May '03
Main topic of this issue
deals with Auroville and Tamil Nadu. Auroville's international
affiliations may not always have gone hand-in-hand with its regional
networking but for the past decade, due to the widening radius
of the township's socio-economic initiatives and a deeper interest
in Tamil language, traditions and culture, a newer, more mutually
beneficial relationship between Auroville and its neighbours is
coming into being. In this issue we examine Auroville's
relationship with one of the oldest living cultures of the world,
we cover the recent seminar which introduced Auroville to Tamil
devotees of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, we reveal preliminary
results from a unique survey
of Auroville workers, and we provide an update on the progress
of Women's Groups in the local villages - initiatives that are
forging a stronger tie and a common destiny between Auroville
and the people who helped it all happen.
Other issues covered
are de new developments at Annadana, Auroville's project to promote
the exchange of traditional varieties of vegetables; the Golden
Mumptis award ceremony, a way to get people thinking about how
to raise one million dollars for land purchase; the building of
the new music complex
at Kalabhumi; why Norman and Diane Bowler from England chose
to settle in Auroville; a portrait of the dancer Grace; and a
review of dance performance 'Calling to the Echoes of Spirit'
by visiting dancer Chris Valles. Also featured are André
D's activities getting individuals in England to donate their
second hand mountain bikes for Indian youth; and Amiram
and Mareike's cycle journey from Berlin in Germany to Auroville
and back, to make the point that cycling is the ultimate zero-emission
transport option and that transportation can and should be done
differently.
Finally, there is an
article how Auroville is going to the dogs -
Literally.. We offer some selections of the above; if you want
to read more, please get yourself a hardcopy of Auroville Today
and subscribe. Subscription details are elsewhere on this web-page
Some recent issues:
April '03
The April 2003 issue of Auroville Today deals mainly with young
artists and art education. The topic was brought about by
an exhibition in the Pyramids Art Centre. "Here is art
work of students from various Auroville schools - each piece unique
in individuality yet harmonious as a collective, a microcosm of
Auroville's own aspiration perhaps," writes Priya Sundaravalli
in an assesment of the exhibition.
The issue includes an article on the vision behind art education
in Auroville, as well as interviews with some promising young artists.
Other issues covered are the efforts in Auroville to raise the money
required to purchase the lands necessary for the town and greenbelt
areas; and the views of Dr. Ananda Reddy on the nation soul and
Auroville's International Zone. Sunaura describes the specific problems
of the Repos beach community
while Abha Prakash interviews old-timer André
Tardeil, the man behind New Creation and other initiatives.
Earobic language training
is another topic featured - how to improve language learning
through using the Electronic Ear devised by the French ear specialist
Dr. A. Tomatis. Lesly interviews Kathy on her social science research,
studying intentional communities in Auroville. And Vladimir from
St. Petersburg describes what it meant to publish Samizdat (self-made)
books on and about Sri Aurobindo and The Mother in Soviet Russia.
Last but not least, there are reviews of exhibitions, theater productions,
a clown performance and concerts.
We invite all those who are interested to receive the hardcopy of
Auroville Today to subscribe. Subscription details are here
on this web-page.
March '03
The main topics of
the March 2003 issue of Auroville Today concern Auroville International.
For the second time ever, an Auroville International meeting was
held in Auroville. "Are we all part of one
family?", asks Alan in a lead article.
The beginnings of Auroville
International date back to 1969, when an organisation bearing
that name received Mother's blessings. But it was not till August
1983 that the present organisation took shape. An exposé
of what happened in the period is also included in this issue.
Further we look at Auroville International's relationship to the
UN and UNESCO, and give perspectives of the meeting attendants,
ranging from Russia to South-Africa.
Other issues covered
are the progress of the income-sharing experiment called 'circles';
the Governing Board's intervention in the Matrimandir; the Peace
Area walk; a personal impression of the celebration of Mother's
125th birthday; how to increase soil
fertility with bioelectric eggs; creating nature awareness
through a walk in the Success area;reviews of plays and exhibitions;
and in interview with Deborah
Lawlor, who was one of the the first settlers in the Forecomers
area.
Here follow some of
the articles. We invite all those who are interested to receive
the hardcopy of Auroville Today to subscribe. Subscription details
are elsewhere on this web-page.
February '03
The February 2003 issue of Auroville Today is dedicated to the
events of February 28, 1968. What exactly happened? For it's a
funny thing about really big events. Many people can remember
in detail what they were doing when they happened, but few can
remember the details of the events
themselves.
Take
28th February, 1968. Over 5,000 people attended. Many of them
were aware, even at the time, that this was an event
of major importance not only for India but also for the world.
Yet ask them now what they recall
and all too often there is an embarrassed smile or shrug. Perhaps
it was just too big for comprehension. Perhaps this was Mother's
way of 'dosing' her power. Perhaps.
The problem is that
when memories fail myths and half-truths are only too happy to
rush in and fill the gap. In this issue, thirty five years later,
we present our attempt to understand what happened on a wind-swept
plateau on a hot February morning when Mother invited all people
of goodwill to build a city. And a dream.
Other topics covered
in the February 2003 issue are a report on the Brainstorming Infinity
conference in Bharat Nivas and the address of Professor Murli
Manohar Joshi, the Minister of Human Resource Development, Science
and Technology, the ministry responsible for Auroville - "Your
efforts fill me with a great hope"; An update on the land
purchase efforts; Encounters with the multi-legged in Auroville;
the history of Auroville's peacock
population; What happens if one takes a village tour; Childhood
memories when Matrimandir was just a big hole in the ground;
and the untiring efforts of the Road repair Service. Here follow
excerpts of some of the articles. We encourage all those who are
interested to receive the hardcopy of Auroville Today to subscribe.
Subscription details are elsewhere on this web-page.
January '03
The January issue of Auroville Today has
no theme, but instead has articles dealing with different aspects
of the community. The front page article is about Auroville's
new high school. Other articles feature the four entrances
of the Matrimandir; how it is for an architect to design with
nature; the stagnation in Auroville's
economy; the problems of decentralised sewage and wastewater
managament; the attempt to finance
housing apartments through loans to be repaid from monthly
rent, Hymns and Songs in Sanskrit, and the revision
of the long term guest status .
From our foreign correspondent
comes an article on similarities between the Irish and Indian
on similarities in the traditions of Ireland and India and there
is a travelogue on Rajasthan. There is also a profile
of Toshi Malik, an article on the Auroville bell, and Jivatman
explains how Brazil, the venue for the 2004 Auroville International
meeting, relates to Auroville. Finally we carry an article on
what it means to work for Auroville's
website. Happy reading and, if you feel like, do subscribe!
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