Auroville Foundation visit to Gujarat
An avenue of collaborative exchange and partnerships for Auroville is decided to be initiated to further Auroville, with different states of India, starting with Gujarat. Sanjeev was invited representing education along with an Auroville contingent of 6 people for 4 days along with 3 Governing Board members Dr. Jayanti Ravi, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation and Additional Revenue Secretary of Gujarat, along with Dr. G. Seetharaman, OSD-Auroville Foundation. Along with live online presentations by those not traveling various Auroville units: Auroville Consulting, Wasteless (environmental education), Svaram (music therapy and instruments), MG Ecoduties (Probiotics), Sustainable Architecture also made presentations.
In addition to presentations being made, MoUs to facilitate collaboration and exchange were signed with:
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara; Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar; Indus University; Auro University, Surat; Sardar Patel University; Revenue Department, Gujarat. ; Nehru Foundation Development Centre for Environment Education Society.
For more details on the visit refer to the enclosed attachment
https://drive.google.com/…/1QujF2m4UHD0L5oxAcIS…/view…










Inagurating International Yoga Day celebrations
As we approach Yoga International Day on June 21st, today at Bharat Nivas, Auroville, school children across age groups practising yoga together (body, mind and breath as one awareness).
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Organizing Integral Education Workshops
Integral Education workshop – an immersive learning while deeply exploring the principles and practises in the schools of Auroville and Bio-regions.
The plenary sessions followed by small group work sessions allows for the Integral Education Practitioners to exchange best practises while also brainstorming on new ideas, approaches to challenges in the classroom. This workshop had Shri Praveen and Shri Richard deep dive into physical and mental education in the light of Integral Education respectively. Our very own educators shared their experience on practising vital education.
Spread over three days, this is the fourth workshop over two years with over 100 – 150 educators participating each time. Their enthused participation, interactions in the small groups including their initiative to facilitate sessions has been highly motivating and inspiring.
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Isai Ambalam demonstration and honoring excellence
Being a child and retaining that childlike innocence, curiosity and trust is a beauty and joy forever. While each day is a celebration of the essence, November 14th is celebrated as Children’s Day in India and at Isaibalam school, it was celebration in the way we know best.
Dressed in their best, the joy and vibrancy of delight on their faces was contagious. With a visit to the exhibition at the Ilaignarkal School, Auroville an opportunity to learn. Back at school it was fun through activities and games,teachers and children mingled as one, with a spirit that is engaged in our schools.
_Sri Aurobindo said “The chief aim of education should be to help the growing soul to draw out that in itself which is best and make it perfect for a noble cause.”_
(From “The Ideal of Human Unity”, Chapter 12)
The one thing necessary for the child is to provide it with an atmosphere in which it can grow freely and normally, at Auroville, as part of Integral Education we practise ardently and passionately.
There was also honoring of children who had won at the Judo competitions. Their demonstration showed their skills, the focus and dedicated efforts, a testament to a blossoming when the environment is supportive.
Sanjeev Ranganathan, gave to each child their own trophies, acknowledging their effort and encouraging them.
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Inaugural Address at Nitividhana, Civilizational Public Policy
Nitividhana, Civilizational Public Policy, a three day immersive workshop organized by Brhat was inaugurated today at Bhumika Hall, Auroville.
Across three days, sessions by well-known speakers will focus and converge on Integral Approaches to Education, Sustainability and Governance.
The highlight of the workshop is to bring in the philosophy and perspectives as shared by Sri Aurobindo, his vision for Public Leadership. Interesting to listen in and participate would be the sessions on Civizational Lens for Governance, Integral Education for Policy Thinking and finally the Synthesis for Philosophy and Public Policy.
The sessions would not only be informative and enlightening, that the focus on bringing in Sri Aurobindo’s vision on the topics is indeed very promising and heartening.
The welcome and inaugural address was given by Shri (Dr.) Sanjeev Ranganathan, (SAIIER) Board member, Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research) and very passionate about education.
Other speakers include
Sri Shraddhalu Ranade (Sadhaka, Educator & Scientist), Dr. Mala Kapadia (Director, CIKS, Anaadi Foundation), Dr. Pankaj Saxena (Co-Founder & Director – Cultural Research, Bṛhat) and Sri Amritanshu Pandey (Director – Strategy & Ops, Bṛhat). May we grow in His light and vision and to be continually guided .
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Yuva Sangam session with Sanjeev
Under the prestigious
Yuva Sangam Phase-V initiative, part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB)
program under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, a total of 60
students from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have come to Tamil Nadu. NITTTR
Chennai serves as the nodal institute for Yuva Sangam in the state of Tamil
Nadu. The main goal of this program is to travel across India to learn about
its traditions, historical roots, and national values.
In Auroville, the students visited SAIIER and interacted with Sanjeev asking questions to understand about Auroville. They also visited Matrimandir, Solar Kitchen, Unity Pavilion and Savitri Bhavan to learn about Sri Aurobindo and the values of Auroville. At SAIIER, they were introduced to the concept of integral education.





