FrancisFrancis was one of the first settlers on the Auroville plateau. Since then, he has been involved in many activities in the community.
Francis was born in Brooklyn and spent his formative years on the west side of Manhattan, before moving out to Long Island. “I didn’t get much education, mainly because of my attitude: I was the kind of kid who no teacher would want in their class. In school, I had the feeling I was always in a cage.
“I came out of high school totally ignorant, and pretty untameable. When I was 17, I joined the Navy; nothing noble, I just needed a place to sleep! Because I lacked a certain discipline, I had some problems with authority. The fact I got through those three years with minimum damage was an achievement.”
In 1968 he travelled with a friend from east Asia to India. They landed in Calcutta, then took a train to Madras.
“We were there for three or four days and I got so tired of rice and dal. Then I learned there was good French cuisine at Pondic...
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