Auroville
What is Auroville?
Auroville is a universal township in the making for a population of
up to 50,000 people from around the world.
How did Auroville begin?
The concept of Auroville—an ideal township devoted to an experiment
in human unity—came to the Mother as early as the 1930s. In the mid
1960s the Sri Aurobindo Society in Pondicherry proposed to Her that such
a township should be started. She gave her blessings. The concept was then
put before the Govt. of India, who gave their backing and took it to the General
Assembly of UNESCO. In 1966 UNESCO passed a unanimous resolution commending
it as a project of importance to the future of humanity, thereby giving their
full encouragement.
Why Auroville?
The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity—in diversity.
Today Auroville is recognised as the first and only internationally
endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of
consciousness, also concerned with—and practically researching into—sustainable
living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual
needs of mankind.
When did Auroville start?
On 28th February 1968 some 5,000 people assembled near the banyan
tree at the centre of the future township for an inauguration ceremony
attended by representatives of 124 nations, including all the States of
India. The representatives brought with them some soil from their
homeland, to be mixed in a white marble-clad, lotus-shaped urn, now
sited at the focal point of the Amphitheatre. At the same time the
Mother gave Auroville its 4-point Charter.
Where is Auroville?
Auroville is located in south India, mostly in the State of Tamil
Nadu (some parts are in the State of Pondicherry), a few kilometres
inland from the Coromandel Coast, approx 160 kms south of Chennai
(previously Madras) and 10 kms north of the town of Pondicherry.
Who are the Aurovilians?
They come from some 35 nations, from all age groups (from infancy to
over eighty, averaging around 30), from all social classes, backgrounds
and cultures, representing humanity as a whole. The population of the
township is constantly growing, but currently stands at around 1,700
people, of whom approx one-third are Indian.
—From the Auroville Web site, www.auroville.org/av_brief.htm
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