AICTE Director visits Isai Ambalam School
Mr. Naresh Grover,
Director of the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), along with
his team, recently visited Auroville, a one-of-a-kind experimental township in
South India. The visit was inspired by interactions with students from Yuva
Sangam, who had recently explored Auroville and shared enthusiastic accounts of
its unique ethos and innovative development model. Captivated by their
insights, Mr. Grover and his team decided to experience Auroville firsthand.
A key highlight of the visit was a tour of Isai Ambalam School, an innovative educational institution in Auroville. Mr. Grover and his team observed students engaging in activities such as gardening, STEM projects (building treehouses and playgrounds), and interacting with animals, including cows and dogs, fostering a Gurukulam-like environment. Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan explained the school’s curriculum, which integrates academics with nature, culture, and creativity, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP).
Mr. Grover was particularly intrigued by the school’s approach to teaching mathematics, blending Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) with modern programming and visualization techniques, creating a balance between Eastern and Western pedagogies. He encouraged Auroville schools to participate in AICTE’s Ministry of Innovation Cell (MIC) programs for schools and extended an invitation to Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan to share these practices with AICTE for potential implementation nationwide.
Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan also shared insights about Auroville’s unique Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc) program in affiliation with Pondicherry University. This program equips students with real-world skills, universal values, and leadership capabilities, fostering a shift from dependence to interdependence with community, nation, and the world. Mr. Grover lauded the program’s transformative impact on youth, promoting holistic and sustainable development.
Mr. Grover and Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan further discussed the natural integration of Integral Education principles in Auroville schools, which have influenced the NEP. They explored avenues for collaboration and outreach initiatives to extend Auroville’s educational practices beyond the township.
Additionally, Mr. Grover expressed interest in Auroville’s participation in initiatives like the *Smart India Hackathon (SIH)*. SIH, envisioned to promote innovation and out-of-the-box thinking among young minds, aims to institutionalize a model that harnesses the creativity and technical expertise of students for the nation’s benefit. Through SIH 2024, the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) seeks to crowdsource solutions to improve governance, enhance quality of life, and address India’s pressing needs. Post-SIH, the Ministry is committed to developing, implementing, and deploying winning ideas by supporting the concerned ministries and departments in this endeavor.
In conclusion, Mr. Grover expressed gratitude to Dr. Jayanti S. Ravi for the warm welcome and commended Auroville’s remarkable contributions to education, sustainability, and innovation. He reaffirmed AICTE’s commitment to fostering collaborations that advance Auroville’s unique model across the nation.
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Restoring Our Office Campus After the Cyclone’s Fury
-Sivaguru, SandhiyaBala, Saranya, Sanjay, Sribhavani, Arunkumar,Kugan, Rajesh, Pratap
Due to the “Fengal” storm in our region, we have faced many issues, such as electricity, transportation and mobile signal. Also, many trees and plants were broken, damaging roads and vehicles. We collectively involved to clean up the debris by supporting each other during this difficult time.

