So, I'm leaving for our college study tour tomorrow. Destination: Pondicherry. Auroville, more precisely. There may be a stop at Mahabalipuram too. But, details aren't completely clear about the itinerary. (I missed the briefing!) Anyway, my point is, I'm excited!
It's a quick trip, quicker than we'd have liked. But one that I'm really looking forward to for many reasons.
I generally love travelling, seeing new things.
I kind of regret not having documented my (not superbly extensive; but pretty far out) travels in the past. But, it's cool. I've resolved to, here on out. Especially since I love, so much, to travel through photographs my friends take or stories they've written of places they've seen that I haven't crossed off my list(s) yet. And since I love photography (shutterbug Dave's paparazzi pal. Although, I'm sure he'd prefer- protégé!) and I love to write, it's the least I could/ should do!
Like Dave and I discussed- Traveloguers we must be!
So I'm starting with this particular trip.
I figured it would be a good idea to do some background research on the place we're headed to.
And boy(and girl!:P), was I right! I'm so glad I looked into the origin of and philosophy behind Auroville.
It's just made me all the more enthusiastic about experiencing it.
(Some information is stolen off http://www.auroville.org - which serves well, for a taste of things to expect.)
What is Auroville?
Auroville is a universal township in the making for a population of up to 50,000 people from around the world.
How did Auroville begin?
The concept of Auroville - an ideal township devoted to an experiment in human unity - came to the Mother as early as the 1930s. In the mid 1960s the Sri Aurobindo Society in Pondicherry proposed to Her that such a township should be started. She gave her blessings. The concept was then put before the Govt. of India, who gave their backing and took it to the General Assembly of UNESCO. In 1966 UNESCO passed a unanimous resolution commending it as a project of importance to the future of humanity, thereby giving their full encouragement.
Why Auroville?
The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity – in diversity. Today Auroville is recognised as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of consciousness, also concerned with - and practically researching into - sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind.
Now this, I think, is brilliant! That there is an initiative of this kind being made anywhere in the world, even more amazingly in our own country, just gives that feeling of hopelessness that sometimes weighs hearts down a kick in the behind. They call it an experiment in a laboratory of evolution. And experiencing this strange science first hand thrills me! We talk, so often, about being the same beneath all our differences. I can't wait to see the practical functioning of this, sometimes seemingly too good to be true, school of thought and learn what it entails. That, I'll include in a post on our return. So, until then, I fare thee well. Happy journeying through the next week!
