In a short interview recorded in Pondicherry at the opening of the exhibition "Varanasi Weaver Exhibition... a timeless journey", Uma Prajapati explain the importance of this social project Upasana is running in Varanasi. Quoting from the invitation: " Thousands of looms in Varanasi have become silent in the last decade - cheap, bad quality imitations have flooded the market and left weavers and traders in despair. Eighty-five percent of the weavers have wandered away to pursue other livelihood options. India's largest hand-weaving guild is threatened. Upasana has been involved in helping the Varanasi weavers' community since 4 years. We bring to you an exhibition showcasing Benaras through its textile, and tradition… An effort towards presenting responsible fashion and rediscovering pride in our collective heritage... Come experience a glimpse into the oldest city of India...”. The exhibition will be open till the 19th of February at the Alliance Francais (Pondicherry). Read more

Mark Twain once said "The difference between a Miracle and a Fact is exactly the difference between a seal and a mermaid". Auroville's literary pilgrimage and tactful metabolism needs a change. We conducted a short interview with the project holder of www.bluelightav.org Software Solution, Mr. Juergen. "Change is a slow process". Despite of the challenges on the ground, each and every day these computer engineers are trying to change the cocoon of working scenario at Auroville. ERP, Enterprise Resource Planning is the first lane of this change - a future solution for Auroville? Read more

Newcomers for Newcomers held one of numerous programs at Town Hall. On this occasion Ross from the Entry Service shared, through informal conversation, some insights with newcomers, pre-comers, and future friends of Auroville. He spoke about the difficulties and beauties of being one of the members of the Entry Service. Among other topics, Ross touched upon the basic question, which each of us should ask when considering joining Auroville – 'Am I here for Auroville or is Auroville here for me?' Read more

Uma of Upasana and her team have been busy doing research on the silkworm, its cocoon and the incredible length of a single strand from that cocoon. The various processes that must be done before we have in our hands the textile the world knows as silk will be shown in the resultant book which is nearing completion; it presents the humble beginnings of silk and the various processes of how it becomes silk as the world knows it. The book 'Silk' will be completed in the next few months, available through Upasana.

The Auroville Language Lab is a full-fledged language laboratory that draws upon the unique linguistic culture of Auroville. Alive with the rich vibrant sounds of languages from all over the world, Auroville is the perfect place to learn a new one.ALL offers Tomatis Ear Re-Education Therapy for both language learning as well as therapeutic applications. While it does not replace the need for language classes covering grammar, vocabulary acquisition etc, Tomatis method gives one the hearing of a native speaker, and consequently results in extremely precise and correct pronunciation. Here the presentation made by Mita about Tomatis and Auroville Language Lab.

Sunny Saturday afternoon, and Upasana decorated with balloons, beautiful kolams on the floor and children laughter all around. Small Steps were launched three years ago deliberately on Earth Day, and in Auroville is one part of Small Steps campaign, which is stretched all over. Small Steps is focusing on the attitude that we all have take small steps and do something for the planet, for its greener future. Small Steps were launched as invocation to express gratitude for the Mother Earth. Read more

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Para la mayoría de la gente, un día en la oficina no puede pasare sin una taza de café. Para otros, una comida o cena no termina igual si no pueden deliciarse con esa sabrosa bebida. Pero cuantos de nosotros piensa que un viaje a India nos puede llevar a descubrir secretos de esta maravilla? Es de este tema que nos hablan Marc y Jose Luis, de Coffee Ideas, una iniciativa muy creativa y inspiradora que ha tomado sitio aquí en Auroville por las manos de estos dos aurovilianos que vinieron de España. Para terminar el evento de esta semana Genius Incorporated y palabras de Sri Aurobindo. (todo eso de ojos cerrados ya que la locutora tiene algo de conjuntivitis...)

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Effective micro-organisms (EM) technology is a liquid mix of microbes developed in Japan, which promotes vigorous plant growth, producing better agricultural crops. It can also be used to manage organic waste, even sewerage and polluted water bodies, reducing smells and controlling rotting. He is promoting the use of EM in waste management across Tamil Nadu as well as in Auroville, where people use it in their houses as well as in farms. Although academics are still skeptical, those using EM are convinced. “In the end, a solid waste management facility depends on skillful management and very little technology and very simple infrastructure,” he says.

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Nandini is a cooperative which supplies clothes on a need basis rather than enticing people to browse and buy things they might not really want, like a shop. Membership is paid for annually and people are given what they need regardless of cost. The clothes are bought in Pondicherry as and when they are required. Yet there are questions about defining need - how many t-shirts a person really needs - and this is monitored carefully. Sometimes people are found to be taking too much and Marie has to talk with them about what they really need. There is also a tailoring service to alter clothes and have things such as curtains and bedclothes made for houses.That piece was uploaded as one from the serie of past articles.

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The Trashion Show event at the Visitor Center was packed. More than 400 people came to see the fashion parade spectacular featuring garments and accessories made entirely from trash and recycled junk. The event challenged Auroville's best designers to work with Auroville's worst materials.The entertainment featured: Nadaka & Gopika - performing with the relevant theme in mind. The Mohanam Boys - making percussion music out of litter, The Brand New Band - representing the youth our future. Krishna (Emergence) - playing home-grown eco-friendly fusion. Patcha Mama - getting you grooving to sustainable ska/reggae. Tiago & Ana and the percussionist from Sadhana Forest. Jesse, the ever splendid trash talking host presented the event. Download the show. In read more the concerts.Read more

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Uma's enthusiasm for the work she does is contagious. Her eye ranges far afield; she speaks about Kapas and the cotton farmers and the plight of the weavers, she continues Tsunamika with the fisher ladies, and now the waste... Uma has woven the thread of creativity utilizing the contents of the unit's waste barrels, the goal zero waste. Upasana's employees, men and women of the villages, have successfully produced usable, unique items of beauty entirely of plastic, paper and cloth waste, caught by Uma's clarity and confidence.

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Tuesday 19th January at 3.00 pm in the Town Hall there was a presentation about trends and developments of population growth in Auroville. The presentation was conducted by Martin as a follow-up of the socio-economic survey conducted for L'avenir in collaboration with Harini and Vikram. Not a lot of Aurovilians attended to this presentation who make the point of the past growth and the trends for the next years and decades. Here is the recording of the event..For the second click READ MORERead more

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Recently Uma (Upasana) attended a workshop in Belgium on Inner Intelligence. It is part of management training based on spiritual wisdom of eastern traditions in combination with scientific understanding. Their teaching method is exceptionally effective and unusual using techniques like archery, balancing etc. This is the recording of the presentation dated Tuesday 8th December in Town Hall Conference Hall.

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The Center for Research in the Performing Arts (CRIPA) was planning to build a whole campus complex for performing arts since 2007. It shall be located in the Cultural Zone, in the Kalabhoomi community. Now the first step has been done: the construction work for the rehearsal hall for dance, music and theatre it's close to be completed. It will be the biggest rehearsal space in Auroville with a large wooden floor of 12 by 40 meters. Here's an interview with the architect Baskar made on the contruction site.Read more.

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