Campaigns

In 1973, Mallika saw a report on French television about a visionary new place in India called Auroville. She then left everything to come to Pondicherry with her two young children, and began sharing her life between the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville. Becoming an official Aurovilian in 1986, she has devoted her life and energies to building the City of Dawn, teaching, practicing Eastern and Western forms of healing work, and helping develop the Matrimandir. Mallika’s story shares her 50 years of aspiration and dedication to the growth of “Auroville – The City at the Service of Truth”.

Sudha first studied Sri Aurobindo’s “Savitri” and the principal books on Integral Yoga through online courses and in private study with friends. Then, after two visits to Auroville, she came to the City of Dawn from Bangalore as a volunteer via the Deeksha Program. For the past ten months, she has been participating in the rich events celebrating the 150th year of Sri Aurobindo’s birth, bringing her energy, enthusiasm and talent to the Art for Land exhibition and the week of the annual Auroville Festival, among many other actions. Sudha’s comment on this past Auroville year of personal growth and life transformation is “Wow!”

Art for Land, now in its seventh year, with beauty and inspiration brings material support to A4A for the purchase of Auroville’s still-missing land. AFL is a unity action, so it’s not surprising that its “home” is the Unity Pavilion! Here is a report of the recent inspiring actions of Art for Land and the Unity Pavilion – exhibitions, events, creations, and the encouraging solidarity received – plus a preview of the ones to come. We sincerely thank all the contributing artists and the AFL team!

In this issue of our Bulletin, we are pleased to share excerpts from Sri Aurobindo’s booklet “The Mother”. It is in Chapter VI where he speaks of the four great Shakti powers – Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Maheshwari, and Mahasaraswati – and describes their roles for the material manifestation through their actions of strength, beauty, wisdom and perfection in works. We will continue to share excerpts from this all-important section of “The Mother” in our forthcoming August 15th issue.

We are happy to present the « February Birthdays » issue of our LFAU – A4A quarterly newsletter. Our news bulletins aim to raise awareness and the needed funds for completing Auroville’s Master Plan area, its designated physical base. Each issue shares good news about land consolidation, inspiring life stories from Auroville’s pioneers, and creative solidarity actions for developing and realizing the City of Dawn. This issue, as the others preceding it, provides rich nourishment and encouragement for our collective journey of building Auroville.

The Mother called us to “Come to the Future”. One very concrete way was to invite us to “the great adventure” and participate in creating the City of Dawn. Today, at least three generations have been born in this unique space for discovery, growth and creation. It is the privilege of all of us, Auroville-born and not Auroville-born, to participate in building this bridge to another age. For by building the City of Dawn, it is we who are calling the Future to come.Version française en pdf … பிடிஎஃப்பில் தமிழ்ப் பதிப்பு

The Charter of Auroville was written on 7th February 1968, incarnating the revolutionary ideals of the City of Dawn. February 2023 now marks the 55th birth anniversary of Auroville, with its vision and striving towards a new age for humanity. The Auroville Festival takes place each year in the special week between the Mother’s birthday on 21st February and Auroville’s on the 28th. May the Auroville Festival again be a celebration of the ideals of the Charter! And may these ideals radiate out from Auroville to help revolutionize the life of humanity as a whole. Version française en pdf … பிடிஎஃப்பில் தமிழ்ப் பதிப்பு

We are happy to announce that between January and December 2022, 14 new plots of previously-missing Master Plan land were added to Auroville’s physical base! This positive progress was completely financed by the generosity of the City of Dawn’s worldwide friends as well as Aurovilians. Ten plots were added to help consolidate 5 important areas in the City area and four plots were added to or in proximity of 3 dynamic Greenbelt communities. Take a look at the photos here!

Starting as a small child, Joy grew up and studied in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. In 1977 she joined Auroville, following Jean Legrand, a former teacher at the Ashram School, and now her life partner of 45 years. After living at Aspiration, they helped found Djaima, where their daughter Anandamayi was born. Over the decades, they each and together have made significant contributions to Auroville life – Joy in myriad areas of the performing arts, and Jean as a Last School math teacher and light designer for Auroville performances. Anandamayi grew up, studied, and lives in Auroville, has performed in numerous Auroville plays, and is now a member of the AV Security Service. Joy’s story shares a rich history of Auroville’s growth and the dedicated aspirations of its pioneers.

We are happy to announce the current exhibition of works by Auroville artist Pierre Legrand at Auroville’s Unity Pavilion, ongoing till March 12th: « The Material and the Spiritual can influence each other to alter Life and the Environment ». Pierre is a versatile creator whose skills as an engineer combine with rich artistic talent to blend beauty, mathematics and art. His meeting with The Mother in Pondicherry in 1968 sparked his invention of a special coded script which has structured all his work. You can view and also purchase his beautiful works in support of Auroville’s land consolidation at the Unity Pavilion or at https://artforland.in/artists/pierre-legrand