Auroville Witness

An in-depth examination of the physical, social, and scientific aspects of Auroville’s agriculture, looking ahead to the conscious participation with Nature that the Mother envisioned.

A general description of Auroville’s situation in terms of five dimensions in conflict resolution theory: structural, instrumental, interest, value(s), and personal elements. At the same time highlighting specific examples.

A report on an exhibition June 6 in Chennai that raises questions about the future direction of Auroville, how a growing number of residents are coming together. Throughout the day an audience of several hundred people engaged in discussions and reviewed presentations on ecological restoration, sustainable development, renewable energy, village outreach, education, architecture, social innovation, participatory governance, and collective living.

Portrait of Jacques, an Aurovilian La Lettre Bleue: Hello Jacques, you are one of those Aurovilians who arrived in the 1980s during the years when Auroville was being built. Today you are just as enthusiastic as ever. Can you tell us about your journey? Jacques: Let me introduce myself — Jacques, French, who settled permanently in Auroville in 1981 after several stays of a few months. India has always been the country of my heart. At age seven, I had a premonition with the word “INDIA” that stood out in my mind. I discovered Auroville in 1969 at an exhibition...

Previously published 30 April 2026 A “significant sampling” of questions submitted to the Working Committee of the Foundation office, on 23.4.2026. Listed NOT in order of importance! Annapurna farm, ecology and food security: Considering the disastrous ecological consequences of the secretively concluded deal with IIT [Indian Institute of Technology] Madras, and the acute threat it poses to farming and food security of the whole of Auroville — an element given primary importance by the Mother! — and in the absence of any reasonable benefit to Auroville, can you please share what is being done to prevent the planned destruction of...

The continuing chronicle of a diverse passage from Australia to the Mother, meeting Aurovilians, building houses, and settling in.

What the green cover in Auroville means in terms of pioneer afforestation, development, and the right conditions to work harmoniously together.

Previously published 2008 A conversation with Johnny To be perfectly frank, I came here looking for Jan, my wife at that time, and our first child. Our life in Sydney had been pretty turbulent. Although I had been to university and studied architecture, I dropped out of university. I was driving a taxi and we were leading a hand-to-mouth existence, sometimes without food. It was the sixties, a very turbulent society, but in the end Jan decided that I was hopeless and she took Jonas and went to Pondicherry. She had known about Pondicherry through the Theosophical Society. There was...