Issue Nº352-353 – News in brief

Dr. Aster Patel was awarded the Auro Ratna Award of the Overman Foundation on November 25, 2018, in a ceremony in the Hall of Harmony, Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry. Aster came to live in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in the 1940s as a child. In the early 1970s, she joined Auroville, and later became one of the members of the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation. Her work and efforts, particularly in the area encouraging Indian studies, have contributed invariably in the journey of Auroville in many ways, and she continues to contribute today.

On November 14, 2018, Governing Board member Dr. Anirban Ganguly offered an Auroville memento to the Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, who in February 2018 honoured Auroville with a message on the occasion of Auroville’s 50th anniversary, in which he speaks of Auroville as reflecting “our quest for achieving oneness in diversity.”

An important meeting was held at the Auroville Foundation Office on 21 November with a delegation from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi, and officers of the National Highway Authority of India and their consultants attending. They were joined by the Tahsildars from the local area.

From Auroville’s side, Governing Board members Dr. Nirima Oza and Dr. Anirban Ganguly, Secretary Mr. Chunkath, Under Secretary Mr. Srinivasmurty, representatives from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and members of the Working Committee and the Highway Task Force attended.

The focus of the meeting was the proposed highway alignment, its impacts, and the need of realignment. Following a short documentary on Auroville, the discussions and arguments presented by the Highway Task Force against a highway on the eastern side of Auroville were well received, and a cordial discussion ensued on ways forward.

Mr. Chunkath encapsulated Auroville’s concerns with clarity. The delegation from the Transport Ministry, acknowledging the concerns, explained that the alignment was not yet fixed, and will go through a due process of consultation and exploring alternative solutions.They showed a map with another western alignment that is a work in progress. At the end of the meeting it was clear that the authorities are still exploring other options and that they will take into consideration Auroville, its concern for the bioregion and its inputs. They agreed to keep Auroville informed of the development.

In turn, Auroville offered its various skills and collaboration as needed.

The meeting was followed by a short visit to the Matrimandir before the delegation left Auroville.