Revisiting Auroville’s Enduring Vision

Down Memory Lane

By Ashok Mody

In February 1968, as a first-year student at Delhi University, I was living at the International Student House on Mall Road. One day, representatives from the Aurobindo Ashram visited our hostel to invite a Mauritian student to participate in the foundation ceremony of Auroville in Pondicherry. The chosen student was to pour soil from Mauritius into a ceremonial urn. As many of my fellow Mauritian students were busy preparing for exams, they were hesitant to accept the offer — so I volunteered.

Auroville – A universal town where you can live in peace and progressive harmony. Pic – CNBC TV18

A few days later, I flew from Delhi to Chennai (then Madras), where I was warmly received by members of the ashram. We drove to Pondicherry, and I was hosted by the Jhunjhunwala family. During my stay, I had the profound experience of receiving the darshan of the Mother, a French lady deeply revered by the ashram community. Delegates from all UN countries were present at the event, each represented by either a student or a diplomat. We were informed of the ashram’s vision for a new city: Auroville. This city was to embody ideals of unity and selflessness, where individuals would contribute their work without the exchange of physical money.

Following the foundation stone ceremony, we visited the coastal town of Mahabalipuram, where the epic of the Mahabharata has been intricately carved into stone — a memory that has remained vivid ever since.

In January 2025, I returned to Pondicherry to visit the urn and witness the progress made over the 57 years since that formative experience. Although I was unable to meet with Auroville residents, administrators shared that the project had grown and matured significantly. Residents continue to work without formal salaries, though they receive small allowances to cover essentials like internet and utilities. Auroville celebrated its 50th anniversary on February 28, 2018, with a ceremony symbolizing global unity through the mingling of waters from around the world.

While in Pondicherry, I also learned from the French Consulate that many Mauritian artisans trace their roots back to this region. In 1968, I was able to communicate with locals in French. Although many streets still bear French names and restaurants serve French cuisine, the language is no longer widely spoken among residents. However, I did have the pleasure of meeting some French expatriates, with whom I discussed historical connections between Mauritius and Pondicherry, particularly the legacy of Mahé de La Bourdonnais, who once governed both regions during the colonial era.

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Auroville’s Growth and Evolution

After the official inauguration of Auroville in February 1968, pioneers began to settle. They initially established themselves on the outskirts of the future township, in settlements such as Promesse, Hope, Forecomers, and Aspiration.

For several years, no permanent construction was authorized on the site of the future town, with the exceptions of the Matrimandir and Bharat Nivas (Pavilion of India), the construction of which began in 1971.

The initial development of the project was concentrated in the settlement of Aspiration, and subsequently in Auromodele, in an area earmarked near the village of Kulipalayam. This focus aimed to establish concrete methods for living within Auroville and its designated green belt – an area of forests and natural sanctuaries planned to surround the future town.

By 1974, Auroville already had over 320 residents. With an average yearly growth rate of 3.5% to date, the number of inhabitants had reached over 3,300 by mid-2024. Of this number, 50% were Indians, 12.5% French, 7% Germans, 5% Italian, and 3% Americans, with 56 other nationalities making up the remainder.

If the present growth is sustained, Auroville could theoretically reach 50,000 inhabitants within 30 years. However, the community believes that numbers are far less important than the quality and dedication of the people settling there.

Scattered across a captivating landscape, Auroville is home to an intricate network of roughly 120 unique settlements, not all of which are in the residential zone. These consist of a variety of dwellings, ranging from simple structures to apartments and village-style residences. Schools for Auroville’s children are situated in or near four locations: the Cultural Zone, Centre Field, New Creation, and Aspiration.

Two national pavilions have been completed: the Indian Pavilion, named Bharat Nivas, and the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture. Other national pavilions serve as centres of activities without permanent buildings, while others are planned or currently under construction. Approximately 230 commercial and social enterprises are widely scattered around the township, with a higher concentration in the industrial zone.

While I obtained all this information from the administrators, my one regret is that I couldn’t connect with the inhabitants of Auroville.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 18 July 2025