L'existence d'Auroville menacée ?
Résumé
Last update: 15th March 2025
Pour comprendre la crise actuelle, il faut savoir que, jusqu'à présent, tout ce qui a été fait à Auroville a été organisé par ses résidents : ils choisissent leurs comités, suivent différents processus de décision et cherchent des moyens de progresser tout en maintenant l'unité. La prise de décision autoritaire a été rejetée par Auroville, car elle sape l'esprit collectif qui sous-tend tout le reste et va à l'encontre des valeurs et des principes mêmes sur lesquels Auroville a été fondée.
Cette note décrit la crise profonde que traverse cette communauté habituellement pacifique, dédiée à l'unité humaine dans la diversité - une incarnation vivante de l'engagement de l'Union européenne en faveur de l'égalité des chances. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, ‘the world is one family’. For nearly four years now, Auroville has faced unprecedented challenges to its autonomy, environmental sustainability, and founding principles.
This note is followed by a second part, which aims to reflect on how residents have shown resilience and been creative against all odds, for them to continue developing the city in accordance with its original Charter and vision.
Introduction
Depuis plus de deux ans, Auroville fait parler d'elle en raison des troubles et des défis qui ont récemment secoué cette communauté internationale située dans le sud de l'Inde.
Fondée en 1968 par Mirra Alfassa, plus connue sous le nom de la Mère, Auroville est un projet basé sur la vision du grand sage et philosophe Sri Aurobindo. Cette expérience unique d'unité humaine attire pour la recherche et pour la visite des personnes de toute l'Inde et du monde entier.
La Fondation d'Auroville a été créée en tant que personne morale autonome en 1988 par une loi du Parlement. Se référant à la Loi de la Fondation d'Auroville, trois organismes sont censés travailler ensemble pour développer le projet d'Auroville :
- L'Assemblée des Résidents (composée des résident·e·s de 18 ans et plus) ;
- Le Governing Board (nommé pour un mandat de 4 ans par le gouvernement central de l'Inde) ;
- Le Conseil Consultatif International (éminent·e·s universitaires et doyen·ne·s du monde entier, également nommé·e·s par le gouvernement indien).
All three have generally worked harmoniously together until 2021. The Act balances their powers in a nuanced way, but goodwill from all sides is required to make it work. This is where things have gone amiss for nearly four years now.
Qu'est-ce qu'Auroville ?
- Une expérience d'unité humaine
- Un projet international approuvé à cinq reprises par l'UNESCO et soutenu par le gouvernement indien
- Plus de 3 000 personnes de 60 nationalités différentes
- Une communauté d'âmes qui s'efforcent de progresser grâce au karma yoga
- Une petite ville qui gère son système scolaire, ses services de santé, ses déchets...
Nouvelles nominations à la Fondation Auroville
In July 2021 a public servant, Dr. Jayanti Ravi, was appointed as the new Secretary to the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation. She was warmly welcomed by the 3,300+ residents of Auroville. Shortly afterwards, a new Governing Board was also nominated by the Central Government of India.
Cette nouvelle nomination du Dr. Jayanti Ravi au Bureau de Secrétaire de la Fondation d'Auroville ("Bureau de la Fondation d'Auroville" - AVFO) AVFO) set in motion a persistent, systematic and forceful dismantling of the essence and core functioning of Auroville. In December 2024, after a brief period away, Dr. Ravi was reappointed as Secretary for a one-year term, extending and intensifying the ongoing crisis.
Until 2021, everything that has been achieved in Auroville over five decades was organised by its residents, including the selection of internal committee members, the establishment of collective community decision-making processes and methods of development and progress, all whilst maintaining a collective unity. The AVFO’s top-down authoritarian approach to decision-making is contrary to the Auroville Foundation Act (1988), to the collective spirit envisaged by the community’s founder, and goes against the values and principles of freedom to experiment and self-organise around which Auroville was created.
Voici un bref résumé des questions qui se posent actuellement.
Où se situe la menace ?
Gouvernance autonome
Vie durable
Fonds et actifs
Liberté de pensée
Sentiment de sécurité
Esprit et valeurs
Montée de l'autoritarisme
Une prise de contrôle systématique de la gouvernance
There has been a systematic takeover by the AVFO of all of Auroville’s major internal working groups and committees that manage the key areas of administration, media, and finances, resulting in the concentration of power in a handful of people who were not appointed by the residents and who do not represent the needs and aspirations of the majority.
