FROM INTEGRAL EDUCATION TO ACTION RESEARCH - A JOURNEY, A PERSPECTIVE - BY SRIJITA ROY - Lands for Auroville Unified

From Integral Education to Action Research – A Journey, A Perspective – by Srijita Roy.pdf

FROM INTEGRAL EDUCATION TO ACTION RESEARCH
– A JOURNEY, A PERSPECTIVE –

GROWING UP – INTEGRAL EDUCATION AT THE ASHRAM SCHOOL

I was born in Kolkata and had my primary education there. Since the age of 10, I was in the quest of an alternative way of learning as I did not accept that learning by heart and passing examinations were of much use.

At the age of 13, as I travelled to Pondicherry with my family, I was impressed by the system of education of the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education (SAICE) at Pondicherry. During the next two years I came to Pondicherry during all school holidays with my family.

I would attend the Playground meditations at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, and on one such day I got up after the meditation and told my mother that I was going to apply for the Ashram school for admission. She did not know what to do but agreed to accompany me to the Registrar’s office.

I was already 15 years old and students above the age of 14 were not admitted. Paru-di, the Registrar of the Ashram school (as the SAICE is also known), was kind enough to accept my application and stated: “Let The Mother decide”. I was very fortunate to have then been accepted in this esteemed institution.

Since the day of my arrival to SAICE, the principal tenets of the book “EDUCATION” (Volume 12 of the “Collected Works of The Mother”) has been my guide. The education received in this school laid the solid foundation for where I stand today. This system of education is an integral education which develops the entire human being.

During our school days we were fortunate to have as teachers, individuals who had grown up under the direct guidance of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo: they taught us profound lessons of life in utter simplicity. They were always available to answer our questions and encouraged us to be curious to learn at every step of life.

I am very grateful to my teachers at SAICE, especially Lata-di who was my teacher, mentor and guide. She brought me up to the level of my classmates in French in just one year. She was my teacher all through school and Knowledge (SAICE’s Higher Course) and I remained in touch with her. She also infused in me an inner discipline and love of learning and of teaching languages. She introduced me to reading the Mother’s works in French which I continue to enjoy till today.

The Ashram school gave me a complete experience of education. We had physical education seven days a week, where we learned not how to compete, but how to increase our endurance, overcome physical difficulties and have a healthy body. I wasn’t a great sportswoman, but I enjoyed playing every sport. Academically, I majored in Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy and in languages.

One of the interesting things about my schooling was that I was one of the first girls in the Ashram school to join the automotive workshop. I was very interested in repairing motorcycles and cars and worked long hours at the Atelier. It was a wonderful opportunity to integrate intellectualism and the practical aspects of life. I would be reading philosophical essays for two hours and then spend two hours under a tractor cleaning it. This is one of the specificities of the Ashram school that I have not seen elsewhere.

When I graduated from the Ashram school in 1990, I could communicate in eight languages – English, French, Italian, Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Gujarati. I had learnt Indian classical music and had performed in Bengali, French and English theatre. This was Integral Education at its best. It did not make me a master of any one thing, but it made me appreciate all the different facets of life.

My first visit to the Pondicherry area and Auroville with my parents, dates back to 1974 when we were on a road trip from Kolkata to South India. I do not remember much about Auroville as I was only four years old at that time. It was during my school days at Pondicherry that I came to know about the Auroville township.

My paternal uncle was very interested in the project of Auroville and we would visit Matrimandir often. In 1993, once the Inner Chamber was open, we came regularly for concentration. I remember the beautiful interactions with Kusum-ben who used to issue the passes at the Second Banyan gate.

Later on, my interest in education and more specifically in pedagogy, took me to different educational institutions and my area of specialization became ACTION RESEARCH. Research has been for me always linked to the field work.

THE JOURNEY WIDENS
After graduating from SAICE, I taught French in the Ashram school for two years. In 1993, I was recruited as Trainer at the Franco-Indian Vocational Training Institute (FIVTI), Pondicherry. There, I taught French as Foreign Language, Logic and Mathematics and took orientation classes for career counselling.

