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Sponsored by Unesco, this city founded in 1968 wants to teach men and women to live in peace beyond all beliefs, political opinions and nationalities. A federally appointed administration is forcing radical changes in the city to collective management, which could call into question its ideals.
From our correspondent in India,
In December 2021, the secretary of the Auroville foundation, newly appointed by the federal government to take care of the city’s co-management, ordered the demolition of several community buildings as well as the felling of many trees to build a road through the city. This, he said, was intended to accelerate the realization of the city plan, which was drawn up by its founders 50 years ago.
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The bulldozers came suddenly, but hundreds of residents rallied against the decision which they considered illegal and arbitrary. The resistance lasted for days, but the bulldozers finally forced their way in and destroyed this entire section of the magnificent Auroville forest. And with this confrontation, Auroville’s founding base was affected.
Auroville’s management is unique; The act of the Indian Parliament establishes the collective administration of the city, and decisions are made by agreement between the foundation and the various resident assemblies. It is one of Auroville’s democratic ideals that has attracted intellectuals from all over the world and given rise to innovative projects of collective life. However, the foundation’s new secretary believes he has the power to impose his views, and refuses to acknowledge the multiple voices of the population condemning his decision with a majority.
The government wants to increase the population of Auroville quickly
The residents therefore took legal action, and the district appeals court ruled in their favor in August, thus overturning several secretarial decisions. Federal environmental courts have also frozen certain earthwork projects, but each time, federal officials have appealed these decisions. And the confrontation continues.
The secretary said he wanted to expand this city of Auroville, and double its population to five in three years. Thus, literally continuing the initial development plan, which was estimated to be able to accommodate 50,000 people. But this is ideal, and cannot be forced, because the rapid demographic expansion is difficult to absorb if we are to maintain the ideals of this community.
According to residents, imposing a sudden influx would radically change the spirit of Auroville to make it simply a spiritual and ecological tourist spot, and no longer a space of democratic and ecological innovation.
To listen: Auroville, this utopian city with realistic projects
