Imagine a place where the ideals of spatial justice are not just a vision, but a living reality. Auroville stands as a bold experiment in community living, challenging the rooted norms of society and offering a glimpse into a world where equity is inscribed into the landscape itself. This is a township that dares to redefine our understanding of shared, just space and collective existence.
Auroville is located in the Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu, India, and extends into the Union Territory of Pondicherry. It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as “The Mother,” and designed by French architect Roger Anger. Currently, it is home to approximately 3,500 residents from around 60 nations, embodying a microcosm of the world and a bold leap towards realizing a vision that goes beyond political borders.
The principles of Auroville are mainly based pursuit of justice. They resonate with the ideas of well-known thinkers; Soja’s advocacy for spatial justice as a vital dimension of societal equity, and Massey’s emphasis on space as a product of interrelations and a site of potential, all find echoes in Auroville’s design and ethos.
In Auroville, the traditional notions of money and employment are reimagined to foster a society where personal gain is replaced by collective well-being. Here, the economy operates on principles of sustainability and sharing, with residents contributing through meaningful work rather than labouring for wages. Leadership in Auroville is not about hierarchy but about stewardship, guided by a Governing Board that includes members dedicated to the township’s ideals. Community life is a fine blend of diverse cultures and nationalities, living in harmony and striving for human unity. This societal model, free from the capitalist burden, allows for a holistic evolution of justice and social sustainability. Auroville thus emerges as a living laboratory for a new paradigm of spatial justice, where the currency is not capital, but compassion and cooperation.
Auroville stands as a testament to an alternative model of ownership. Property is a collective asset, not an individual possession. This radical approach offers a sanctuary from the constraints of modern society, allowing for a community-driven evolution of justice and social sustainability, unburdened by the weight of capitalist demands. It’s a place where the concept of ‘mine’ gives way to ‘ours,’ fostering a shared responsibility for the well-being of all.
Critiques of experimental townships like Auroville often highlight the challenges of such utopian projects. Concerns about neocolonial tendencies, the practicality of sustaining such communities, and the exclusion of local voices are common themes in these discussions. Other examples of experimental townships, such as Arcosanti in Arizona, have faced similar critiques, questioning the feasibility of their lofty ideals in the face of real-world complexities.
While Auroville and its counterparts may grapple with imperfections, they stand as critical experiments between capitalism and spatial justice. As many scholars have explained, the quest for a more equitable spatial arrangement is challenging yet remains an essential endeavour. Auroville, with its aspiration to manifest a utopian version of spatial justice, could indeed be the luminary guiding us toward a reimagined and more equitable spatiality in our built environments. It is a subject worthy of continued study and reflection, for in the words of Doreen Massey, “space is the product of relations and multiplicity” — where the future is not predestined but actively shaped by our collective aspirations.
Our modern world is at a crossroads, and the path towards spatial justice is not just a choice but a necessity. We are in dire need of embracing this journey, for spatial justice forms the bedrock of our future. Without it, the very human essence of our existence risks being eroded by the relentless tides of inequity. It is the foundation upon which all other forms of justice must be built. As we navigate through the complexities of our times, Auroville’s experiment in spatial justice shines, urging us to consider that without such equity, the soul of humanity may gradually diminish. In the pursuit of a just world, spatial justice is not an option; it is the cornerstone of our collective destiny. For without spatial justice, there can be no justice at all.
Further Read Here:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350617764_Auroville_The_City_of_Dawn_study_of_an_experimental_sustainable_township
-Darush Farrokh (University of Alberta)