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French
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Russian translation
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 Even
though there are many Aurovilians of French origin, no clear plan
for a French Pavilion has as yet emerged. However, a network of
interested persons now starts to be active and organise cultural
exchange programmes with the aim to make the specificity and wealth
of the French culture known to a wider public. Gradually, the
various initiatives will find their meeting point in the International
Zone of Auroville, in the French Pavilion. The foundation stone
was laid on August 23rd, 1993 and it seems that today, in light
of the growing interest generated for the International Zone,
the French Pavilion is about to take shape.
The role of France in the Auroville project
"With the intellectual quality of
France, the quality of its spirit," Mother said, "the
day that she will be really spiritually touched will be something
exceptional."
France has always played, with India, a prominent role in the
Auroville project. Let us remember, indeed, that the Mother was
French.
It is again a French man, Satprem, who for twenty years, recorded
and transcribed Mother's account of her experience of a new way
of being on earth, in Mother's
Agenda.
And it is another French man, architect Roger Anger, to whom Mother
entrusted the design and construction of the city.
Today, the French and francophone community
of Auroville comprise around 350 people, children included, i.e.
more than 20% of the total population.
France and India
 The
great minds of France, from Voltaire to André Malraux, have always
recognised the real dimension of India.
"It is France," Mother said
in 1961," that can link India to Europe. France has great
spiritual possibilities. In spite of the present state she is
in, she is meant to play a great role. It is through France that
Europe will be touched by the spiritual message."
It is in the light of this declaration from
the Mother that one must understand the profound dimension that
underlies the proposal of 'A partnership for the 20th century'
made to India in January 1998 by Mr Jacques Chirac, president
of the French Republic.
The project of the French Pavilion was presented
by an Aurovilian delegation to Mr Jacques Chirac during his visit
to India in January 1998. In July 1998, in Paris, Mr Karan Singh,
then president of the Indian delegation, officially presented
the project of the French Pavilion in Auroville to Mr Claude Allègre,
then Minister of National Education, Research and Technology.
The French Pavilion in Auroville
France means generosity of feelings,
newness and boldness of ideas, and acts of chivalry. This France
commands the respect and admiration of all; it is through these
virtues that she conquered the world. A utilitarian, calculating
and mercantilist France is no more France; these things do not
conform to her true nature, and in practising them, she looses
the nobility of her position in the world.
The French Pavilion proposes to represent
the different facets of the national genius of France. For this,
it will combine the following functions:
-
a permanent exhibition centre where the
most representative achievements and expressions of the French
genius will be displayed, showing how France has participated
in the evolution of the world
-
a centre to promote and spread French
culture
-
a centre of exchange between France and
Auroville, France and India, France and the world
-
a centre of research in human unity and
the future evolution of mankind
-
a centre to receive students, researchers,
entrepreneurs, teachers and artists from France who will participate
in the programmes offered by the Pavilion
-
an education centre for all French citizens
and friends of France living in Auroville who wish to widen
their knowledge of the French culture
Construction of the Pavilion
The first stone of the French Pavilion was
laid on August 23rd, 1993, by His Excellency Mr. Philippe Petit,
the then French Ambassador to India. At that time, the construction
project had been defined by the town-planning group of Auroville
(Auroville's Future) under direction of the architect of Auroville,
Roger Anger.
The French Pavilion will be included in the European Area, the
part of the International Zone dedicated to this continent.
Development of francophony
Representatives of the French and francophone
community of Auroville are actively engaged in various sectors
of the city. Beside cultural exchange, there is also an active
professional collaboration between different sectors of activity
in Auroville that are managed by executives of French nationality,
and various French organisations and institutions established
in France as well as in India, for example in Pondicherry. The
Alliance Française of Pondicherry is one of them and plays an
important role in the spreading of French culture in the region.
Art and culture in Auroville
Auroville is a centre where many francophone
artists live and create. There is a rich potential that waits
to be dynamised and the city attracts many Indian and European
artists. Because of its aims and the quality of its artists, it
is a fertile meeting place for research and exchange in the field
of art at the service of the evolution of consciousness and of
human unity in its diversity.
The French Pavilion will be able to sustain, develop and promote
all forms of artistic expression that work in this direction,
as well as build bridges between these different forms of art
(dance, music, painting, photo, poetry, sculpture, theatre…).
It will also foster exchange between French, Indian and Aurovilian
artists by setting up partnerships, artists houses, networks,
events, shows, exhibitions, colloquies and meetings.
A presentation of all francophone Auroville
artists is being put together and will soon be available for reference
at the French Pavilion.
Participation from abroad
Until the Pavilion is constructed, it has
been decided to continue developing activities in Auroville under
the umbrella of francophony. Use of the French language, of which
Mother said that it should be taught in all Auroville schools,
must be particularly maintained and encouraged. This can be done
by the following means, in which everyone is welcome to participate:
-
creating a library, by sending books
-
creating a video library, by sending video
tapes
-
supporting Aurovilian francophone publications
-
offering pedagogical support
-
sending newspapers and magazines
-
sending 16 and 35mm films
-
setting up a network to receive French
TV channels
-
organise workshops, exhibitions and cultural
and artistic programmes
-
organise exchange programmes.
Other activities
The activities of the French Pavilion also
include Auroville Press International, Aurofilm, Auro-traductions,
the publication of the 'Revue d'Auroville' and the 'Collection
des Pavillons', recently created in collaboration with Auroville
Press International.
Research and Development
In order to develop a lively exchange between
France and Auroville, we have in mind to encourage the following
activities:
-
visit and stay of French specialists in
Auroville, in different areas of expertise
-
visit and stay of Aurovilian specialists
in France
-
organisation of colloquies, workshops,
seminars and conferences in Auroville and in France
-
creation of partnerships and common research
programmes
Association for the French Pavilion in Auroville
The French Pavilion team thanks the Vitalis
association in France which enabled them to obtain their first
computer for the work. The aim of the association is to create
the French Pavilion in the International Zone of Auroville and
to help develop its activities. Initiative of this is placed under
the umbrella of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Vitalis' president is Mr: Gilles Lachaud,
director of research at C.N.R.S. (National Centre for Scientific
Research), France.
For additional information, please contact :
In Auroville:
French Pavilion, Aurelec, Prayogashala, Auroville, 605101, Tamil
Nadu
Ph. & Fax: (91) 413-622 713
E-mail : france@auroville.org.in
In France:
Gilles Lachaud, 22, rue de la Loge, 13002 Marseille
Ph.: 04 91 91 86 16
E-mail: lachaud@iml.univ-mrs.fr
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