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Latest News & Updates
Visit of dignitaries in Auroville : an authoritarian approach
Mar 22, 2023 | Organisation & governance, Processes by-passed, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Letter from the WC to the community: RA WCom: Welcome to visiting dignitaries Dear Community, Residents of Auroville have always warmly welcomed all visiting dignitaries and foreign diplomats who have visited this township in the making on numerous occasions. We are...
Meeting minutes of the Governing board.
Mar 20, 2023 | Governing Board
The meeting minutes for the 61st Governing Board meeting have been published on the Auroville Foundation website. The bona fide WC is preparing a note on their observations. They still do not have any information about the 60th & 62nd meeting minutes, despite...
RA WCom: Communications to editors of national newspapers
Mar 14, 2023 | Medias take over, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Dear Community, An email from 'OSD' of the Auroville Foundation has gone to the editors of the major national newspapers with the title 'Request to Publish information about Auroville Foundation in your media outlet' (). This email contained inaccurate information...
Open letter to the so-called ‘Working Committee, ATDC, and FAMC’ re the statement about “unfortunate obstructions”
Mar 14, 2023 | Destruction, Planning & development, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
What we find unfortunate indeed is that an ‘ATDC’ not recognized by the community, which has been playing havoc with the existing roads of Auroville for months now in the most incompetent way, instead of concentrating on trying to clear up their mess, has suddenly...
RA WCom: On recent and forthcoming events in Darkali
Mar 10, 2023 | Destruction, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Dear residents, As many of you are aware, on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th March some individuals affiliated with the Office of the Secretary and its questionable 'ATDC' have entered Darkali to resume the clearing of trees in the area, accompanied by two men with...
Letter addressed to the Secretary, Dr Jayanti Ravi by the AVI board
Mar 6, 2023 | Governing Board, Organisation & governance, Resident Assembly
Letter dated 6th March 2023 addressed to the Secretary, Dr Jayanti Ravi by the AVI board. This letter is in follow-up to the visit of many of the AVI Board members: To:Dr. Jayanti RaviSecretary of the Auroville FoundationFoundation OfficeAuroville Cc: Governing Board,...
What is the News & Notes?
Mar 6, 2023 | Medias take over, Take over
The News & Notes (N&N) is Auroville's internal news bulletin that started in 1975. Working Group reports, articles, events and more are published and distributed weekly through a print and online version. The N&N has always served as a neutral and...
Crown Road update
Mar 4, 2023 | Destruction, Planning & development
Satprem from the Auroville Earth Institute has shared his latest report on the Crown Road works, highlighting that the new precast reinforced cement concrete (RCC) slabs that the AVFO’s ‘ATDC’ are utilizing in their design do not comply with any Indian standards for...
Auroville governance, democracy and dictatorship
Mar 4, 2023 | Organisation & governance
Auroville Governance: Democracy and Dictatorship Running parallel to the consolidation of power within Auroville is the media drive to suggest that this is what Sri Aurobindo and Mother wanted. We have seen people boasting that they, or people they champion, are...
Clarification on the leave India notice
Mar 4, 2023 | Visa threats
A Sharing from the Heart Dear friends and family, I am writing today with my open heart, to share a bit about what I’ve been going through lately. I don’t know if I’ll find the words that rightly capture how I feel deep within, but I’d like to try to give a voice to...
Opening speech – AV International
Mar 2, 2023 | Aims & ideals, International Advisory Council
About the spirit of Auroville AVI Board chairman's opening speech of Auroville International's General Assembly held on February 21st, 2023 at the Unity Pavilion in Auroville Posted on Auronet by Christian Feuillette, 25 Feb 2023 / 08:17 am Dear Friends, I would like...
Report on carbon emissions of Crown
Feb 27, 2023 | Planning & development, Processes by-passed, Take over
Satprem of the Auroville Earth Institute has written a technical report detailing the comparative carbon emissions of the original pavers on the Crown, versus the current concrete slabs that are being installed. The conclusion drawn is that the production and...
Issues of concern in Housing Service
Feb 27, 2023 | Organisation & governance, Processes by-passed, Take over
The AVFO’s appointed 'Housing Service’ has recently allocated a 200+ sqm family-sized house in Kalabhumi to a single Aurovilian, without following any community processes and for no financial contribution. Meanwhile, eviction emails have been sent to Aurovilians and a...
