Issue Nº423 – In Memoriam

Vaishali Jain, a radiant 27 year old young woman, known to her close friends as Vishu, left her body on September 1st due to a traffic accident.

Originally from Delhi, she made Auroville her new home in 2021. She immersed herself in the life and culture of Auroville, being active and volunteering for several activities in Auroville, such as the Youth Centre, Revelation Forest, Kalabhumi, Upcycling, and numerous art festivals and events. She was a beloved member of our community, touching many lives with her bright smile.

Being an artist herself, Vaishali was also known amongst the artists of Auroville for her generous and open heart. She was passionate about the arts and organized spaces where artists could co-create and collaborate. She will be remembered by our community as a free-spirited, fun-loving, and kind soul who held space for the sharing of art in and around Auroville.

Vaishali’s remains were cremated at the Auroville Burial and Cremation Grounds on September 3rd.

Aurienne Fator passed away on September 1st in the USA because of a stroke.

Aurienne was born in Auroville on Dec 29, 1971 and was given her name by The Mother. She lived with her family, her mother Myrtle, father Kenneth and sister Durgaura, in Certitude. Myrtle and Kenneth had moved to India and the Ashram in 1965 and were early Auroville pioneers.

Aurienne was very dedicated and began to volunteer in the kindergarten at the age of 15. She began her own home studies at this same time to complete her high school education, with the goal of attending university in the USA. She left Auroville in 1988 at age sixteen, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in English at the young age of 19. Her dream was to return to Auroville, but life circumstances came in the way. In 1998 Aurienne began a new chapter: being a mother to her son Kanyen.

Aurienne lived her life with the true resilience of a child of Auroville. Regardless of the housing, work or financial challenges she faced, she was a fighter and found solutions and continued to create a happy and loving home.

Soham (Jacques C. H. Philippeau) passed away at his home in Transformation on 19th September, 2024, due to cancer. He was 73 years old.

Soham spent some of his younger years in Corsica on an isolated goat farm, where it was hard to get even essential amenities. He came to Auroville in 1987, together with his former partner Djouna, and continued this simple life in Auroville. He was known to have been a disciplined and hard worker. As a lover of flowers and nature, he worked for a long time in the Matrimandir Nursery’s hibiscus garden, and tended with meticulous care to his own garden in Transformation, sharing his plants and flowers with others.

Many years ago, Soham lost his voice due to cancer of the throat and began to feel isolated, and eventually fell prey to depression. He worked on overcoming the instability in parts of his being with the help of Dr. Alok Pandey. One of his carers mentioned that a recent insight of his was that his yoga was a selfish one and that he hurt people because of this. Physically he had to face many difficulties but managed to address his health problems using alternative means, and in the meantime kept his discipline and ability to smile.

Soham was a gifted artist. He showed a deep understanding of mandala symbolism and intricate design. He recently donated his mandalas and other paintings to Art for Land. His paintings can be seen online in the website of Art for Land, artforland.in.

He was immersed in the Mother’s and Sri Aurobindo’s writings and, at the same time, kept himself informed about happenings in Auroville and the world outside. He occasionally published long extracts from Sri Aurobindo”s works in the weekly News & Notes, adding his – equally long – unusual comments and distinctive views about Auroville and the world to it.

During his last few months, Soham volunteered and was happy to do shopping for Mahalakshmi Home for the elderly.

Soham’s remains were cremated on September 22nd at the Adventure Burial and Cremation Grounds.

Marry, also known as Marretje Kroon, passed away in Kalpana on 16th September, 2024. She was 76 years old.

Marry was born in the Netherlands and joined Auroville in 2007. Her main interest was the study of the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and translating.

Many got to know her through her knowledge of the Feldenkrais method, a series of physical exercises that enhance body awareness and wellbeing. For a number of years she offered good Feldenkrais classes and excellent individual treatments. She intended to stop with the classes and treatments and focus on her yoga, but continued with individual treatments till recently, on the request of many grateful Aurovilians who had benefited from her treatments.

Since last February, Marry suffered from cancer (myeloma). She showed courage and was positive throughout. Her son and his family visited her a month ago, which made her very happy, and they were also very impressed when they discovered Auroville. After their visit, Marry prepared to go ‘through the tunnel of light’ as she put it.

Marry’s remains were buried on September 21st at the Auroville Burial and Cremation Grounds.