Sanjay’s reflection:
Because of the rains, the soil underneath the entrance path had whittled away making it impossible for bikes within campus to go out. I experienced this difficulty on Sunday as I ventured out to grab some food. As I was returning from breakfast on Monday, I saw Sudhir Pradhan at work filling up the pathway with broken bricks. I immediately joined him and the crew in bringing in the bricks, breaking them into little pieces with the hammer, and filling up the entrance with those. After that, I also assisted Mr. Rajan in hauling all the broken/sawed-off timber into one pile.
None of us was used to manual labor, so we were all panting and pausing for frequent breaks. I keep physically active, somewhat, but this is different from going for a run or lifting weights, outdoor calisthenics playing badminton/tennis or even doing Yogasanas. My body was not used to it and my legs were also shaking from the effort. In addition, I also got blisters on my palms. However, after a bath, I felt invigorated and I could feel better blood circulation as well as a feeling of physical well-being that I had not felt in a while. I also had a very stilling Vipassana sit after. It brought back memories of very stilling sits in Vipassana centers that I used to experience after cleaning toilets, cleaning the pathways, washing fabrics, and helping out in the kitchen. I remember that after this experience, I always used to look for manual labor whenever possible.
From my perspective, Manual labor as a volunteer helping others has an advantage over going to the Gym or playing a sport because apart from the undoubted benefits for physical health, it also feels more meaningful (psychic health) and my Vipassana sits are always very stilling (Mental health) after that effort. There is also the connection one feels towards the community when involved in that effort. I get to know the person volunteering along with me a little better. It’s like being brothers in labor. The last three are something I do not experience after calisthenics, gym routines, sports are even Yogasanas.
I resolved that once my responsibilities with Aura are discharged around the end of January, I will look for more ways to volunteer that involve manual labor, perhaps such as matrimandir cleaning twice a week and also involvement in Campus clean-up at C3SLD/Isai/Udavi. The rains reminded me of this, which I had forgotten. An opportunity beckons, and it is up to me to take it and make full use of it, benefit myself, and benefit others.

Sivaguruprasath’s reflection:
My name is Sivaguruprasath and I stand for courage, full-potential and equanimity for myself and for others. On cleaning the campus, I learned that I have to supporting others to build resilience in tough situations. I noticed that I feel responsible and care towards others and as well as the environment. I appreciate everyone for this team effort and being grateful for achieving a common goal.
SandhiyaBala’s Reflection:
My name is Sandhiya Bala and I stand for courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. I have learned many things while cleaning our campus as teamwork, everyone involved in cleaning our campus saw the responsibility of each one who was participating. I notice the quality of care and responsibility and I use it in my life.
Pratap’s reflection:
After the Fengal cyclone, our office campus was left in disarray. Despite limited participation, a small group took the initiative to clean up, collecting fallen stems and dry leaves. It was disheartening that not everyone joined, but the efforts of the few made a visible difference. This experience highlighted the value of taking action, even when support is minimal. It reinforced the power of teamwork and the satisfaction of contributing to our shared space. I hope this inspires others to join such efforts in the future, showing that every small contribution matters.
SriBhavani’s reflection:
My name is Sri Bhavani, and I stand for love and equality for myself and others. I felt accomplished in supporting our team in cleaning the campus. I learned that no work is easier or less significant than another, every task holds its own value. On that day, the Ammas who usually clean our campus took the initiative to prepare food for us, and some of our team members supported them as well. I am able to see the alignment of care and cooperation among everyone. I acknowledge everyone involved in the cleaning activity (Shram Daan) for their commitment and responsibility toward the well-being of our surroundings.
Ajay’s reflection:
My name is Ajay, and I stand for happiness and self-awareness for myself and others. My reflection from cleaning our campus after the Fengal cyclone shows the teamwork by everyone and the care shown toward the organization and its surroundings by me and others. It was difficult and hard for me to clean the entire place in one day, but somehow, with the help of our team as a whole, we managed to do it.
Kugan’s reflection:
My name is Kugan I stand for equality for myself and other. When everyone is responsible for their own work, it makes the team stronger. Teamwork then becomes about working together to do even better, not just covering for someone else’s part.
ArunKumar’s reflection:
Cleaning the office with my colleagues and inspired college students, I felt happy and motivated seeing the younger generation care for our environment. It was a great teamwork experience, and it also reminded me to take care of my physical health, as I felt tired easily.