In 2024-2025, this concentration of power intensified further as several residents who had previously supported the AVFO distanced themselves from their roles, leaving authority increasingly concentrated among an even smaller circle of appointees. In some instances, individuals now hold multiple critical roles, such as simultaneously serving as “Head of Urban Planning,” “Media Content Vetter,” and “Legal Coordinator.”
New decisions are being taken behind closed doors without any consultation and are imposed along with threats to the livelihood of residents. In late 2024, the AVFO introduced a new “Code of Conduct” and residence criteria that attempt to control even the most basic aspects of residents’ lives, requiring Aurovilians to request approval for absences exceeding two weeks and obtain permission from a newly formed “Human Resources Service” to host guests beyond seven days, including spouses, elderly parents, and minor children. Those who do not toe the line are blackmailed, intimidated, dismissed from their positions, and sometimes even expelled from Auroville.
Réduire au silence l'Assemblée des Résidents
There is a complete disregard for the decisions made by the Residents’ Assembly, normally in charge of organizing all day-to-day activities in Auroville. Residents’ Assembly Decisions to stop these takeover actions were completely ignored, despite over 90% of residents who voted clearly and strongly expressing their call for correct planning and development processes.
In June 2024, 98% of 945 residents voted to halt, review, and reverse land deals undertaken by the Secretary, yet these concerns were dismissed and more land exchanges were approved by the Governing Board in October 2024.
The Secretary to the Governing Board claims that the Governing Board holds “the supreme authority of Auroville,” and appointees have implied that residents should simply follow orders or leave – before they get expelled. In 2024, the Governing Board revealed its intention to “amend certain provisions in the Auroville Foundation Act” to “remove ambiguity” and “facilitate a strong administration in Auroville,” showing a continuing effort to further consolidate power.
Mise à l'écart de cadres et d'expert·e·s
Skilled executives of key services and groups have been dismissed and banned from accessing their offices, computers, and mailboxes, sometimes without warning or explanation, and their source of income was cut off with little or no replacement. Arbitrary appointments of unqualified people on the basis of their affiliation with the AVFO have become the norm.
These dismissals continued through 2024, including executives of long-standing Auroville guest houses, food outlets and municipal services, despite their proven track records of competent management and increased profitability. A concerning feature of these dismissals is that they often occur without due process or justification, raising serious questions about the motives behind such actions.
Similarly, professional Aurovilian experts in the fields of architecture, planning, water conservation, sustainable housing rejuvenation, reforestation, and more, are being sidelined and ignored in all decisions taken in their relevant fields of expertise. Instead, the AVFO increasingly outsources construction and development work to government entities like the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), even when local Auroville units have demonstrated expertise and capacity.
L'écrasement de la vie durable
Un plan "incontestable"
Depuis décembre 2021, la mise en œuvre soudaine d'un plan d'urbanisme obsolète et inadapté, appelé "plan d'occupation des sols", est en cours.Plan directeur d'Auroville, perspective 2025’, is currently being carried out by force, under the direction of the AVFO and associates, with bulldozing at night, destruction of endangered forest and water catchment areas, and the eviction of residents from their homes with only a few days notice.
Mass-bulldozing and tree cutting in project areas funded by the Government of India or the European Commission have become the norm and are still ongoing, with approximately 20,000 trees cut since 2021. In early 2025, a new method of destruction emerged when mature trees in certain areas were deliberately stripped of their bark – a practice known to cause slow death without the immediate visibility of cutting the trees down.
Amongst other issues, this enforcement fixates on a perfectly circular 17-meter wide Crown Road without taking into consideration the social or environmental impacts, disregarding the recommendations of Auroville’s experts, and ignoring the ecological, functional and creative alternative plans proposed by the collective. Large radial roads and an external ‘Outer Ring Road’ are also being imposed, without any proper mobility plan.
En outre, l'AVFO n'a pas entrepris les démarches nécessaires pour obtenir les autorisations officielles, telles que les évaluations de l'impact sur l'environnement ou les plans de développement détaillés. Les routes existantes, fonctionnelles et durables, ont été démantelées et remplacées par des dalles géantes en béton de qualité inférieure, dont l'empreinte carbone calculée est supérieure de 952% à celle des routes précédentes, et qui ne permettent pas à l'eau de pluie de s'infiltrer et de recharger les nappes phréatiques.
