Auroville is basically a universal township that came into being in the early 1930s. The population of this town is 50000 i.e. people belonging from all over the world and here the main thing that can be found among all people is ‘Unity’. In the mid-1960s the concept of ‘Auroville’ has been taken in front of the central government in an attempt to take it to the General Assembly of UNESCO. However, in 1966 UNESCO gave its full support and recommended developing Auroville as a basis for human unity and equality in the society to a great extent.
Auroville is located in south India, mostly in the state of Tamil Nadu while some parts of it are shared with the Union territory of Puducherry. This township mainly emerged as a result of the project of the Aurobindo society. The sole purpose of Auroville is to make everyone realize that unity is diversity and that each and every people should realize it and follow it as a duty of an Indian citizen. Auroville is now recognized as the only experiment that has been done in accordance with human unity and the transformation of human consciousness. It also has done research on the matter of sustainable living of human beings and the future need of mankind in terms of spiritual, cultural, and social perspectives.
In 1968, nearly 5000 people gathered under a huge banyan tree at the center of the new township ‘Auroville’ for the inauguration ceremony of the future human unity place of mankind. Those 5000 people brought with them soil from their homeland and that soil is mixed in the marble-clad and kept at the center of the amphitheater. All these people come from 49 different nations from all over the world and they belong to all social classes, backgrounds, and cultures which definitely represents humanity as a whole.
Auroville is a place where every people would obviously love to visit and stay there and experience the peaceful environment that prevails over there. In terms of the physical environment, Auroville always aims to become a ‘city of the future’ or a ‘city that the earth needs’ because here people do not have the fear of getting judged by someone or getting robbed by someone, or the fear of religion, and so on. Basically, this is a place where no one will ever feel regret visiting and staying inspite of having less money.
Auroville has no religion
⦁Beyond religion
Auroville is popular mainly because it has no particular religion and it believes only in delivering the truth which is beyond any religion in this world. People here do not follow any particular religion and they only practice Yoga as a part of their everyday life which not only keeps them healthy but also makes them spiritually and mentally strong and active in their life. There is a temple at the center of Auroville known as ‘Matrimandir’ which is based on the spiritual significance for those who practice Integral yoga and do not belong to any religion or sect as a whole. There are many rooms in the temple where over 100 people can easily accommodate and pray and meditate there daily.
⦁Believe in Universal truth
Auroville is a place where people only believe in the universal truth, the truth that they believe only in what they see and experience in their day-to-day life. The people not only encourage the truth but also invites people from all over the world belonging to different nationalities and cultures irrespective of any religion, status, and cultural background. Truth is the only religion they follow and is the ultimate aim of the people of Auroville.
Auroville has no politics
⦁No hierarchy
Auroville is a place that does not believe in the hierarchical system that is present in any society. In Auroville, one cannot find any authority or legal administration for implementing certain rules and regulations but the township is controlled by an assembly of adult residents belonging from different countries of the world and from different cultures which at times do not even understand each other’s language or way of talking.
⦁No law and administration
In Auroville, there is no written law and administration and so people here believe only in the universal truth, and only through this truth the township runs. Citizens here work towards love, harmony, and peace and also give utmost priority to education and research as they believe education is the only law through which people can not only grab knowledge but also achieve a high level of understanding and enthusiasm which is the only motto of the people of Auroville.
Auroville has no money
⦁No need for money
Auroville does not believe in the concept of money either and people here believe only in the policy of giving and exchanging with one another as they feel it will spread love and affection among all. For the people of Auroville money is just a mere paper and it has no value in front of truth, love, and care that they behold among each other. Auroville deals with money only with the outside world and not among the people of the township.
⦁Believes in independency
In Auroville, people are mostly independent and do not depend on each other much. They have a large distribution center in the middle of the township where both the citizens of Auroville and the strangers from outside can have their daily meals without any need of providing money or fund. People mainly produce what they need especially vegetables, fruits, etc., and exchange them with their neighbors without any expectations of earning through the process of the barter economy.
Auroville is self-reliant
⦁Auroville has its own architecture
Auroville is a place that has its own architecture and town planning bureau as the township prefers to be different from other architectures of the world in its truest sense. The township has archival facilities, research institutions, an auditorium, 40-odd industries, restaurants, farms, guesthouses, etc. It also has a computer facility with many computers and a dedicated e-mail network (auronet) for the residents. All these facilities help the people of the township to stay independent and focused in their careers as well.
⦁Auroville has sustainable eco-city
Auroville is a city that believes in eco-friendliness and so the township is established by the process of multi-cropping, planting fruit trees, cornfields, and orchards within an area reaching up to 160 hectares and engaging nearly 15 farms altogether. In this way, the people of Auroville support each other by sharing food among the whole population.
⦁Auroville has its own forest area
Auroville is a place where greenery can be seen everywhere if you visit the place for the first time. Around the early 70s, Auroville started the process of forestation to support a green and clean environment. And today it can be seen that the township is settled within a belt of forests and fields making the place as one of the cleanest places on earth. This place also installed an advanced system of wastewater treatment as well as systems of groundwater depletion. Therefore, Auroville is a place that is a must-visit for every people once in a lifetime to experience the green and clean environment that prevails over there.
⦁Auroville has experimental architecture
Auroville is basically a place where one can see only experimental architectures which means here structure and shape of the building keep on changing as they believe in innovating the architectures after a certain period of time. The reason behind this is that the structures in Auroville seek to optimize the use of renewable sources of energy and the main objective behind this is to reuse and recycle at a constant pace. So, the architecture in Auroville can be seen as different after a certain period of time.
How to Join Auroville?
Auroville is a place where you can visit and explore its beauty and surroundings but to settle permanently in Auroville there are certain procedures that you have to follow as becoming a permanent member of Auroville is not a matter of haste or joke as one must be mentally prepared to join the community by leaving aside the comforts of their life and material expectations. One must visit the place first and understand the society before joining it as the vision of joining this township will be completely different and one should be fully ready before taking the membership.
⦁As a Volunteer
A person can join Auroville as a volunteer in the first place before getting the full membership and becoming a volunteer one have to contact Savi and fill out the online application. After filling out the form they can participate in any project conducted by Auroville to get an understanding of the work and life at Auroville. The volunteer has to manage their own food, lodging, transport, and other expenses except for some special arrangements with the hosting unit of Auroville. And also they have to donate 900 rupees per month during their volunteer period. Only after 3 months period they can again apply for the newcomer process to get a permanent membership in Auroville.
⦁As a Newcomer
To become a permanent member of Auroville one has to apply for the entry process and after that interview will be held by the authority of Auroville based on your ability and nature you can get selected as one of the residents of Auroville. The newcomer has to support his own expenses and other liabilities while staying at Auroville. One must have private health insurance after becoming a member of Auroville.
Auroville is, therefore, a place that is far different from any other place on earth. Here, there is no matter of religion, politics, and money and it is a place where self-reliance is the only goal of life. People from all over the world can come and stay here as one family without any quarrels and social issues.
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