AVFO’s appointed ‘FAMC’ announces draft Housing Policy & Mandate
Feb 26, 2023 | Organisation & governance, Processes by-passed
The AVFO:s appointed ‘FAMC’ has released drafts for a new Housing Policy & Mandate. If the group manages to implement these documents some of the proposed changes would be;The elimination of the Housing Board from the Housing Group. The proposed mandate would...
FAMC recommends closing all small business activities
Feb 25, 2023 | Organisation & governance, Take over
Many small ‘business’ activities operate in Auroville, such as sexual health education services and youth empowerment activities, which typically generate less than 2-3 lakh rupees annually. These business activities are not geared towards profit maximization, on the...
AVI lt to Governing Board – 21-02-2023
Feb 22, 2023 | Governing Board, Letters of support
To:Excellency Shri R.N. Ravi, Chairman of the Auroville Governing Board, Members of the Governing Board of the Auroville FoundationAuroville Foundation BhavanAuroville February 21, 2023 Your Excellency Shri R.N. Ravi, dear members of the Governing Board, We have...
RA TDC: Considering multiple perspectives
Feb 21, 2023 | Planning & development, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Dear Community, We, the TDC selected in June 2022 by the Residents’ Assembly (RA) as per the ratified selection process, have been looking into and discussing a way forward for the bigger picture of planning for Auroville. We would like to share with you all a key...
Update on evergreen/ami land grab
Feb 18, 2023 | Land Matters
Abri/Ami/Evergreen - land grab update The case was heard in Tindivanam on Wednesday 15th February but for unknown reasons, the lawyers of the Land Board and Auroville Foundation Office did not appear. The case will come up for a final time on 23rd March 2023.
Satprem report on crown road work, feb 2023
Feb 18, 2023 | Planning & development
Satprem’s report - technical issues and tendering Satprem Maïni, head of the Auroville Earth Institute, has written his latest report on the Crown Road Works. In it, he details the technical issues with the latest plans for the road, which do not seem to follow any...
Role of the International Advisory Council
Feb 17, 2023 | Aims & ideals, International Advisory Council
The International Advisory Council is one of the 3 governing bodies of the Auroville Foundation, based on the Foundation Act 1988. [Read more on Auroville Organisation] The duty of the IAC as defined in the Auroville Foundation Act is to give advice to the Governing...
Nomination of the Members of the Governing Board
Feb 17, 2023 | Governing Board, Organisation & governance, Processes by-passed
The Auroville foundation is composed of 3 governing bodies: The Residents Assembly, the Governing Board and the International Advisory Council. See chart explaining the organisation of Auroville, Auroville Foundation explained None of the current members of the...
Sanatana Dharma and Auroville
Feb 16, 2023 | Aims & ideals, International Advisory Council
A letter from Rod Hemsell following the meeting of the IAC and the community The community meeting of Aurovilians with the International Advisory Council (IAC) on Feb. 16, 2023, was a wonderfully revealing and inspiring event for me: everything was beautifully...
New Archives service
Feb 15, 2023 | Organisation & governance, Statements by the RA and the Working groups, Take over
The Auroville Archives was forcefully taken over in June 2022, through an Office Order issued by the Office of the Secretary. The bonafide WC has informed the community that a new service of Archives has been set up. Here is their communication with the community:...
News from Gaia – Can you hear Her scream
Feb 14, 2023 | Destruction
Letter from an Aurovilian After over a year of bearing the chaos of our so called development push, today a term came to me that simply expresses my observations….”Zero Gain Development”. I think we all have had to witness the destroying of our pathed roads, which...
A political rather than a “spiritual summit”
Feb 10, 2023 | Aims & ideals, Processes by-passed, Take over
A "spiritual summit" is being organised by the Secretary of the GB for the 150 th anniversary of Sri Aurobindo while Auroville processes, roads and houses are being destroyed. This summit is again one more action going against the very principle of the Charter and of...
