Matrimandir Temple in Auroville under construction, the Urn containing the earth of all the nations in front of it
Auroville is an international township, near Pondicherry in South India, whose sole purpose is to realize human unity in diversity. As of the latest official census of November 10, 2005, it is a community of 1,780 people (1,367 adults and 413 minors), 736 of whom are of Indian origin. The Auroville settlement has members from around 35 countries in the world.
Mirra Alfassa, known as The Mother, had organized the followers of Aurobindo into the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, and originated the idea of the universal township. Later on, with her blessings, the idea was taken up by the Sri Aurobindo Society and along with the Indian government, the concept was presented to the United Nations. In 1966, UNESCO passed a resolution giving their acceptance and support to this unique project. The community was founded to live according to the principles of Sri Aurobindo, under the guidance of The Mother. However after her death, the community began to have disagreements amongst each other about which direction, and what kind of growth the community should have. The problems were compounded with further disagreements with the Ashram in Pondicherry. Disgusted about the perceived betrayal of the values of Aurobinda of peace and harmony, many members became disillusioned and left Auroville. Nevertheless many chose to stay behind and make the best out of the situation.
The township itself consists of areas in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry. The Auroville land is owned by the Auroville Foundation through an act of Parliament called the Auroville Foundation Act (1988). The Foundation currently owns about half of the total land required for the township. Additional lands are being acquired by the Foundation through its fundraising activities.
Auroville is commited to a life free of violence, and for world peace and understanding of the nations. Auroville also emphasises living in harmony with nature and the environment, which means that the self-constructed houses are either made out of recycled material, or natural materials such as mud, or made out of materials that are least burdening to nature. Every member of Auroville may build his own habitat with the help of the other members, which are often build in such a way that it harmonises with nature and makes use of natural cooling systems to reduce the need for electricity. A lot of the energy produced at Auroville comes from solar panels. The community has a wide reforestation programme, that it has put to extensive use on the barren land it is acquiring. The area around Auroville used to be a tropical forest centuries ago, due to local population growth and farming, these forests slowly vanished. Auroville is trying to revert that process and has a sapling-planting programme, which has been quite successful.
It emphasises a non-authoritarian learning free of any dogma, a consequence of that philosophy is that children living in Auroville can attend school if they wish, but it is not required in any form. Many children end up going voluntarily to classes out of sheer boredom from too much freedom.
Members do not pay a membership fee, but are required to help the community whenever possible and adhere to the principles of non-violence. Auroville finances itself in part by for example producing and selling recycled paper for stationary items, as well as producing its well-known incense sticks, which can be bought in their own shops in Pondicherry, or are sold around India.
