Context:
Under the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ program, students recently took part in an Auroville exposure tour exploring Auroville’s role in fostering prosperity and its relationship with the Pondicherry Ashram.
Key Highlights:
- The program aims to underscore the importance of educational and cultural tours aligned with themes outlined in the Aurobindo’s (150th birth anniversary), G-20 Declaration, National Education Policy, and Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat (EBSB).
- The concept of an Aurobindo circuit (under EBSB) was introduced following the suggestion of the Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
- The primary focus of the initiative is to expose youth to spirituality and Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy.
- Additionally, it emphasizes the practical implementation of integral education, with Auroville serving as a unique experiment toward that end.
About Auroville Foundation:
- The Auroville Foundation, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education, is responsible for organizing the program.
- Auroville is an experimental township situated in the state of Tamil Nadu, with some areas extending into the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
- Founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, also known as ‘the Mother,’ the name ‘Auroville’ is derived from the French language, where ‘Aurore’ means dawn, and ‘Ville’ means village or city.
- The city is named after Sri Aurobindo, and its establishment was proposed in 1964 at the annual conference of the Sri Aurobindo Society in Pondicherry.
- Mirra Alfassa’s vision for Auroville, as expressed in her first public message in 1965, is to create a universal town where people from all countries can live in peace and progressive harmony, transcending creeds, politics, and nationalities.