In late 2024, the newly-excavated Matrimandir Lake suffered serious structural damage during Cyclone Fengal when its retaining wall failed, highlighting concerns about inadequate planning and construction. Despite this failure and numerous requests from residents, no environmental impact assessments have been conducted, and construction continues without proper phasing or independent evaluation.
Les forêts, la nourriture et l'eau menacées
On the basis of ‘developing the City’, many of Auroville’s forests, parks, and naturally preserved environments are either being bulldozed or under threat of having their lands exchanged. Some of these forests include sanctuaries which protect wildlife of protected species, and water-catchment areas which benefit all the neighboring villages and bioregion.
Since the AVFO takeover in 2021, an estimated 20,000 trees have been cut down, primarily for road construction, devastating ecosystems that took decades to establish.
Recent destructive activities include construction of a bridge over Darkali Forest Park that destroyed rainwater systems collecting 3 million liters annually; bulldozing for an artificial hill related to the Matrimandir Lake project, clearing 9 acres of dense tree cover with plans for 7 more; and construction through Revelation Forest Sanctuary, home to rare and endangered species.
Proposals for developing the City while preserving the reforestation work done over 55 years have been formulated, but are being ignored by the AVFO. Land exchanges have severely impacted Auroville’s most productive farms, endangering the entire food security of Auroville. AuroOrchard Farm, one of the most productive, has been fractured by land exchanges, with residents facing harassment from new landowners and disrupted water supplies.
Affectation des fonds et des actifs
Mauvaise gestion des fonds et des actifs
Les fonds communaux, collectés grâce à la contribution et au travail des résident·e·s sont alloués de manière opaque par des personnes qui n'ont pas été nommées selon les procédures établies appropriées et qui refusent de rendre des comptes à l'Assemblée des Résidents. Les biens communaux, dont certains sont financés par des subventions nationales et internationales, sont réaffectés sans l'accord des parties prenantes concernées.
Budget cuts have intensified, particularly affecting vital sectors like education and culture. In 2024, schools were informed of considerable budget reductions despite no increases since 2019. Similarly, financial support for cultural activities has been drastically cut, threatening Auroville’s long-standing commitment to providing free access to events, classes, and spaces.
In some cases, financial fraud is suspected since tenders have been allocated without following proper procedures, and works of substandard quality have been carried out costing crores of rupees. The value of work assigned to the CPWD is estimated at 60 crore rupees (almost US$7 million), yet the necessity and quality of these works have been repeatedly questioned by residents and experts.
Les terrains d'Auroville sont en cours de vente
Land exchanges and deals continue to be made in an opaque manner and at severely undervalued rates. According to an analysis by members of the International Advisory Council (IAC), these exchanges have resulted in estimated losses of over 240 crore rupees (approximately US$28 million) to Auroville. Land parcels effectively have been given away at 1% of market value, raising serious questions about who profits from these deals, suggesting the possibility of undisclosed motives and financial irregularities.
Furthermore, these land exchanges were made without following any established due process. Despite repeated calls to halt these transactions from the Residents’ Assembly, the International Advisory Council, and even questions raised in the Indian Parliament, the exchanges continue without transparency or accountability.
Despite the duty of the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation as ‘Estate Officer’, several land encroachments occurred on Auroville lands with practically no response from the Secretary. In February 2025, only after over 700 residents signed a petition did the AVFO finally file an appeal to safeguard three acres of prime Auroville land that had been wrongfully appropriated by a politically-affiliated real estate developer. Before this, residents frequently gathered spontaneously to face these encroachments, often without support from those authorities tasked with the protection of these assets.
Capitaliser sur le tourisme
Several elements indicate the AVFO’s intention to capitalize on tourism and use Auroville to generate funds for unknown purposes. Such elements include the forceful takeover of the Visitors’ Center, which receives and channels tourists visiting Auroville; the restructuring of Auroville’s hospitality sector, moving towards the centralization of Auroville Guest Houses with the support of the manager of an international hotel chain; and the paid entrance fee that some public spaces such as Bharat Nivas have started asking from outsiders.
