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1339
- 2003 -
Note: In October of that year, 2003, Arjun and I were officially dismissed, that is,
the Central Government was made to issue, through the Secretary of the Auroville
Foundation, who followed instructions given him by the Chairman and the Architect,
official written orders appointing other Aurovilians in our place, and naming them
Executives. This was the first time in the history of Auroville that Aurovilians were
appointed to a particular position and function by any outside organisation, let
alone by the Government of India.
Up until that day, we each continued holding our respective responsibilities, and
working on site as usual, the whole day long and day after day. Personally, I never,
till the last moment, believed that such a thing could and would happen between
Aurovilians.
In terms of work fulfilment, the situation we were in was stifling, and I remained
there and present for two main reasons: in solidarity with Arjun, and out of a sense
of responsibility for the 200 or so workers who had been with us for quite some
time. I felt I belonged to Matrimandir, no matter what, but I also was fast loosing
interest in the general direction taken by people in Auroville, and it was increasingly
obvious that we were not finding much support in this community, and that very
few people even understood the difference between the orientation promoted by
the “Chief Architect” and the one that we had tried to serve, although many people
had really liked Paolo’s proposal, and it had actually drawn more positive comments
than Roger A’s model had.
I once typed and posted a few basic questions, openly addressed to Roger A:
*Questions to R. January 2003:
“. How do you explain the obvious contradiction between:
- Your architectural/sculptural concept of a city centre and
- The Mother’s concept of a secluded sanctuary dedicated to silence and
concentration, vibrant and filled with living harmonies, at the heart of the
collective/city?
. How do you intend to honour the terms and spirit of Her dream as She first
described it in 1965 and later in 1969/70?
. How do you justify the decision taken by you to destroy the results of 30 years of
work in the Matrimandir Gardens and at the Matrimandir Nursery, when this work
was consistent with a working-plan which you had yourself confirmed after your
return to Auroville in the late 1980s?