26-5-2009
Mrs. Karan Singh passed away

We regret to inform that Smt. Yasho Rajya Lakshmi, the wife of senior Congress leader and former Maharaja of Kashmir Dr. Karan Singh, died in New Delhi on May 24th after prolonged illness at the age of 71.

President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance Mrs. Sonia Gandhi mourned her death and expressed condolences to Dr Singh and his family. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while expressing profound grief and sorrow over her death, said she would be long remembered by the people of Jammu and Kashmir for her active role as a social activist.

Grand-daughter of Maharaja Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, former Prime Minister of Nepal from the Rana dynasty, Yasho Rajya Lakshmi was married to Dr. Singh in 1950. She was involved in a number of NGOs and social organisations and was President of the Delhi Society for the Welfare of Special Children.

Smt. Yasho Lakshmi had once accompanied her husband Dr. Karan Singh on a visit to Auroville. At the time she also participated in the inauguration of the  Sri Karneshwar Nataraja Temple located on the beach at Pudhukuppam, 12 kilometres north of Auroville. She impressed Auroville with her gentleness and keen interest.

The Working Committee

22-5-2009
Regarding the death of Ms. Katherine Sherman

The Working Committee of the Residents' Assembly of the Auroville Foundation learned from US media reports that the FBI will continue its investigation into the death of Ms. Katherine Sherman, a Living Routes student, who expired in Auroville on March 20, 2008. Though the Indian police have registered the death as a case of suicide, Ms. Sherman's parents remain unconvinced and have initiated the investigation to rule out all other possibilities.

In September 2008, Living Routes informed us that an FBI investigation would take place. However, as of yet, the FBI has not contacted any Auroville authority.

Auroville hosts each year a number of students on internship from India, Europe and the USA . We hope, in the common interest, that the FBI will complete its investigations as soon as possible. 

We express our deepest sympathy to family and friends of Katie Sherman for their suffering caused by Katherine's demise.

Working Committee,

22-05-2009