C.I.C

Centre for Indian Culture 

The Centre for Research in Indian Culture was set up in 1984 in Bharat Nivas, the Pavilion of India situated in the International Zone of Auroville, with the following aims:

• In pursuance of the spiritual work done by Sri Aurobindo and the The Mother, to carry out research into the newer dimensions of being and life, with a view to discovering the possibilities of the future

• To explore afresh - with the consciousness of the modern age - the ancient truths of the Indian experience of reality, and to learn to discern and to identify the processes of life and action that flow from those truths. Having done so, to then apply them, concretely and repeatedly, to the issues and situations of contemporary life.

• To create a physical space, within the experiment of Auroville, where the characteristic "feel", "vibration" and "dynamics" of the Indian experience of life and reality can be made tangible and pervasive.

The Centre has a small but specialized library of books on Indian culture which includes English translations of ancient texts, treatises and literary works, encyclopaedias, books on Indian art, modern Indian literature, etc. It also houses a collection of Sanskrit texts and some Indian journals, a collection of music, both Carnatic and Hindustani, and a video room.

The Centre is involved in a number of practical activities, as follows:

(a) Within Auroville - there are workshops, publications and exhibitions of art. Creative programmes of dance, music and theatre are presented - some by Aurovilians, others by eminent personalities from around India. And classes are offered in Sanskrit, Indian dance and music for Aurovilians.

(b) Outside Auroville - the Centre is occasionally invited to send delegates to national and international conferences in India, hosted by some of the major institutions and universities. Papers reflecting the experience gained by the Centre have been presented and published.

Contact: cicbn@auroville.org.in