July 27, 2025/
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A volunteer whose family is from the Chennai area travels to Germany, learns first-hand about cultural differences with India, and is dedicated to empowering people.
Auroville Witness is a biweekly newsletter that publishes first-person narratives from current Auroville residents, past residents, and those with a long-term relationship with Auroville. The newsletter is an initiative of a Fellow, and other Fellows have joined the project. (See the FAQ below for more information). It serves as a platform for personal accounts of life in Auroville during this challenging period. We give voice to the human experience, to those directly affected by the ongoing crisis. These narratives provide insight into the lived reality of Aurovilians today, complementing the report Auroville in Crisis and the Way Forward.
Fill in the form below and click “Subscribe”, then verify your email address by clicking on the link we’ve sent to your inbox. To subscribe, you can also email us at AurovilleWitness@gmail.com. You can always unsubscribe by clicking on the link at the bottom of each newsletter.
Current Auroville residents and those with a long-term relationship with Auroville are invited to share their experiences. Please submit using this form or send an email to AurovilleWitness@gmail.com with “Submission” in the subject line. Please explain whether you are a resident of Auroville, an ex-resident, or your relation to the community. Any other background information is also appreciated.
If you have questions before submitting, check our Witness FAQ or contact us.
You can find all the Auroville Witness sharings & testimonials down below, most recent first.
If you want to send a submission, write to AurovilleWitness@gmail.com.
A volunteer whose family is from the Chennai area travels to Germany, learns first-hand about cultural differences with India, and is dedicated to empowering people.
In this piece Satprem Maini speaks of how he came to Auroville and his 36 years of life engaging in pioneering architectural work there and throughout India.
The story of a French man coming to Auroville in the 1970s whose experiences with its governance in the following decade after the Mother passed gives him hope.
On 17 April, long-term Aurovilian Frederick Schulze Buxloh was informed that his application for visa extension had been denied. The decision sparked widespread concern, leading to a petition addressed to Indian authorities that garnered over 4000 signatures.
The founder of a 25-year-old Auroville farm explores the effects of a new VIP road planned across the farmland. Uncertainty about the road and the future of the farm has affected food growing activities and how it is leading to a new vision for the new reality.
A lyrical account from a caretaker of Pitchandikulam Forest, a center of restoration ecology, education, and community outreach.
A goodbye to a cherished home for youth which was recently shut down.
What happens when two countries exchange volunteers in search of solving the world’s problems?
An artist in Auroville has created an exhibit commemorating an event that shocked the community.
You can use the dropdown menu below to display narratives of a specific Auroville Witness issue.
Information about the Auroville Witness newsletter. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us.
We seek authentic, personal narratives about living in Auroville during this time of transition. Stories may address challenges, hopes, daily experiences, or reflections on recent changes.
We prefer a length of 500-1,000 words, but will consider submissions of various lengths.
Current Auroville residents, past residents, and those with a long-term relationship with Auroville are invited to share their experiences. Send an email to AurovilleWitness@gmail.com with "Submission" in the subject line. Please explain whether you are a resident of Auroville, an ex-resident, or your relation to the community. Any other background information is also appreciated.
Sharings and narratives featured in Auroville Witness also include stories, testimonials and letters that have already been published in Auroville media such as the News and Notes.
Yes, we respect the need for anonymity given concerns about potential retaliation. Contributors can choose whether to include their name or remain anonymous.
The newsletter is published biweekly. The frequency of publication may vary depending on the number and length of submissions we receive.
Light editing may be applied for clarity and readability, but we strive to maintain the authentic voice of each contributor. The editorial team also reserves the possibility to shorten submissions that would be too long. In all cases, the contributor will be informed in advance.
It may happen that we receive submissions that do not follow our publication guidelines. In such cases, we will respond to the contributor, explain why the submission doesn't fill the criteria, and give an opportunity to send a revised narrative.
Auroville Witness recognizes that there is a profound human dimension to Auroville's current situation. The newsletter:
Creates a safe space where Aurovilians can share their experiences without fear of retaliation
Demonstrates that the global community is attentive and concerned
Provides reassurance to residents that they are not alone in their challenges
Helps preserve an historical first-hand record of this critical period
Fosters understanding about the human impact of the current crisis
In short, Auroville Witness contributes to a more complete picture of this pivotal moment in Auroville's journey.
While the report provides factual documentation and analysis of the governance crisis, Auroville Witness offers complementary personal perspectives that bring human dimension to these facts.
Auroville Witness is edited by a subgroup of the Auroville Global Fellowship. David Hutchinson, Christine Rhone, and Léa Amalāliya are contacts. If you have any questions please send an email to AurovilleWitness@gmail.com
By subscribing to our newsletter, you will receive biweekly compilations of first-person accounts by current residents and those with a long-term relationship with Auroville. These are personal, heartfelt expressions of what it means to live in Auroville right now, at this moment.
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