1275 / 1424
1275
*Roger A’s report to the Governing Board, on 15-9-2001:
(Note: The report is headed by two quotes, of messages issued by the Mother.)
“The Matrimandir wants to be the symbol of the Divine’s answer to man’s aspiration
for perfection.”
“The Matrimandir will be the soul of Auroville. The sooner the soul is there, the
better it will be for everybody, especially for the Aurovilians.”
“
To the Members of the Governing Board, Auroville Foundation.
In answer to the letter of Mr. Bala Baskar dt. 23-3-01 conveying Dr. Subash
Kashyap request of a progress report on Matrimandir, I regret to say that there has
been hardly any progress at Matrimandir except regarding the gilding work.
In view of this situation, I am obliged to propose measures to restart the work –
measures which I have held back from proposing for many years – in the hope that
the harmonious atmosphere of past years would re-establish itself, bringing forth
the joy and understanding essential for the Matrimandir’s realisation.
The present situation with regard to the construction work has become so difficult
and incoherent, that it has resulted in a complete demotivation and withdrawal of
the majority of the Aurovilians once committed to Matrimandir. They now refuse to
work in the confusion and spirit currently prevailing there.
Also, the presence on the site of 250 poorly supervised workers, resulting in
unjustified expenses, is cause for concern.
The intention of this letter is not to accuse anyone, but to try to ensure the raison
d’être of Matrimandir and its role as envisaged by Mother, by allowing the work to
be restarted and also in trying to understand how the Matrimandir coordination
team has voluntary isolated itself in order to keep control and an unshared power of
decision, attributing itself a decision making role in all the technical aspects, that is,
concerning the construction, the decoration and the fitting out of the Matrimandir
for which they have neither the competence nor the qualifications.
In fact, these two aspects – isolation and making decisions – have become so
important and justifiable to their eyes that it has resulted in years of delay in
Matrimandir’s completion, whilst awaiting and hoping for hypothetical changes in
architectural designs, setting in motion consequential irresponsible delays.
In order to improve the present situation we propose that construction work of
Matrimandir be coordinated with specific responsibilities for the following areas.
01- Marble work
02- Masonry
03-
Electricity and energy
04-
Air conditioning and ventilation
05-
Inner skin and discs
06-
Landscaping and garden
07- Metal works
08- Workshop
09- Water