Mixing spirituality and politics
Feb 10, 2023 | Aims & ideals, Processes by-passed
A "spiritual summit" is being organised by a member of the IAC and the Secretary of the GB for the 150 th anniversary of Sri Aurobindo while Auroville processes, roads and houses are being destroyed. This summit is again one more action going against the very...
Reminding its role and mandate to the IAC
Feb 9, 2023 | Aims & ideals, International Advisory Council, Organisation & governance, Processes by-passed, Self Governance, Take over
Long-time Aurovilian C has written a letter to the International Advisory Council reminding them of their duties as defined in the Auroville Foundation Act: Dear members of the International Advisory Council, I have been told that you will visit Auroville shortly and...
On B.V. Doshi’s contributions to Auroville
Feb 3, 2023 | Aims & ideals, Planning & development
Dr B.V. Doshi was extensively involved in Auroville, both as a member of the Governing Board (2008 to 2016) and as Chairman of Auroville’s Town Development Council (ATDC, from 2011 to 2016). During his chairmanship of ATDC, Doshi faced difficulties in enabling a...
Auroville mourns the passing of B.V. Doshi
Jan 30, 2023 | Aims & ideals
Auroville mourns the passing of B.V. Doshi, a widely revered urban planner, architect, and educator who was well acquainted with Auroville’s ideals and the vision for its collaborative development. Doshi passed away on January 24th, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of...
To the Matrimandir Executives regarding Krishna Das concert
Jan 26, 2023 | Aims & ideals, Processes by-passed, Statements by the RA and the Working groups, Take over
The secretary of the Auroville foundation office is organising a concert in the amphitheater of the Matrimandir again deciding arbitrarily and in an authoritarian manner, bypassing the community processes and going against the very spirit of the Matrimandir which...
Alternative Truths: Auroville and the GOI (An Open Letter to the G20 Conference)
Jan 20, 2023 | Aims & ideals, Governing Board, Organisation & governance, Processes by-passed
by Rod Hemsell The G20 conference currently being hosted by the Government of India as the new president of this apex organization of world governments, is scheduled to be meeting in Puducherry and visiting Auroville in January. This would presumably be an important...
Working Committee report for December 2022
Jan 13, 2023 | Statements by the RA and the Working groups, Uncategorized
Update & Report December 2022 Dear residents,We would like to update you on topics which we dealt with last month, in December 2022. Please feel free to visit or email us if you have any questions. Our Open House hours are from 10 to 12 on Tuesdays, in the former...
Destruction of Auroville roads continues
Jan 8, 2023 | Destruction, Processes by-passed
Despite a loud communication in the medias by the Secretary's office that they are building the city and the crown road, so far not a single meter of road has been built. Instead they are destroying the existing paved roads already built by Aurovilians (with GOI...
Eviction of Muyerchi Residents
Jan 5, 2023 | Processes by-passed, Take over
Here is an open letter written by the residents of Surrender Community regarding a recent threat to evict the youth residents of Muyerchi house. Muyerchi house is located in Surrender conmunity, it has been built for Youth of Auroville above 18 years old. They have...
Mothers Flower Garden project
Jan 3, 2023 | Land Matters, Processes by-passed, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
The Land board is clearing undergrowth and small trees in order for the marking to be done of the plot / project area extents of the project called Mother Garden. Permission has been given to this project by the illegaly appointed town developpement council called...
Aggressions and mismanagement
Jan 3, 2023 | Statements by the RA and the Working groups, Take over
Since the take over of the Town Hall building management by the Secretary's office, the persons they have appointed as executives have commited several agressions and mismanagements. The bona fide working committe has adressed to these individuals the following...
Serious Violation of valid RA processes and the NGT judgement
Jan 3, 2023 | Destruction, Processes by-passed, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Since December 26th clearing of a large area inside the Matrimandir fence is being done. [see event] The legitimate Town Developement Council has adressed a letter to the Matrimandir excecutives. letter below: To Matrimandir executives, Ms. Divya Karun and...
The TDC selected by the RA addresses its concerns regarding the crown work
Dec 20, 2022 | Destruction, Planning & development, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
RA TDC: Response to the communication dated 15 12 2022 by ATDC re CAUTION DURING THE CROWN WORKS Dear Community, We - TDC - have repeatedly written to the CPWD and AVFO regarding the lack of proper safety measures on the dismantled roads and the temporary bypasses...
