journal d'une transition

739

*31-7-1987, Auroville: P.V stopped me on the road, to ask me to sign a petition drafted by those in Auroville who do not accept any compromise with the SAS and thus feel misrepresented by the proposal Al.B has made at the general meeting of yesterday. I cannot attune to any of these games now; but I looked at the petition, and the first sentence, stating the betrayal by the SAS of the basic, living principles of Auroville, I could well accept and endorse; but this was followed by some dramatic wording to the effect that to accept any compromise that would provide entry to the SAS would deal “a fatal blow to our aspirations and hopes”; and it went on requesting the continuation of the Government’s active protection… And this to me is nonsense, and such a comedy! (If such are our “aspirations” that they can so easily be killed, then they aren’t worth mentioning!) P.V wasn’t happy at my abstaining!

***

*Open letter regarding the Organisation of Auroville and its relationship to the Central Government of India.

(Note: I had written this document, it appears from the date, at the beginning of 1987, but I do not remember when it was shared with others in Auroville – however, it remained actual…)

- 26.1.1987, Auroville -

“It seems we are being asked to come up with some practical, workable proposals concerning the next few years of Auroville’s evolution.

It is understandable that the Government of India does not wish to remain perpetually entangled with Auroville and that on the other hand, having committed itself so concretely for several years, it cannot just pull out without certain guarantees. Auroville too does need guarantees that it will not have to return to the previous sterile state of conflict with its would-be owners. But it also needs to find its own ways to evolve, to discover them with the least interference from any of the machineries that are based in the ordinary world and society. We chose to ask the Government’s help and, given the general conditions at present, it appears that we still need that help for some time to come. So perhaps, rather than making big declarations and taking foolish stands, or else passively going under the crushing weight of inadequate and rigid organisational formations, we could suggest some simple and effective means by which both the Government and Auroville will feel their respective duties are un-compromised and their respective responsibilities are clear.