Rajesh’s reflection:
After the devastating Fengal cyclone, our area experienced heavy rainfall, fallen trees, and a complete lack of electricity and internet. In response, a plan was initiated to clean and restore our workplace and school. Participating in this effort provided me with a unique opportunity to clean and organize the place where I work and teach, instilling in me a profound sense of ownership.
This experience made me realize that the environment around me is an extension of my home, and when the need arises, it is my responsibility to care for it. It highlighted the care and gratitude I feel for my office and its surroundings—a place I cherish daily.
Moreover, it broadened my perspective on the importance of nurturing the world, not just during times of disaster but as a consistent practice. It reminded me that taking care of people and the planet is an ongoing responsibility, fostering habits of care and compassion in every aspect of life. This experience was a powerful lesson in stewardship and the interconnectedness of my actions with the well-being of our environment and community.
Saranya’s Reflection:
Observation: After the Fungal Cyclone, my colleagues and I worked together to clean the campus. We all helped make the area safe and clean again. Some of us picked up fallen branches and trash. It was a team effort, and everyone worked hard. We were able to talk to each other, which helped improve our relationships. By the end of the day, the campus looked much better, and we felt proud of what we had done together.
Reflection: I have learned to stay calm and focused in any situation. I realize that I can make a positive impact by staying dedicated and offering my support. This experience helped me appreciate my role and the value of working together for a common goal. I feel proud of how I contributed and the difference it made.
The Significance of Siddhi Day: Reflections on Krishna’s Descent and Personal Growth
-SandhiyaBala
C3SLD provides many opportunities to engage with events at Auroville and when I received a message from Poovizhi that for the Siddhi Day, Arulvazhi School organized a speech on The Mother and Sri Aurobindo at Savitri Bhavan, delivered by Varatharajan Sir, and Shyamala Amma I decided to participate in it and learn from it. I had heard them share some of their experiences with the Mother as pioneers of Auroville and I was eager to learn more.

Conversations on THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SIDDHI DAY (24 November 1926)
DISCIPLE: I do not know the significance of the 24th of November 1926; some say it is the immortality day while others say it was the descent of Krishna’s personality.
SRI AUROBINDO: It has nothing to do with immortality. It is the descent of Krishna.
DISCIPLE: Some say November 24th is a day of victory. By that, some mean that the Supermind (supramental consciousness) descended into the physical consciousness of Sri Aurobindo. Others say it was the coming down of Krishna into the physical consciousness. If it was the descent of Krishna, does that mean the descent of the supramental light?
SRI AUROBINDO: Krishna is not the supramental light. The descent of Krishna would mean the descent of the Overmind Godhead preparing, though not itself actually bringing, the descent of Supermind and Ananda. Krishna is the Anandamaya, he supports the evolution through the Overmind leading it towards his Ananda.
— Sri Aurobindo, CWSA 35: 272-273 In the talk Varatharajan Sir and Shyamala Amma shared their profound experiences of how they connect and interact with The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, offering deep insights and inspiration.


I attended sessions by Varatharajan Sir and Shyamala Amma, where I experienced something profound—goosebumps ran through my body, and it felt as if the whole world was embracing my heart. One significant lesson I learned from them is, “You work with the people who come to you.” This insight will guide and support me in my future growth.
They also emphasized that those with goodwill are always welcome in Auroville, as they can contribute to essential areas like education, water management, healthcare, and creating work opportunities.
Additionally, I had the privilege of decorating flowers at the Matri Mandir. This act felt like a meaningful offering for Siddhi Day.
The divine beauty of the flower arrangements reminds me of Krishna’s consciousness. It feels as though I can hear Krishna playing His flute under the Banyan tree! His consciousness, descending into the physical realm, impacts life on Earth in the most profound and transformative ways. It helped me connect with the universal values of happiness that manifest through me.