About new Aurovilians not entered into the Register of Residents
Dec 20, 2022 | Register of Residents, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Dear Community, We would like to inform you that it has come to our attention that there are over 100 individuals who have completed their Newcomer process and been announced as Confirmed Aurovilians but who have not been invited to meet the Secretary and therefore...
Misleading media reports on idols seizure
Dec 14, 2022 | Blog, In the Press, Medias take over
On 8th November, 3 bronze statues were taken from the house of Poppo & Mona (Auroville residents) by the Tamil Nadu police Idol Wing. This is the latest in a series of four ‘idol’ seizures from residents that have taken place in recent months. Each of the raids...
From bonafide working groups regarding Deep Dialogue
Dec 14, 2022 | Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Dear community, We would like to share with you an email we sent yesterday to the Synthesis team, Dena and Raghu regarding their planned follow-up on a "deep dialogue" process. This is for your information. Warmly, The Working Groups selected by the Residents'...
A timeline of the takeovers of Auroville working groups
Dec 7, 2022 | Organisation & governance, Processes by-passed, Self Governance, Take over
Auroville’s Working Groups take over On 12 May 2022, the Governing Board (GB) started showing signs of its will to seize control of Auroville’s governance. On this day, four members of the Working Committee (WCom), dismissed by a Residents' Assembly (RA) decision for...
Crown Road, an update
Dec 5, 2022 | Destruction, Uncategorized
Crown Road - Update The ‘ATDC’ illegaly appointed by the Secretary's office announced that the Crown Road work will restart with a stretch of the Crown inaccessible until the end of December 2022. Since 29th November, teams of road workers have restarted...
Aurovilians on Bridging Maintenance
Dec 5, 2022 | Organisation & governance, Resident Assembly, Take over
In the past 3 months, 25 Aurovilians (mostly those working for the legitimate working groups) were notified by either the illegally appointed AVFO’s ‘BCC’, or the Accounts Officer of the Auroville Foundation office, Mr. Sathyanarayan (also a member of the illegal...
Open letter to the Chairman and GB
Nov 26, 2022 | Governing Board, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
After the meeting requested by the chairman*, residents along with the Working Committee have sent a letter to to the Chairman and Members of the Governing Board dated 25th November 2022.The open letter has received 477 verified signatures (the verification process...
On Planning Auroville
Nov 25, 2022 | Aims & ideals, Planning & development
Archivist and scholar on the Mother, Gilles Guigan, has created a compilation on planning. He writes on some misconceptions which need to be corrected’, and lists some common misconceptions regarding the history of the City and its plan. On Planning Auroville - Some...
On Mother wishes for Auroville
Nov 24, 2022 | Aims & ideals
Archivist and scholar on the Mother, Gilles Guigan, has created a compilation on Mother’s wishes for Auroville and its residents on some of the more subtle aspects of Auroville, such as how to deal with rules and people bringing in ‘undesirable’ traits. Some glimpses...
Legal update
Nov 23, 2022 | Legal matters
Tindivanam Court - Abri/Ami/Evergreen land grab. The case was listed for Friday 18th November, but the judge was on leave. The judgment has been adjourned until Monday 28th November. Madras High Court - ATDC Office Order: The petition challenging the ATDC Office Order...
Letter to the GB chairman, a spontaneous collaboration
Nov 16, 2022 | Governing Board, Processes by-passed, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Another letter sent to the chairman of the Governing Board following the meeting of Nov. 7th [read the event] Auroville, 11 November 2022 To: The Chairman of the Auroville Foundation, Shri R. N. Ravi Respected Sir, After the speech you gave us on the 7th of November,...
Letter to the GB chairman, Divine materialism
Nov 16, 2022 | Governing Board, Processes by-passed, Statements by the RA and the Working groups
Another letter sent to the chairman of the Governing Board following the meeting of Nov. 7th [read the event] Shri RN RaviHon’ble Governor of Tamil NaduChairman, Auroville FoundationRaj Bhavan Chennai Olivier BarotRevelationAuroville 11.11.2022 Your Excellency, As we...