"An entire meal cooked on solar energy, this should be different", I thought to myself and I was not disappointed.
"Maam, it's time for you to leave", these softly spoken words shook me out of my deep reverie. I was sitting in the globe shaped dome of the Matrimandir. The overwhelming energy I felt in those ten minutes, still have the power to shake me.
Drunk on the unbelievable sights and sounds; the ultra modern architecture, accents and languages from every place on earth mingling with the soothing landscape, bakeries and patisseries, European styled cafes and a sense of peace, I halted my sight-seeing and stopped for a coconut drink; they are ubiquitous in Tamil Nadu. A couple; fairly middle aged, was standing in the scorching heat, towering over a pile of coconuts. Seeing me approach, the man smiled at me, picked up his large knife and pierced the coconut, to make a little hole for the straw to get in.
Intrigued with the schools for the locals and the organic life and food, I wanted to know what the original inhabitants of the village thought about the new development. Smiling at him, I asked, "Your kids go to the nice school in Auroville"? When I had first come across the school, I had been impressed by the exposure the kids would get at such a school. "No, Madam", the woman answered. I was evidently surprised, "Why not, is it not a good school", I continued. "It is, but it is very expensive for us", she gutted, gesturing towards the pile of coconuts. It was a simple enough explanation, but I found my buoyant mood deflated. I wasn't even sure why it affected me so much, but it did, perhaps it was the death of an illusion?
Keeping my voice steady, I gushed "People come from all over the world here, don't you like it?" The woman seemed to hesitate then shrugged and said, "It is nice that they come, but what good is it to us, we still send our children to the government schools", she answered with a question. "Doesn't it give you jobs?" I persisted. "Yes, it gives jobs to women, but not to all of us". Tired of my questions she asked me, "How is Delhi", she made it sound like it was a whole new world. Smilingly, I answered her questions.
But this encounter got me thinking, maybe, everything does have two sides. However, Auroville is and will remain to be a town on the quest to Utopia which can't be achieved with a snap of fingers. And, they are on the path we haven't even found yet.