The students were inhabitants of Pondicherry (aged between 18-30 yrs). I participated also in regular evaluations and selection of candidates with a French psychologist. I appreciated deeply the active pedagogy which we trainers used in our day-to-day teaching and I got my diploma in Teachers’ Training from France in 1995.

In 1996, with a group of enthusiastic students, we hosted a cultural programme entitled “CHAMPAGNE MASALA” to have a better understanding of the dual culture of the students (intercultural benefits and inconveniences) who are Indian by birth but French by nationality.

While working in the FIVTI (1993-1997) I became aware of the multi-faceted socio-economic problems of the students – including unemployment, substance abuse and attempt at suicide. This was the beginning of my work on social issues which would later lead me into training as a counsellor.

In 1997, I went to France for my higher studies. I took a professional training for a Bilingual Executive Secretaryship for 6 months. After completing this course, I worked for the “Mouvement du Nid” a French NGO which was affiliated to an international organisation – the “International Abolitionist Federation (IAF)” – which combats trafficking and prostitution.

I was also the IAF’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva for which had a consultative status at the UN. I travelled widely all over Europe (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia and England) organising conferences and attending policy level meetings. I participated along with representatives from Europol, Interpol and some international NGOs, at Prague, in a conference leading to international networking against the Trafficking Mafia.

During the next three years (1999-2001) I carried out several projects on prevention of prostitution and grass-root interventions in the red-light areas of Paris and its suburbs. In 2002, I joined a Training Centre in the suburbs of Paris and worked as a career counsellor for victims of trafficking and prostitution. It was a very challenging and rewarding experience.

During this period, I also completed my thesis on prevention of violence to obtain my Masters in Sociology/Social Psychology from the Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris. This thesis was carried out in the form of an action research project and had an innovative approach.

My research carries a blend of social psychology and criminology. I studied international law, not to be a lawyer but to use it as a tool in dealing with victims and former perpetrators.

Between 1999 and 2009, I had also worked in close collaboration with Indian NGOs (Sanlaap in Kolkata and SFDRT in Pondicherry) during my regular trips back home in India. Both these NGOs work on prevention of trafficking and prostitution.

I got married in France and when I was expecting my child, I made a conscious choice to stay in Pondicherry. So, I came back home to be near the Ashram at Pondicherry and visited Matrimandir for concentration every week. Then, when my son, Ryan was born in 2004, we returned to France soon after.

With substantial field experience and continuing research, during the next five years, I organized and facilitated workshops at METANOYA, a training centre for social workers. We conducted training programmes all over France on several themes including prevention of violence, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking and prostitution. The objective was to create networking among social workers, police and the judiciary.

All these challenging experiences have enriched me and have given me the opportunity to develop skills in intercultural and non-violent communication, logistics and languages and have enhanced my understanding of the complexity and intricacies of human relationships.

Meanwhile I continued to visit Auroville and was more and more fascinated by this beautiful project of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo.

Auroville was envisaged by The Mother as a City for the Future dedicated to the manifestation of the vision of Sri Aurobindo. From its inception, Auroville embodies the dream, the hope, the adventure and above all, an intense aspiration for a new world that would transcend the limits of our human species and help man to ascend to a higher consciousness, the Supramental Consciousness.

The Mother says in 1966:

“Humanity is not the last rung of the terrestrial creation. Evolution continues and man will be surpassed. It is for each individual to know whether he wants to participate in the advent of this new species. For those who are satisfied with the world as it is, Auroville obviously has no reason to exist.”

But how do we participate in the advent of the new species? In my experience, the answer slowly reveals to us while we live, work and grow in Auroville…

In 2008, someone very close to me passed away in very difficult circumstances as a victim of domestic violence. It was my uncle (yes, men can be victims too) … the one who in many ways had brought me up. He was the one who had really understood me, how different I was from other children. And he was the one who always encouraged me to visit Auroville, which I did every time I came to India during the years I was away. My main reason was always to be at the Matrimandir – I am very attached to it, just like I am attached to the Ashram.

When I came to Auroville after my uncle passed away, it was very different and very special. I went to Matrimandir one day and came out with a clear decision – “I am coming back home.” It was not easy for my family in France to understand my decision, but they finally relented. My son got admission to the Auroville Kindergarten and I started the next phase of my life.

