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15 Nov 2024, 17:02
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/much-needed- impetus-to-making-auroville-a-city-of-the-future/
article68869905.ece
Much-needed impetus to making Auroville a ‘city of the
future’
PREMIUM
Land consolidation for the city
area is being overseen in a
professional way
Published - November 15, 2024 04:32 am IST
ANU MAJUMDAR
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with shade to ease walkability: a forerunner of sustainable
planning now being emulated across the world, which a
faction of residents remains ignorant of, despite all
information being available in the public domain of Auroville.
The City Plan, intrinsic sustainability
For the experiment to succeed, the Mother limited the
population to 50,000 residents with a corresponding urban
plan, where all aspects for an evolving humanity would find
place. Created for humanity as a whole, as stated in the
opening line of the Charter, this experiment was nevertheless
aimed at those ready to make a commitment, as the Charter
also states: But to live in Auroville, one must be a willing
servitor of the Divine Consciousness.
On February 28, 1968, the Galaxy Plan was displayed at the
entrance of the Amphitheatre and the Charter read out. All
men of goodwill were invited to this extraordinary
experiment and city, provided they had a thirst for progress
and aspired to a higher and truer life.
By 1969, the Mother hired Roger Anger to prepare the first
master plan study. Here the most important element after the
Matrimandir, the Crown, was presented in detail. Yet, it has
had to wait through years of impasse after the Mother’s
passing, court cases and, finally, the Auroville Foundation Act,
enacted in 1988. With this, the process of formulating an
official master plan was undertaken by residents at the
request of the Governing Board, as stipulated in the Act, and
received all approvals by 2001. It is understood that