International Zone

Of the four zones defined by the Galaxy's Lines of Force, the International Zone is, as yet, the least developed one. Understandably, the nature of the other zones - Industrial Zone with its small scale industries; Residential Zone with its housing for the residents; and Cultural Zone with its schools, sports and arts complexes - were of a more basic and urgent priority in the early stages of the township.

However, the Aurovilians are happy to note that since the beginning of this millennium interest in the International Zone is picking up. We see this as a sign that 'human unity' is more valued the world over, and hope to keep you informed of a steadily growing international collaboration via these pages.

"...it's around 6 o'clock in the evening, and people are drifting into the 'Place de l'Europe' in Auroville's International Zone. Students on their way to or from their classes or hostels in the back lanes, researchers emerging from the libraries, a group who've been playing cricket on the field behind the British Pavilion, others who plan to move on to the Swedish film or a concert being given by a German string quartet, and have come early to enjoy this convivial hour... People are sitting on benches under trees, or on the steps of the colonnades, chatting, listening to some musicians from Prague who've brought their instruments out onto the square, or playing 'tavli' at the tables of the Greek cafeneion.
Delicious smells are wafting from one of the restaurants - it's Hungarian night tonight. Under the colonnades the lights are coming on: shops and stalls offering books in many languages, art, handicrafts, CDs...at the art gallery a Tiepolo exhibition is announced for the next week. And mingling with the crowd are the tourists who have strolled over from the Visitors' Centre to enjoy a taste of the best of European culture at first hand..."

A zone for all nations

The above lively description of a possible future evening in Auroville's International Zone may give you an idea of the Zone's vision and function. Auroville's 'galaxy' design arranges the future city in four different zones - the Residential, Cultural, Industrial and International, surrounded by a Green Belt - radiating out from the Matrimandir at the centre, 'the soul of Auroville'.
Of these, the International Zone, reaching out from the Matrimandir to the future Hall of Peace and the Unity Pavilion, has been created on a circular model of four continental areas, with the Pavilion of India, Bharat Nivas, at its centre. Around the Bharat Nivas we find the Americas, Europe - including Russia, Asia with Oceania and Australia, Africa and the Middle East pavilion areas, giving room for the expression of the national identity and culture of the various countries of the world.

Unity in diversity

The role of the International Zone is to illustrate in a living, concrete manner, how the principle of unity in diversity is to be applied on the world-scale, at the level of the various nations and cultures which comprise today's humanity.

The role of the pavilions

The pavilions will offer a space for the expression of each nation's search for its soul and its true place in the world. They will be multi-functional, with their foundation in educational programmes, research and cultural activities.

The first aim will therefore be to help individuals to become aware of the fundamental genius of the nation to which they belong and at the same time to bring them into contact with the ways of life of other nations, so that they learn to know and respect equally the true spirit of all the countries of the world.

(The Mother, 'An International University Centre', MCW, Vol. 12.)

Education

Auroville wishes to offer itself as a field of ongoing experience and training for the youth of the world, in the inner attitudes and outer methods which are the most conducive to the establishment of a culture of peace on earth. In this connection, one of the functions of the International Zone will be to organise and support educational opportunities and research by visiting students.

The Peace Trees initiative, where students from Auroville and abroad worked together and planted trees in Auroville, as well as in several major American and European cities, has been successful. Service learning opportunities, such as GeoCommons and the University of Washington Student Exchange Programme, have brought students to work and study in Auroville.

Research

Identifying the soul of each nation is at the core of the work of the pavilions, made possible as a clear and concrete image emerges through research and action. Researchers can take advantage of Auroville as a field of experimentation, discovering in the lively interaction of the International Zone support for "material and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual Human Unity" as per Auroville's Charter.

Just as each individual has a psychic being which is his true self and which governs his destiny more or less overtly, so too each nation has a psychic being which is its true being and molds its destiny from behind the veil: it is the soul of the country, the national genius, the spirit of the people, the enter of national aspiration, the fountainhead of all that is beautiful, noble, great and generous in the life of the country.

(The Mother: On Education, Questions and Answers, vol. 12.)

Culture

Throughout the years, Auroville has received and sponsored cultural programmes from all over India and abroad. From countries such as Germany, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and Canada, there have been individuals and groups whose activities have borne fruit in a variety of programmes, projects, publications, performances, workshops and student exchanges.

The Bharat Nivas Auditorium has been the focal point for many of these activities, such as Kalamitra's dance and music performances by renowned Indian artists. The U.S. Pavilion has sponsored a theatre production involving Aurovilian and American actors and dancers. The Pavilion of Tibetan Culture has invited speakers and exhibitions on Tibet and brought Tibetan doctors for regular consultations. See 'Development so far' in the coming page.