MY LIFE IN AUROVILLE

Earlier, I had visited Auroville mostly during the day, and living in Adventure community, where I first lived, was literally an adventure. It was also very beautiful.

Living in Auroville was a big change from Paris. I had come from a work life which was full of conflict and violence. Here was a place that was peaceful and quiet. I was grateful for the work I was given as the Project manager for the R&D section of the Centre for Scientific Research (CSR). I did not have very heavy responsibilities, so I could really breathe in the atmosphere of Auroville and consecrate time to my son who enjoyed being here.

Soon after, I started to work at Matrimandir in the Access Team. After about a year and half, Barbara asked me to take up the work at the Offerings Desk. I worked for three intense months with her before she passed away.

I worked full time at the Offerings Desk – fundraising for Matrimandir, receiving donors when they visited, and giving information to people on how to make offerings. There is one thing that is very particular about this work: like Barbara, I enjoyed sending handwritten notes to donors all over the world. I worked at Matrimandir for 12 years till 2022.

Meanwhile, in 2015, some of us Aurovilians sent to the Working Committee a set of recommendations on how to improve the security situation in Auroville. We met the Working Committee, and in April 2016 the new team of Auroville Safety and Security was set up. I then took up the responsibility of police liaison (2016-2020) in addition to my work at Matrimandir.

This work had many challenges – Indian police are not easy to work with. You must be very strong and firm, yet polite. Also, the stations are not very well-equipped. My approach has been always to have them participate and collaborate with us. I always say that we are here to help you help us.

Police cooperation gradually improved. We were able to set up a team for civic patrolling within Auroville which helped reduce untoward incidents. It was very much appreciated by the law enforcement officers and at the same time we were gradually fulfilling our motto in the Mother’s words:

“Auroville, the free International Township, no army no police.
They are replaced by a battalion of guards consisting of athletes and gymnasts”

In 2017, I was requested to take up the role of dispatcher for the Auroville Ambulance in addition to the challenging work I already had. I agreed to it. Initially it was tough but I prayed to The Mother to give me strength to do it for Her.

This service grew over the years and is now a full-fledged Emergency Medical Service (EMS).

And during all these years my son Ryan grew up in Auroville schools and we spent wonderful moments together. I accompanied him in his choice to pursue Sports Sciences and I am grateful to The Mother that he takes whatever comes his way as an opportunity to learn.

At present I am one of the Team Leaders of this Auroville Emergency Medical Services. I hold the role of Primary Dispatcher. I also facilitate training for Basic Life Support skills for the EMS team and take up case studies and debriefing as and when necessary.

THE PERSPECTIVE I HAVE
Over a few decades, Auroville has become a veritable laboratory of human unification and convergence of ideas and ideals, of knowledge and principles of sustainability, and of evolution, be it in the area of science & technology or socio-economic aspects -alongside the spiritually-awakened journey in the light of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.

All of this has been possible due to the foundational principle of Auroville which aims to embody a spiritually elevated society, which is substantially different from the experiments of sustainable urbanization being followed by conventional professionals with a purely commercially-attuned mindset.

The first few years of Auroville were consecrated simultaneously to the regeneration of the soil on a barren plateau and to the building of the Matrimandir. As The Mother said in 1970:

“The Matrimandir will be the soul of Auroville.
The sooner it is there, the better it will be for everybody.”

Work at Matrimandir has been an amazing example of unity as all who worked here through the years have been carried by this atmosphere of transformation. Among the volunteers were people staying in Auroville but also many inmates of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram who came daily to participate in this work. Later more volunteers came to work in Auroville and the number grew steadily.

Today, people from different professions and different social backgrounds and cultures live and work in Auroville. What is important to keep in mind is the original vision of the Mother on the City of the Future. The question often arises as to whether I should choose a work which I like or work which is very much required for the collective? We can find the answer in the beautiful inspiring text, “A Dream” written by the Mother in 1954. With regard to work, The Mother says:

“In this place titles and positions would be replaced by opportunities to serve and organise…There, work would not be a way to earn one’s living but a way to express oneself and to develop one’s capacities and possibilities while being of service to the community as a whole.”

