Böcker av Franz Fassbender

This book presents an explanatory introduction to the variety of architectural approaches taken since Auroville's founding in 1968, while at the same time giving an opportunity to many of the township's practicing architects to talk about their work, their inspiration and future vision. Although we hope the book acts as a source of inspiration to all those interested in architecture, both within India and abroad, it does not set out to present any detailed analysis of Auroville architecture. Auroville: "At last a place where one will be able to think only of the future. At last a place where one will be able to think only of progressing and transcending oneself. At last a place where one will be able to live in peace, without conflicts and without rivalries of nations, religions and ambitions. At last a place where nothing will have the right to impose itself as the exclusive truth." - The Mother, February 1968

The book is a treasure-trove of fascinating historic photos, mostly in black and white, illustrating everything from early preparations at the site for the ceremony up to and including the actual event on 28th February 1968. In support of the many photos, a considerable number of which has never been seen before outside the Archives, there are also texts with the Mother's early visions for the township, the aims and ideals She wants Auroville to achieve, and of course everything concerning the day itself and the lead-up to it. Furthermore, there are also a considerable number of interesting interviews with those who took part, including some of today's Aurovilians. Their memories of that historic day greatly enrich the book, bringing in personal touches, observations and experiences that have never before been openly shared with other than close friends or fellow participants.The contributions of people like Roger Anger, Paolo Tomasi, Manoj Das Gupta, Udar Pinto, Prem Malik, Kireet Joshi, Manju Jhunjhunwalla, Kalya (Michel) Lemaire, Maurice Shukla, Vincenzo Maiolini, Tapas Bhatt, Frederick Buxloh, Gerard Cruz, Poppo Pingel and others - especially Kiran Poddar, whose father Navajata played a key role at the time - all combine to portray an occasion unique in the history of the world, when, as one participant put it, "We were (actually) creating the 'New' world", a day on which as another put it, "The atmosphere was vibrating", as Mother poured Her force into every detail of the event.

This brochure endeavours to highlight how The Mother envisioned Auroville from its inception, some of the major achievements realised over the years, and some of the difficulties currently faced in implementing the guidelines which she gave.

These selections from the Mother's works reveal the truths behind the facades of old age and death, that they are the habits of Nature, and that the incapacity to grow and progress

50 years of Auroville from 28.02.1968 - 28.02.2018Today, information about Auroville is abundant. Many people try to make meaning out of Auroville - about its conception, to what direction should we grow towards, and, what are we doing here?But what was Mother's original Dream and what was her Vision for Auroville back then? We now have more materials on hand to go back in time and retrace her steps. This book is a new compilation of texts and quotes that Mother had left for us. It is our choice to contemplate on this, to reflect what we have made out of Auroville, and for what are we here today.Don't forget we also have to Dream this New World into Being. Don't forget who we are and where we come from and that we are here to do something together.

This book presents an explanatory introduction to the variety of architectural approaches taken since Auroville's founding in 1968, while at the same time giving an opportunity to many of the township's

Ah, but we lived together in Egypt. I've known you from the time of Egypt, I know that. You are one of those to whom I said in Egypt, "I promise you that you will be part... that you will be on earth at the hour of realization." There are a few of them - not many But I know that!......Oh, there are amusing things. Egypt was an extremely occult age, at that time they really had occult knowledge. So that gives you a power over the invisible, you can act there consciously. ......Oh!. That's a remarkable thing꞉ in every age, and probably on the contrary, the farther you go into the past, there's a jumble, a clutter of quite uninteresting things - which disappear. They disappear, they are destroyed. There only remains what had an interesting inner life. So the past seems to us much more interesting than the present, but from our age all the clutter will also disappear and be dissolved in the same way, and only the best will remain, except if they use mechanical means to preserve loads of recordings of heaps of stupidities.But otherwise...

On 28th May 1958, the Mother recounted a vision she once had of a wonderful Being of Love and Consciousness, emanated from the Supreme Origin and projected directly into the Inconscient so that the creation would gradually awaken to the Supramental Consciousness. The Mother's account of this vision was brought out a first time in November 1906 in the Revue Cosmique, a monthly review published in Paris. Six other visions followed in 1906 and 1907.

This book presents most of Mother's Matrimandir talks, including how she conceived the idea for this special concentration and meditation building in Auroville.

This central point is a park which I saw when I was very young - perhaps the most beautiful thing in the world from the point of view of physical, material Nature - a park with water and trees, like all parks, and flowers, but not many; flowers in the form of creepers, palms and ferns, all varieties of palms; water, if possible running water, and possibly a small cascade. - The Mother