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.
(English/French) A former Indian Special Forces Officer shares his experiences in the military, and following injuries a newfound sense of empathy with all sentient beings. After this came many studies, coming to Auroville, and seeing how the community was putting into practice many creative ways to harmonize the collective life.
An open letter calling for the collective to restore Auroville as a leading light for human unity.
A description of the familiar cruelty and blaming the victim toward Aurovilians who are in exile, and how it is one more in a sea of falsehoods coming from the administration.
A letter from 2023 acknowledges that much needs to be done to achieve the founding ideals, and at the same time noting that force, coercion, and threats are not in the spirit of Auroville.
A response to an ultimatum letter sent to Annapurna Farm, addressing the value of consciousness in matter; what lies beneath the surface of the letter; the dharma of stewardship; just and unjust use of law; the meaning of an ultimatum; and the need to speak clearly and without emotion of what we see.
On learning of the eviction notice to Annapurna Farm, the chairman of a Parliamentary Committee recommends that the eviction notice to Annapurna be withdrawn and that alternative sites be found. He also notes the importance of Annapurna to Auroville’s sustainability and its its organic methods of farming are based on the Mother’s vision.
A description of Auroville’s development, the Mother’s vision of an international city based on human unity, and the disruption of the community by the current aggressive political and technocratic administration.
Why human unity, collective experimentation, and participatory processes are more in alignment with the Mother’s vision, and why give Auroville its meaning.
A group envisioning Auroville’s food systems recounts how they started as early as 1969, and went through multiple methods of distribution, financial maintenance, organisation, and connection between the farms and residents.
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 and Christine Rhone 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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