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responsibility and dedication, it is in fact the most casual show of
participation that has been achieved.
10-In consideration of all these points or given conditions of growth, and
out of respect for the contributions of these men and women who
make it possible with their bodies and their energies for Matrimandir
to become a material reality, we have consistently refused to allow
more of a discrepancy between the wages or salaries they receive and
the standards of living enjoyed by those Aurovilians who work
alongside them.
11-It is not within our field of action to significantly help raise or improve
the living standards of the Matrimandir workers alone, in isolation
from the workers elsewhere in Auroville, as this would have negative
consequences all round.
12-The labour situation at Matrimandir is actually faithful to the
instructions given by the Mother in the early years of the construction,
according to which Aurovilians were to constitute guiding frames for
the labour of large teams of workers. (Alas, the Mother also wanted it
built in 5 years!)
What Matrimandir needs is a steady and motivated team of Aurovilians sufficiently
dedicated to give unreservedly all of their time to the demands of the work, so that
the coordination of all activities is effective and harmonious.
And in terms of individual capacities what is required from the collective body of
Auroville is an organ which will bring together the most suited individuals and the
tasks at hand in all areas of its progress.
These individuals ought to be taken care of by Auroville in an organic way
expressing the fact of their belonging, by conscious choice, to a larger adventure
than is to be found in ordinary life elsewhere.
Such a thing as an “Aurovilian” clamouring to get Rs 2,000/- a month for doing, not
any better, the work that a hired worker is doing day after day for a salary of less
than half of this amount, ought not to happen.
Yet it does.
Therefore not only do we ask that at least a beginning is made in the direction of a
saner economy, but we ask also for a deep and all-inclusive review of all the values
we have given way to.
We feel that every single one of us all is responsible for the conditions we find
Auroville in and that courage is required from each of us to face these and to seek
the living truth that will open the way.”
- On the “Auroville Sangha”.
Note: The proposal for an “Auroville Sangha” had been floated for some time in the
community by some of the remaining members of the “French Group”, others
having left Auroville in the wake of L.V’s letter stating that Auroville was “finished”.
Their intent was to recapture the “true spirit of Auroville”.
The following text was my personal response to it.