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. In the early 90s Roger A directed a team work on various options for the Gardens,
Lake and Park. The proposal that is then elaborated the most has the lake half
inside and half outside the Oval and the Park around it all.
. Finally Roger A comes back to and confirms the working plan that has been
guiding everyone on site since the beginning: the Oval island with its 12 gardens
and the garden of Unity around the Banyan tree; a 10 to 12 metres wide water
channel around the island; a landscaped Park, or Outer Gardens, around that; the
whole area, “Peace”, extending to a 330 metres radius from the centre.
. Subsequently the exact contouring of the entire Oval Island is precisely defined
under Roger A’s direct guidance, and executed accordingly.
. In the mid 90s there is a push to try and complete the whole Peace Area – Outer
Gardens, Water Body and Inner Gardens - simultaneously with the Matrimandir
itself, so that the Matrimandir does not stand as a mere attractive monument but is
actually approached through its own true setting and the rich beauty of the
environment the Mother had wanted for it. By that time hundreds of big trees have
already grown to adult size in parts of the Outer and Inner Gardens.
Unfortunately it becomes evident that Roger A not only favours again his original
concept of a bare and limited urban centre, but will oppose anybody who tries to
work towards the actual realisation of the environment the Mother has described.
. This essential difference of approaches culminates in 1999.
Roger A’s approach, architectural and spectacular of a monumental statement and
symbol; and the other approach, held by most at Matrimandir and many others in
Auroville at large, of a sanctuary, silent and secluded, within the natural harmony
of which, moving “from consciousness to consciousness” among “the most beautiful
gardens of the world”, one would prepare oneself for the experience of
concentration inside the Matrimandir Inner Room.
. In 1999, Harald Kraft and Roger A present a proposal of a huge lake extending
from the Oval to the city buildings – taking the place of the Outer Gardens -, which
they claim will be the only solution for the water requirements of the city.
Roger A seeks to have this proposal made official and legal by including it in the
Master Plan that is to be sanctioned by the Auroville Foundation Governing Board,
of which he is a member.
. This marks the beginning of a conflict which has gradually drawn more and more
energies into itself, while the community of Auroville has as yet been unable to
identify the fair means by which the actual issues could be addressed and their
solution be discovered to the satisfaction of all.
. Instead, a nexus of interests and individuals has grouped around Roger A and
exerted all available pressures to convince the rest of the community that the only
problem is not one of “design” or “approach” but one of ill will from certain
individuals at Matrimandir blocking the progress of the work for their own purposes.
. Early 2000, Roger A, with whom Paolo had maintained a cordial contact
throughout the years despite their divergence of views, invites Paolo, in a
conversation with him, to take up the work of the Gardens, as he himself is “not
interested in it”.