- work report, summer 2002
While activities in the International
Zone are generally picking up since the beginning of this
century, a kind of inner fullness has come into the efforts
of the Bharat Nivas team and they here share a summary picture
of the various activities that have been, and are presently
being, pursued. They are distinctive and different individuals
work out their own initiatives. The team starts with those
who were the first ones to begin work in these areas:
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We think of Aurovilian of the first
hour Varadharajan, who started to work on educational
programmes for children as well as adults in the villages
of Auroville's bio-region right from the founding years
of Auroville, and is an active member of the Bharat
Nivas team. Every year he co-ordinates cultural programmes
on India's Independence & Republic's days when the
outreach schools show their best in dance, drama, and
songs.
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Long-time Aurovilian Meenakshi
touches deep in the soul and spirit of Tamil Nadu and
has been, since her arrival, busy with setting up schools
and educational programmes in the villages around Auroville.
Presently, setting up the Tamil Heritage Centre located
by the side of the Atithi Griha guesthouse in Bharat
Nivas occupies her attention, the architectural plans
of the building, the funding and the beginning of some
activities being the chief concerns..
-
The work of the Centre for Research
in Indian Culture and the 'Centre of Indian Studies'
is being led by Aster Patel who is Aurovilian
of the first hour as well. Mrs Patel is the inspiration
for various aspects, particularly Integral Psychology
and the 'Synthesis of Yoga'. She has been an efficient
contributor for organising several literary workshops
in similar fields
-
The setting up of a Sanskrit
section many years back was the work of Mrs Toshi
Malik who also lived in Auroville from the very
beginning. This early activity serves as resource base
for Sanskrit classes being held now. Toshi herself presently
teaches Hindi to adults, as also Sanskrit. She also
translates into Hindi or gives a final reading to works
ready for publication.
-
Ashoke C. devotes himself
to several aspects of the work such as handling the
annual Government of India grants for construction work
and overseeing the running of Atithi Griha guesthouse.
Together with Dharmesh, recently arrived Kishen Mayer,
Ashoke focalises the management of the overall Bharat
Nivas campus and assets, always in collaboration with
the lager team
-
The Sri Aurobindo World Centre
of Human Unity, at the entrance of Bharat Nivas
was designed and built by architect Anupama. Anupama
generally handles the construction work of Bharat Nivas,
functions as consultant in all development issues, and
also takes care of Bharat Nivas related graphic designs
of posters and a website-to-be
-
The Atithi Griha guesthouse
in Bharat Nivas, was designed and constructed by architect
Dharmesh, whose involvement also centres around
the graphic layout, logo design and campus signage of
Bharat Nivas, co-managing Bharat Nivas in general as
well as organisation of workshops, advises in development
activities regarding Centre for Indian Studies, Tamil
Heritage Centre, Sri Aurobindo Auditorium and presently
also is in the process of creating an exhibition 'India
Builds Her Cities'
-
The maintenance of the campus
of Bharat Nivas and all the infrastructure is skilfully
looked after by long-time Aurovilian Elumalai,
overseeing check and maintenance of water system, electric
supply and generators; some carpentry and masonry work;
security needs, garden upkeep, fencing of the campus
etc
-
Focal point of the artistic and
cultural life of the Auroville community is the
Sri Aurobindo Auditorium in Bharat Nivas. Tapas Bhatt,
with her team, organises this area of activities enabling
the community and its guests to enjoy a great variety
of cultural performances taking place in the Auditorium
and elsewhere in the township
Of course, the above list is nowhere
complete and merely serves to give the reader an overall
idea of the functioning and growth of Bharat Nivas, Auroville's
House of India.
Bharat Nivas brochure
Towards the end of 2001, a fairly comprehensive
brochure on Bharat Nivas was brought out, outlining the
foundation of the work and the future directions of growth
based on texts taken from Sri Aurobindo's essay 'The Renaissance
of India'. The brochure also lists the various components
of Bharat Nivas and gives brief notes on the distinctive
areas of study/research/artistic presentations.
For more detailed information, please visit: www.bharatnivas.org
tamil@auroville.org.in
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