In today's time, it is significant to create a place where discrimination is not a concept, where mother nature is devoted to everyone and where peace and harmony are the preferences of every citizen. The world is already experimenting on multiple societies and working out on town planning with better future scope. And even India has its experimental town spanned on the eastern coastline of Chennai, Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry. The name of this unique town is Auroville and it was founded in 1968. The town belongs to humanity as a whole and its doors are open to one and all regardless of religion, age, nationality and financial status. It was founded by Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and Mirra Alfassa, also known as ‘the mother’, and designed by architect Roger Anger. The Auroville Town strives for peace, harmony, knowledge and upliftment.

The town inhabits around 2800 people who come from 54 different nations, and all of these people come here for individual growth and spiritual development. People similarly admire the beautiful beach life here with a tropical climate, French colonial culture, and stunning Mediterranean cafes. When it was approved on 28 February 1968, youths from 124 various nations deposited their native soil into ‘The Urn’, which is a marble-clad structure in the form of a lotus bud. An Auroville Charter was also signed by Mother Mirra Alfassa which was handwritten in French.

The town of Auroville is built around the Matrimandir, which is a Sanskrit term for the mother. The Matrimandir is perhaps the most intriguing and significant place at Auroville. It is a mediation hall in the form of a large sphere surrounded by 12 petals and contains the largest optically-perfected globe made of glass in the world. It took 37 years to build this beautiful monument, which is from 1971 to 2008. The Matrimandir does not belong to any specific religion or community and it is open to the public by appointments.

Auroville is much like mini-verse or a distinct entity that looks after itself. The work system is also very structured here. The areas of work include ecological practices, primary and secondary education, alternative healthcare, architecture, renewable energy, etc. Multiple work opportunities are offered here, and it is a great way for someone to test the waters for someone considering to move here. There are also short term and long term programmes and workshops for youngsters based on helping the youth figure out their calling and realising their potential.

Auroville has been a hub of multiple experiments in various aspects like architecture including, building technology and eco-friendly architecture. Auroville's architecture has won numerous design awards and the Auroville Earth Institute works with over 35 nations to communicate expertness of Earthen and sustainable architecture. Projects like forestation, waste management, water harvesting, organic farming are parts of Auroville town. It also significantly focuses on health through holistic treatments. There is a large 7-acre medicinal forest named “Martuvam Healing Forest”. Remedial techniques of Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and other natural forms of healings are very popular in Auroville.

Education is similarly a crucial aspect of Auroville. The unique thing is that the teachers from different parts of the world teach the student from different nationalities, though the medium of education is English. Cultural and social diversity of Auroville ensures that the children are raised with greater perspectives and global exposure. Auroville similarly gives revered greatness to art and culture, and much of the society consists of creative people. It is home to celebrate various art forms like music, poetry, dance, filmography, etc.

If you are an adult in a mid-life crisis, or a distracted fresher just came out of college, Auroville can be the place for you to find the answers you are looking for and have some real fun with the self-exploration. It is just 30 minutes drive from the Pondicherry and 3 hours drive from Chennai. Auroville doesn't use any vehicles inside, and people just get around on cycles and some cool mopeds. In short, Auroville has a lot to offer as a tourist destination, a spirituality park, and a scope for better townships if it gets successful, and yet there is much that goes on in the town of Auroville..!!

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Reference:

• www.slate.com
• www.auroville.org
• www.wikipedia.com