Statements of Support

2018

Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, in an address to Aurovilians at Bharat Nivas on 25 February 2018, on occasion of Auroville’s Golden Jubilee:

“Friends, the Rig Veda states: ‘आनो भद्रा: क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वत:’ (Ā no bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvataḥ): Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides.

May Auroville continue to come up with ideas to empower the ordinary citizens of this country.

May people from far and wide bring with them new ideas.

May Auroville become the centre where these ideas are synthesized.

May Auroville serve as a beacon to the world.

May it be the guardian which calls for breaking down narrow walls of the mind.

May it continue to invite everyone to celebrate the possibilities of humanity’s oneness.

May the spirit of Maharishi Aurobindo and the Divine Mother, continue to guide Auroville to the eventual fulfilment of its lofty founding vision.”

Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs, Government of India, during his visit of 20 January 2018:

“The Mother envisioned a system with a consciousness of spirituality, a sense of equality, and a continuous flow of energy towards education and culture. Auroville came into existence in 1968 as a result of this vision. Auroville continued to flourish and develop in the last five decades with equality, independence, education, promotion of Indian culture and human values.

Auroville is setting an example by acting as a bridge for connecting ancient knowledge in Indian culture with the present. Today, when efforts are being made at a global level for humanity, equality and peace, Auroville has taken the lead with its inspiring work.”

2017

Mr Buda Cueva Jacome, Ambassador of Ecuador, during his visit of April 2017:

“I had the privilege of being invited to Auroville, definitely an asset of humanity where the spiritual converges with tech. I had the opportunity of meeting global scientists in areas of building, mechanical engineering, hydraulic, specialists in alternative energies, organic agriculture, yoga practitioners, teachers of children and young people, businessmen – in short a place where the human spirit exceeds the daily, and work is greater than any challenge.”

2004

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, then President of India, in a visit to Auroville on 1 November 2004:

“Friends, I have come as a pilgrim to this place, Auroville, and why I say pilgrim is because you have a mission bigger than mine; the mission you are having is larger than that of any individual. It is a vision that came from Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and naturally, it is a very big mission. … Most of you in Auroville, you are shaped as better human beings.”

1998

Dr Ismael Serageldin, Vice President of Environmentally Sustainable Development, World Bank, during an international seminar on the creation of the Sri Aurobindo World Centre for Human Unity (SAWCHU) in Auroville:

“Auroville has the advantage of having a unique specificity, which is the combination of spirituality with action in the material world. Spirituality does indeed call forth the better aspects of our nature and enables us to fuse passion and compassion in our work. But we also need to ground in reality, and this is something that is unique in this experience here. It is not disengagement from life, but engagement with it. It results in a holistic view where reductionist science can go side by side with spiritual uplifting. It seems to me that you are building on real achievements here.”

1997

Dr MS Swaminathan, world-renowned scientist and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation 1996-1999:

“I traveled in this area where you are now and I remember how it was a desert. You have made this desert bloom. Let the spiritual flame that is Auroville always remain an affirming flame in the midst of the sea of despair that we see all around. Let this flame be bright so that darkness can be dispelled. Thank you again for the privilege of serving this project.”

1996

Dr Ervin László, on occasion of Auroville’s 28th Anniversary:

“Auroville, a unique experiment in international and intercultural coexistence, is one of the most hopeful indications of the practical realisation of the human potential the entire world community will soon require to ensure a truly sustainable and humane future. … Auroville deserves worldwide recognition as a pioneer of planetary cooperation, harmony, and understanding.”

Mrs Hanne Strong, president of the Manitou Foundation, USA, member of Auroville’s International Advisory Council 1994-97:

“To me Auroville represents a glimmer of hope in a world that has gone astray, a world that has taken the wrong path, the path of selfish materialism, of environmental destruction. Auroville is an opportunity to do it right: to bring about solutions for an enlightened and sustainable world. …

Today one of my primary concerns is that our planet is seriously endangered due to our environmental crisis and our lack of respect for the natural laws and the sacred aspects of nature. One of the interesting aspects of the Auroville experiment is that the community has done exemplary work in reforestation, appropriate technology, renewable energy, environmental education, low-cost environmental housing, traditional medicine, seed banks, and training programs in sustainable and appropriate agriculture. Knowledge and research from Auroville is shared with people from India and the world.

… Auroville is one of those special places on earth where people are trying to return to a spiritual basis of life and to provide a model for appropriate planetary consciousness.”

1993

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in a speech at Bharat Nivas on 24 December 1993, after laying the foundation stone at the site of the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture:

“(In Auroville) I noticed that there is a very good harmony, a good relationship with the local people, and many local Indians seem to fully participate and enjoy working with the westerners. This is very good. Auroville has a spirit of community, irrespective of religion, culture or race. This is really what we need.”

JRD Tata, eminent industrialist, member of Auroville’s International Advisory Council of 1986 and 1993-94:

“Auroville is not just an idea. It is the future, the future of the World. It is the only model that I know of that has survived, and I believe in it more today than ever before. I have come here today to breathe the Auroville spirit. I am not an Auroville, but I have the Auroville spirit.”

Dr Ervin László, former Program Director for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Special Advisor to the Director General of UNESCO, member of Auroville’s International Advisory Council 1993-94:

“I’m deeply touched to be here. Coming here for me is like returning home. In fact, I think I’ve been on the way to being an Aurovilian all my life. If you Aurovilians can solve some of the problems of living with yourself, with community and with nature and the environment, and you can create a new world here, then there is truly hope for humanity.”

1992

Ram Dass, visiting Auroville in December 1992, during a talk with Aurovilians:

“There are very few expressions on earth at present that have Auroville’s level of aspiration. The challenge will be to keep it up. It’s an incredible game that you’re playing, and you have all my emotional support.”

1988

P Shiv Shanker, then Minister for Human Resource Development, Government of India, introducing the Auroville Foundation Bill in the Indian Parliament:

“Auroville is to be looked upon as a vision which has great potentiality, and this can be of tremendous service to our country and the world at large. Auroville aims to discover a new life, deeper and more complete, and to show the world that tomorrow will be better than today. The Government is determined to help the process of development of Auroville in such a way that its aims and goals are made more and more realizable.”

1986

JRD Tata, eminent industrialist, member of Auroville’s International Advisory Council of 1986 and 1993-94:

“I know that Auroville won’t fail…. Perhaps there is nowhere in the world this kind of spirit and this kind of faith, a visible belief in oneself and in the goodness of people.”

1982

Robert Muller, Assistant Secretary-General to the United Nations, creator of the “World Core Curriculum”, in 1982:

“As one deeply involved and concerned with education as a means crucial to world peace and an evolving humanity, I have greatly appreciated the ideals and work being done by Auroville … I would encourage and invite your help in Auroville’s realisation for the Earth.”

1973

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, during his first visit to Auroville in January 1973:

“We are deeply impressed by the spiritual aim behind the building of an international city called Auroville. The importance of the effort to achieve human unity and international cooperation by the creation of such a city cannot be overemphasized; nor can we neglect the immense benefit to be acquired from it.”

1973

Smt. Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, on 25th March 1969:

“Pondicherry was Sri Aurobindo’s place of political exile and spiritual unfolding. His effulgent message radiated to different parts of the world from Pondicherry. It is appropriate that seekers of enlightenment from various lands should found a new city there bearing Sri Aurobindo’s name.

It is an exciting project for bringing about harmony among different cultures and for understanding the environmental needs for man’s spiritual growth.

May Auroville truly become a city of light and of peace.”