In 2024, a new ‘wildlife’ gallery featuring cement and resin figures of animals with no connection to Auroville’s bioregion was installed at the Bharat Nivas. The AVFO has announced plans for a “Southern Service Node” project featuring seven restaurants, boutiques, and parking facilities for 90 cars and 420 bikes, further transforming Auroville into a commercial tourist destination.
Réécrire l'histoire
Campagnes de désinformation
En janvier 2022, le service d'Auroville géré par les résident·e·s qui s'occupe des relations publiques externes (Outreach Media) a été pris de force par l'AVFO et rebaptisé "Media Interface". Depuis lors, d'incessantes campagnes de désinformation ont été menées, qui travestissent la narration des événements et dénigrent les réalisations d'Auroville au fil des décennies.
The AVFO’s narrative simultaneously capitalizes on Auroville’s internationally recognized achievements while falsely claiming that residents have achieved nothing substantial over five decades. This contradictory position has been evident in AVFO promotional materials and public statements.
Censure
In June 2022, several essential internal communication networks, including the community’s main email domain (@auroville.org.in) and the Auronet (the online communication platform for residents), were taken over by the AVFO under the pretext of identifying anti-government or anti-national activities – followed by the deletion of comments and accounts despite their adherence to usage guidelines.
The private emails of hundreds of Indian and foreign nationals are still under the control of undisclosed and unregulated individuals with full administrator privileges, and their actions follow no known established code of conduct regarding privacy. Some residents perceived as ‘opposers’ have fully lost access to the Auronet, and to their private or professional mailboxes.
In December 2022, the AVFO took over the long-standing community publication News&Notes, forcing residents to establish an alternative uncensored community edition to maintain transparent communication and independent reporting within Auroville.
Contrôler le passé
En juin 2022, les Archives d'Auroville - un service public créé et géré par les résident·e·s - ont été reprises de force par l'AVFO. Les résident·e·s craignent pour les décennies d'histoire, le matériel multimédia et les dossiers conservés par les Archives, car cette intervention permet un contrôle non supervisé du récit historique des événements passés et présents.
Perturber le sentiment de sécurité
Logement et allocations menacés
Since 2023, residents have been receiving threats of losing their housing, constructed with the appropriate permissions and which they have often built themselves. Evictions have not followed processes of Indian law which allow adequate time for residents to relocate with allocation of proper alternatives for housing or workplaces.
The monthly allowances (called ‘maintenances’ in Auroville) of approximately 200 residents have been discontinued arbitrarily, despite the need to cover basic expenses. In some cases, residents have been told to pay a previously voluntary monthly “city services contribution” of Rs 3,800, including those who previously had waivers. These demands have sometimes been backdated by three years, requiring payments of over 1 lakh rupees (approximately USD 1,200) from already poor families.
Dans ce climat de peur et d'insécurité, nombreuses sont les personnes qui n'osent pas élever la voix, car la menace qui pèse sur leurs moyens de subsistance et leur volonté de vivre ici est bien réelle.
Pression sur les visas
Visa recommendations, a responsibility in the hands of the Secretary of the AVFO, are being withheld despite applicants adhering to all required criteria, and often having lived decades in Auroville without any previous issue. Visas seem to be specifically withheld for those who have publicly expressed disagreement with the actions taken by the AVFO.
In February 2023, this escalated further when an Auroville-born resident and duly appointed representative of the community was issued a ‘Leave India Notice’, seemingly for speaking out about the recent state of events in Auroville. In June 2023, an Auroville resident for 35 years and founder of the ‘Auroville Earth Institute’ had his visa revoked by the AVFO Secretary – an unprecedented event in Auroville’s history. Today, over 200 Auroville residents have been impacted by visa issues.
The AVFO now requires a “No Dues Certificate” from its appointees in charge of budgets before issuing visa recommendation letters. If a resident cannot pay claimed ‘back dues’ (often arbitrarily determined), they are denied the letter, creating a form of extortion that particularly impacts non-Indian residents.
Des accusations criminelles sont portées sur des bases douteuses
En mai 2022, des plaintes pénales ont été déposées par le sous-secrétaire de la Fondation d'Auroville contre certain·e·s Aurovilien·ne·s qui se sont exprimé·e·s ouvertement contre les actions de l'AVFO, faisant référence à un certain nombre d'accusations non fondées, y compris "émeutes" et "cybercrimes". L'affaire est toujours devant les tribunaux, mais une caution anticipée a été accordée aux Aurovilien.n·e·s accusé·e·s.
