|
French version |
 Even
though there are many Aurovilians of French origin, no clear plan for a
French Pavilion has as yet emerged. However, a network of interested
persons now starts to be active and organise cultural exchange programmes
with the aim to make the specificity and wealth of the French culture
known to a wider public. Gradually, the various initiatives will find
their meeting point in the International Zone of Auroville, in the French
Pavilion. The foundation stone was laid on August 23rd, 1993 and it seems
that today, in light of the growing interest generated for the
International Zone, the French Pavilion is about to take shape.
The role of France in the Auroville project
"With the intellectual quality of France,
the quality of its spirit," Mother said, "the day that she will
be really spiritually touched will be something exceptional."
France has always played, with India, a prominent role in the Auroville
project. Let us remember, indeed, that the Mother was French.
It is again a French man, Satprem, who for twenty years, recorded and
transcribed Mother's account of her experience of a new way of being on
earth, in Mother's Agenda.
And it is another French man, architect Roger Anger, to whom Mother
entrusted the design and construction of the city.
Today, the French and francophone community of
Auroville comprise around 350 people, children included, i.e. more than
20% of the total population.
France and India
 The
great minds of France, from Voltaire to André Malraux, have always
recognised the real dimension of India.
"It is France," Mother said in
1961," that can link India to Europe. France has great spiritual
possibilities. In spite of the present state she is in, she is meant to
play a great role. It is through France that Europe will be touched by the
spiritual message."
It is in the light of this declaration from the
Mother that one must understand the profound dimension that underlies the
proposal of 'A partnership for the 20th century' made to India in
January 1998 by Mr Jacques Chirac, president of the French Republic.
The project of the French Pavilion was presented by
an Aurovilian delegation to Mr Jacques Chirac during his visit to India in
January 1998. In July 1998, in Paris, Mr Karan Singh, then president of
the Indian delegation, officially presented the project of the French
Pavilion in Auroville to Mr Claude Allègre, then Minister of National
Education, Research and Technology.
The French Pavilion in Auroville
France means generosity of feelings, newness
and boldness of ideas, and acts of chivalry. This France commands the
respect and admiration of all; it is through these virtues that she
conquered the world. A utilitarian, calculating and mercantilist France is
no more France; these things do not conform to her true nature, and in
practising them, she looses the nobility of her position in the world.
The French Pavilion proposes to represent the
different facets of the national genius of France. For this, it will
combine the following functions:
-
a permanent exhibition centre where the most
representative achievements and expressions of the French genius will
be displayed, showing how France has participated in the evolution of
the world
-
a centre to promote and spread French culture
-
a centre of exchange between France and
Auroville, France and India, France and the world
-
a centre of research in human unity and the
future evolution of mankind
-
a centre to receive students, researchers,
entrepreneurs, teachers and artists from France who will participate
in the programmes offered by the Pavilion
-
an education centre for all French citizens and
friends of France living in Auroville who wish to widen their
knowledge of the French culture
Construction of the Pavilion
The first stone of the French Pavilion was laid on
August 23rd, 1993, by His Excellency Mr. Philippe Petit, the then French
Ambassador to India. At that time, the construction project had been
defined by the town-planning group of Auroville (Auroville's Future) under
direction of the architect of Auroville, Roger Anger.
The French Pavilion will be included in the European Area, the part of the
International Zone dedicated to this continent.
Development of francophony
Representatives of the French and francophone
community of Auroville are actively engaged in various sectors of the
city. Beside cultural exchange, there is also an active professional
collaboration between different sectors of activity in Auroville that are
managed by executives of French nationality, and various French
organisations and institutions established in France as well as in India,
for example in Pondicherry. The Alliance Française of Pondicherry is one
of them and plays an important role in the spreading of French culture in
the region.
Art and culture in Auroville
Auroville is a centre where many francophone artists
live and create. There is a rich potential that waits to be dynamised and
the city attracts many Indian and European artists. Because of its aims
and the quality of its artists, it is a fertile meeting place for research
and exchange in the field of art at the service of the evolution of
consciousness and of human unity in its diversity.
The French Pavilion will be able to sustain, develop and promote all forms
of artistic expression that work in this direction, as well as build
bridges between these different forms of art (dance, music, painting,
photo, poetry, sculpture, theatre…). It will also foster exchange
between French, Indian and Aurovilian artists by setting up partnerships,
artists houses, networks, events, shows, exhibitions, colloquies and
meetings.
A presentation of all francophone Auroville artists
is being put together and will soon be available for reference at the
French Pavilion.
Participation from abroad
Until the Pavilion is constructed, it has been
decided to continue developing activities in Auroville under the umbrella
of francophony. Use of the French language, of which Mother said that it
should be taught in all Auroville schools, must be particularly maintained
and encouraged. This can be done by the following means, in which everyone
is welcome to participate:
-
creating a library, by sending books
-
creating a video library, by sending video tapes
-
supporting Aurovilian francophone publications
-
offering pedagogical support
-
sending newspapers and magazines
-
sending 16 and 35mm films
-
setting up a network to receive French TV
channels
-
organise workshops, exhibitions and cultural and
artistic programmes
-
organise exchange programmes.
Other activities
The activities of the French Pavilion also include
Auroville Press International, Aurofilm, Auro-traductions, the publication
of the 'Revue d'Auroville' and the 'Collection des Pavillons', recently
created in collaboration with Auroville Press International.
Research and Development
In order to develop a lively exchange between France
and Auroville, we have in mind to encourage the following activities:
-
visit and stay of French specialists in
Auroville, in different areas of expertise
-
visit and stay of Aurovilian specialists in
France
-
organisation of colloquies, workshops, seminars
and conferences in Auroville and in France
-
creation of partnerships and common research
programmes
Association for the French Pavilion in Auroville
The French Pavilion team thanks the Vitalis
association in France which enabled them to obtain their first computer
for the work. The aim of the association is to create the French Pavilion
in the International Zone of Auroville and to help develop its activities.
Initiative of this is placed under the umbrella of the Ministry of
External Affairs.
Vitalis' president is Mr: Gilles Lachaud, director
of research at C.N.R.S. (National Centre for Scientific Research), France.
For additional information, please contact :
In Auroville:
French Pavilion, Aurelec, Prayogashala, Auroville, 605101, Tamil Nadu
Ph. & Fax: (91) 413-622 713
E-mail : france@auroville.org.in
In France:
Gilles Lachaud, 22, rue de la Loge, 13002 Marseille
Ph.: 04 91 91 86 16
E-mail: lachaud@iml.univ-mrs.fr
|
