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movement for their ‘change and replacement’ is being organised through a very
dubious and dark process which overrides the protests of many persons in
Auroville. This demand is aimed at people in Matrimandir who have given all their
shakti, loyalty, honesty and sincerity and have worked with a deep sense of Bhakti
and surrender for years together. You may remember that in the recent Governing
Board meeting of 21
st
September at Matrimandir, I had declared that than such
shocking treatment, we should be welcoming and honouring the great dedication
they have demonstrated.
In the present movement, the major objective is the takeover of the financial
management of Matrimandir. The attempt is to snatch away the ‘cheque book’ from
the hands of the person who is presently coordinating the work, Arjun, and to
transfer this control to managers of the Central Fund. The second target is the
coordination of the Work Force which is presently in the hands of Divakar and
Somu. The whole conspiracy is being played out to give Roger and Frederick
absolute control at Matrimandir. If the control of the money and the workers can
come into the hands of Roger, Frederick and their group, then they can do what
they wish to at Matrimandir.
This action was given a great impetus, through the Auroville Foundation. How? I do
not know if you are aware of this, but the entire movement has had the publicly
affirmed encouragement and support of the Chairman of the Auroville Foundation.
He still continues to give guidance to Frederick, his main reference point in
Auroville. The Chairman has also announced repeatedly in many Auroville meetings
his deep devotion to Roger (I worry now that what began as ‘follow Roger’ might
soon become ‘follow Frederick’!) I wonder to what point this singular devotion to
Roger, now also demanded from members of Auroville, will take us?
All this is taking Auroville very far from the goal of Brotherhood. In the name of
creating an organisation for Auroville, groupisme has been hardened into a
completely rigid political reality. Collective meetings have been taken over by a
small group led by Frederick, the main representative of Roger’s faction. This group
is not prepared to allow any questioning of Roger’s absolute status. They claim that
they have both majority and governmental backing. Collecting votes, petitioning
and sloganeering are very far from what we came here to do. There can be only
one truth in Auroville; ‘Follow Mother’!
I am writing to you because I am deeply saddened and disturbed at what is being
done to the soul of Auroville. You bear some responsibility because it was your
reference last year that started this. It is now you who can remind Auroville of the
path it should take in consonance with its basic aims; it is you again, as elders,
guides and true friends of Auroville, who can, with the Grace of the Mother, help us
out of this darkness. Can we not find a way to change the ‘follow Roger’ back to
‘Follow Mother’?
Yours,
Kusum Shah”
Note: Two members of the Governing Board replied to Kusum. The first reply to
reach Kusum was written by Jyoti Madhok.
Jyoti was Arjun’s eldest sister.