So, it is through our daily work that we can progress and grow in our individual consciousness and contribute to the manifestation of Auroville. We find individuals joining Auroville either wishing to continue to work in the same domain as they have done before – for example, a school teacher wants to teach at a school in Auroville – or not wanting to continue in the same domain, for example a doctor would like to engage in farming. There are some others who have never looked upon work as a career and are ready to take up any work that is required at present within Auroville. Each of us may have gone through these ways of working at different phases of our being in Auroville.

In my experience, having my foundation in the Ashram school of Pondicherry, I have always found joy in working as per the needs and requirement in a collective. As the Mother says on Education;

“For one who wants to grow in self-perfection, there are no great or small tasks, none that are important or unimportant, all are equally useful for one who aspires for progress and self-mastery.”

Therefore, in Auroville, I have taken every work opportunity as a means to progress inwardly and develop my capacities outwardly. Initially as a parent of a 5-year-old, I could devote just a few hours daily to my work which was accepted by my team members. As my child grew up, I devoted more time to work, joyfully offering it to The Mother. I remind myself often of Her beautiful words:

“It is in work done as an offering to the Divine that the consciousness develops best”.

These words guide me and give me the energy required for the work to be done as well as possible. Be it at the Matrimandir Offerings Desk welcoming donors and writing notes of gratitude for them, or as police liaison at the Safety and Security team, it has not been about counting the hours of work but trying to contribute as best as possible to help manifest the Dream.

Now at the Emergency Medical Services, a different task is asked of me, I try my best to do it in a spirit of dedication and offering and thus try to lead the team by example, not merely in words. In this service, we are often required to work on a Sunday and at nights. These constraints often dissuade individuals from joining this service. However, if we can carry out our work in joy and as an offering to the Mother, the difficulties on the way become an opportunity to progress. So, more than what we do, it is how we work and how we grow through the work done.

As a team leader of the EMS today, it is my duty to enhance efficiency of the service for Auroville. This is possible through team building through regular trainings and case studies for team members which help us to progress. We refer as often as possible to texts of the Mother on relevant subjects for us for example on accidents and death. We encourage our team to offer our work to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo and not be attached to the results of our work.

We are learning how to remain quiet in the face of difficult circumstances and concentrate on what has to be done. Thus, our aim is to work in a spirit of service, progress inwardly and outwardly, acquire new/additional skills in a conducive atmosphere.

We often hear that Aurovilians should work 36 hours per week. What I have understood over the years is that we would contribute to collective growth through work as much as our physical capacity permits and to keep in mind that no big creation is possible without discipline. The Mother said about Auroville on 16th September 1968:

“No big creation is possible without discipline – individual discipline,
group discipline, discipline towards the Divine.”

This does not mean a rigid imposition of work but encouraging oneself and others around us in working together in the joy of service. This way of working in the spirit of service is possible if one has a steady place of living and one’s basic needs of food, clothes is taken care of.

I personally am grateful for whatever I receive as it comes from the Mother and the individuals allotting it are Her instruments. And I am also looking forward to the manifestation of an Auroville Prosperity system which would take care of the basic needs of all Aurovilians, … including the creation of sufficient housing for our growing population.

When I joined the “Auroville Adventure”, I participated in house-sitting opportunities which allowed me to interact with residents and different ways of living in Auroville. One can look at it as a difficulty as we moved often, but for me it was a blessing to receive so much help from Aurovilians as I continued to work regularly.

I feel the Mother has given me at all times that which I needed to progress inwardly and outwardly. Therefore, in spite of apparent difficulties, the joy of learning and progressing continues to give me the energy needed for the work to be done.

The Mother gave names to hundreds of flowers along with their spiritual significances in order to guide and inspire us – Courage, Aspiration, Gratitude, Collaboration, Light, Realisation, Harmony …. The one The Mother called the Flower of Auroville is “Beauty of Supramental Love” whose meaning and objective is worth remembering:

“It invites us to learn to live at its height”

For me, it is very important to keep the perspective clear as to why I am in Auroville and keep reminding myself that it is a great opportunity for me to be able to participate in the manifestation of Her Dream.