they did not have any access to large funding and the legal position never permitted the Aurovilians to either earn such vast amounts as were needed to hasten the building of a city, or receive contributions from outside organizations that would not be conditional; meanwhile, it was their responsibility to manage and tend large tracts of land in the most harmonious and helpful way possible. One can easily list the numerous instances of laxity, neglect, absurdity, pettiness, rigidity, exclusivism, or carelessness: of course! And naturally Auroville has attracted much ill-will and meanness, being an easy prey to all kinds of criticism with its mixed population and medley of

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behaviors – more than fifty different cultures sharing the same collective space are bound to ignite various resentments and misunderstandings! But one must learn that, each person who joins Auroville becomes partly responsible for its welfare and harmonious progress and, whatever fault one yields to, Auroville as a whole will have to bear the consequences.

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Yes, indeed, the Central Government has now committed itself to the hastening of the external expression of a city-to-be, investing such large amounts of public funds as was not dreamed of earlier, and positioning itself as the owner and final arbiter of Auroville‟s progress, reorganizing – or “correcting” – its collective functioning and issuing new guidelines and regulations to all of its participants. Yes, indeed, Auroville has thus been brought onto the national stage and it is an opportunity for it to serve as an inspiration in every domain of the nation‟s life: but fo r this to grow, thrive and blossom, one must remember at all times that, as Sri Aurobindo has underlined, the true growth can only come from within and cannot be forced or imposed: it must be nurtured in freedom and cherished at every step and conditions must be provided for its harmonious and genuine progress. Thus, it is imperative that a common ground is found and respected for an actual collaboration to develop and mutual trust to flow and allow for a truly creative and useful relationship between the servants of Auroville and those of the Government of India. This is certainly possible, as we have all been brought willy-nilly to this point, and must rise to the call for a new step in Auroville‟s adventure, which may give it the protection it requires for its inner task of conscious change.

Let chosen representatives meet and discern together the needed process.

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*Addendum: On October 25, 1967, about 4 months before the inauguration of Auroville, Mother wondered about the “Spirit of Auroville”:

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“… And the concrete materialization of the spirit of Auroville has not yet taken place, it does not exist, there is not a formation in the terrestrial atmosphere of the „spirit of Auroville‟, which is a spirit… (Mother remains absorbed a long time) … essentially, it is „the art of making a unity with the complexity‟… Without uniformity, you understand: unity by harmonizing the complexity, each thing in its place… It is very difficult….!” 58 years later, we know a little more, but we have yet to embody it co llectively…

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Divakar

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