More recently, when residents attempted to prevent unauthorized construction in protected forest areas like Revelation Forest in November 2024, police complaints were filed against them claiming obstruction of government work, despite Auroville being an autonomous body and not a government department.
La jeunesse comme bouc émissaire
De nombreuses actions destructrices de l'AVFO ont visé les jeunes d'Auroville, à travers la destruction du Centre International de la Jeunesse, l'interruption des allocations mensuelles et des budgets de plusieurs jeunes, ainsi que la diffamation systématique de ces "jeunes". Le Centre International de la Jeunesse et d'autres ont toujours montré leur volonté de collaborer avec toutes les parties, à condition que leurs voix soient entendues et prises en compte.
In 2024, one educational initiative focused on self-directed learning was abruptly stripped of its entire budget and forced to vacate its campus. In January 2025, all volunteers staying in Mitra, a Youth Hostel near the central administration area, were ordered to vacate to house AVFO’s financial auditors, further reducing spaces available for young people in Auroville. In February 2025, a theatre group featuring many youth of Auroville has been forcefully closed down for unsubstantiated claims of non-compliance with the Mother’s ideals for Auroville.
Nier l'esprit et les valeurs d'Auroville
This comprehensive interference in the functioning of Auroville is contrary to the letter and spirit of the provisions of the Auroville Foundation Act, which promotes and protects the necessary autonomy of the residents and their right to self-organisation, and expects its three constitutional authorities to work in a spirit of mutuality.
On 12th August 2022, the Madras High Court upheld this mutually collaborative aspect of the Auroville Foundation Act; and on 15th March 2024, the Madras High Court ruled that the Governing Board and Secretary had engaged in an illegal seizure of power and had disenfranchised the Residents’ Assembly of its responsibilities in planning, development, and execution as specified in the Act. These judgements were appealed by the AVFO, which erroneously claimed in the courts that residents are “miscreants” and the Governing Board “has complete control and management of the affairs” of Auroville. Legal disputes over Auroville’s governance and management are ongoing.
More importantly, these developments, though imposed by the AVFO in the name of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, are dramatically opposed to their vision of unity, compassion and action on the basis of genuine collaboration and flexibility. How the city will be built remains to be seen, but the trends of the past four years stray further every day from the Dream envisioned by the founders of Auroville, which thrives through its residents.
En bref
Dans la tourmente actuelle, Auroville risque de se transformer en une institution ordinaire du secteur public, avec des systèmes et des processus rigides et obsolètes remplaçant le sol fertile nécessaire à l'expérimentation de nouveaux modes de vie. La gouvernance, la gestion autonome et la vie durable font également partie de l'expérience plus large d'Auroville. De nouvelles méthodes doivent être découvertes et essayées. Cela nécessite une organisation fondée sur un état d'esprit ouvert, souple, expérimental et flexible. La plasticité est l'une des qualités essentielles pour façonner une nouvelle humanité.
As Auroville celebrates its 57th year, this unique experiment in human unity faces its greatest challenge yet. Despite exhaustion after nearly four years of peaceful resistance, residents remain committed to preserving and advancing the founding vision of a living laboratory for human unity. The independent and comprehensive report Auroville in Crisis & The Way Forward, released in January 2025 by the Auroville Global Fellowship, documents both the depth of the current crisis and potential pathways toward resolution.
Residents, who have committed their lives to the manifestation of Auroville’s ideals, continue to call for the help and support of well-wishers in India and the world to safeguard and ensure the survival of this magnificent and unprecedented adventure.
Partie 2
Réponses d'une communauté résiliente
La crise actuelle a mis les Aurovilliens à rude épreuve, soumettant le projet d'Auroville à des risques inégalés. Pourtant, elle a simultanément créé une chance de transformation, permettant de réitérer l'objectif d'Auroville et ses valeurs profondes.
Cette note est suivie d'une deuxième partie, qui vise à réfléchir à la manière dont les habitants ont fait preuve de résilience et d'ingéniosité face à des défis de taille, ce qui leur a permis de continuer à faire progresser la ville conformément à sa charte et à sa vision d'origine.
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(Cette vidéo a été préparée en décembre 2022, plus d'un an après le début de la prise de contrôle forcée et de la destruction au bulldozer d'Auroville).