Green Acres

152 years ago, on 15th August 1872, Sri Aurobindo – the harbinger of a new age, a new world and a more evolved spiritualized humanity – was born, and Auroville was created to serve and hasten the realisation of his evolutionary vision. On August 15th 2014, one decade ago, we launched the Acres for Auroville (A4A) land campaign to help complete the consolidation of Auroville’s physical base. We are happy to share our particularly rich and inspiring newsletter launching Year 11 of our unity action, in support of the goals, purpose and realization of Auroville..

Acres for Auroville (A4A) was started on 15th August 2014 as a unity action for Auroville’s still-missing land. The Mother issued a message in 1970, calling on us all to contribute to support this vital need of land consolidation, and A4A is dedicated to raising both awareness and the needed funds. Our many support actions and your solidarity over the past ten years have enabled the addition of 181 once-missing City and Greenbelt acres. Here is a visual review of these 10 dynamic years … along with a reminder that the job is not yet over !!

Paulette Hadnagy was born in Italy of French and Hungarian parents. Her young life was marked by the devastation of World War 2 and her generation’s quest for unity and meaning. The discovery of Sri Aurobindo led her to her travel overland and alone to India, reaching the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1973. Living and working with the sadhaks there, she also started cycling to Auroville to participate in the monthly non-stop concreting on the roof of Matrimandir, and finally in 1985, she settled in Auroville. We are happy to share Paulette’s deep and moving story which carries great historical and spiritual significance (in two parts)

SVARAM started as an educational and cultural project launched by Aurovilian Aurelio who recognized the great talent of local children and the richness of the bioregion’s cultural heritage. From that origin, SVARAM has been honored by the UN initiative ‘Music as a Natural Resource’ and is the producer of over a hundred types of traditional and innovative instruments, exported to over 36 countries, all produced by its trained workforce of over 80 team members. It is now also a recognized training and research center into music and the healing effects of sound offering online and residential courses. In line with the Mother’s words on Unity and Harmony, SVARAM’s motto is “Bringing the joy of music and the magic touch of sound into everyone’s heart and hands.” which it does with extraordinary energy and inspiring creativity.

ART FOR LAND is a beautful action for Auroville’s land held at Auroville’s Unity Pavilion and now in its 9th year, Original artworks are donated by Auroville and friend artists whose sales proceeds go to the Acres for Auroville campaign for the consolidation of Auroville’s designated Master Plan area. This newest exhibition is organized on the theme of Unity, Kindness and Friendship and features works by 16 Auroville artists. In loving memory of Kratu, there is a special tribute exhibition showcasing his works that he generously donated to AFL. All the artworks can also be viewed and purchased at the AFL dedicated website https://www.artforland.in/

Many important messages were given by The Mother with her comments on the spiritual significance of flowers. In our A4A Flier, we quoted The Mother on certitude, transformation, and the victory that is assured. Here we share more of what The Mother and Sri Aurobindo said about these qualities. The quotes on physical transformation were provided by a friend who donates to support runners in the Auroville Marathon, seeing such efforts as important for the change that is in process.

February 21st, the Mother’s birthday – the 28th of February, Auroville’s birthday, and February 29th, the 16th anniversary of the descent of what Sri Aurobindo termed “the supramental consciousness” upon earth … three reasons why we call this “The Special Month”. Here we are happy to share six articles of information & inspiration, including a special announcement about substantial land consolidation in the last months of 2023. We sincerely thank all the donors who have made this progress possible ! We encourage everyone to explore our articles that share the purpose and spirit of building Auroville. Version française en pdf … பிடிஎஃப்பில் தமிழ்ப் பதிப்பு

In just the months of November and December 2023, 21 new plots totalling 19.5 acres were acquired for consolidating Auroville’s Master Plan area via purchase and exchange. In addition to the plots we announced earlier in the year, this brings the total of previously-missing land added to Auroville in 2023 to a total of 29 new plots and 26.02 new acres – a record increase for land consolidation! The new November-December land is located in 10 central parts of the City (including near the Matrimandir) as well as in 6 key Greenbelt farms and nature preserves.

We’re pleased to share the life journey of Auroville pioneer Thillai Ganapathi, presenting yet another facet of Auroville’s great diversity. Thillai was born in a bioregion community five kilometers north of Auroville, and at age nine, walked with his friends to attend Auroville’s Inauguration ceremony on 28 February 1968. After receiving his Master’s degree, he and his wife Kalai joined Auroville as teachers at New Creation school. Thillai has served on a large number of AV committees, and notably as a translator for Tamil books and texts (10 million words so far!). His family now counts 3 generations in Auroville.
In English and in Tamil பிடிஎஃப்பில் தமிழ்ப் பதிப்பு

Over a hundred artists have donated their creations to Art for Land whose sale proceeds are dedicated for land purchase via the Acres for Auroville campaign. It is thanks to this generosity, and the solidarity of friends who purchase their works, that AFL has made significant contributions to land consolidation over the past nine years. Also, AFL is a showcase for Auroville as a dynamic creative hub. The new current exhibition at UPAV – devoted to the theme of “Dhyanam” (Contemplation) – is a most beautiful one, with works of a great variety of techniques and styles. All the works are for viewing, and for sale!