UNESCO

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The UNESCO Courier
October 1972 (full issue)
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PDF (36 pages)
      The UNESCO Courier
“Auroville, the fulfilment of a dream” (1993)
UNESCO Courier 1993-1 - Auroville, the fulfilment of a dream.jpg
PDF (4 pages)



5th UNESCO Resolution on Auroville – 2017

The General Conference,

Recalling the foundation of an international township, Auroville, in South India on February 28, 1968, when the youth of 124 Member States participated in the ceremony by depositing the soil of their countries in the foundation urn to symbolize the coming together of the nations of the world,

Noting that the General Conference of UNESCO unanimously adopted resolutions of support to Auroville in 1966, 1968, 1970 and 1983, inviting Member States and international non-governmental organizations to participate in the development of Auroville as an international cultural township designed to bring together the values of different cultures and civilizations in a harmonious environment with integrated living standards which correspond to man's physical and spiritual needs,

Recognizing that the aims of Auroville are to promote international understanding, peace, innovative education, a learning society and all-round material and spiritual development for harmonious individual and collective growth, and that such aims contribute to the advancement of the objectives of UNESCO, especially dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, cultural diversity and culture as a factor for development,

Appreciating that the Government of India passed, in 1988, the Auroville Foundation Act for the purpose of protecting and encouraging the development of Auroville,

Also appreciating that Auroville International Centres have been established in many countries of the world, which are engaged in bringing youth from their countries into contact with the aims and ideals of Auroville and in facilitating internships, volunteer stays and academic research programmes,

Also recognizing that Auroville has developed into a centre of expertise in a wide range of fields, benefiting India and noting its success in sharing its experience and helping the development of its neighboring rural population,

Acknowledging that Auroville is inviting all nations of the world to participate in its development, especially of its International Zone, which is designated as an educational campus hosting cultural pavilions of all nations or groups of nations, expressing the genius of each culture,

Also noting that 28 February 2018 will mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Auroville,

Further recognizing that Auroville is a successful and unique model project, proving the capacity of an international community, after almost 50 years of existence, to continue to live up to its initial founding ideas of peace and international harmony and which are also UNESCO’s own values and principles, as well as some of its major priorities,

Invites the Director-General to reinforce the association of UNESCO with Auroville and organize commemorative activities for its 50th anniversary, and to re-invite the Member States on the special occasion of Auroville’s 50th anniversary to participate in Auroville’s further development.


October 19, 2017 2017 UNESCO General Conference - Reinforce association of UNESCO with Auroville.jpg
PDF (2 pages)
Draft resolution to reinforce the association of UNESCO with Auroville and organize commemorative activities for its 50th anniversary and to re-invite the Member States on the special occasion of Auroville’s 50th anniversary, to participate in Auroville’s further development.
October 11, 2017 2017 UNESCO farewell to Karan Singh - Address by Irina Bokova.jpg
PDF (3 pages)
Address by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the 202nd session of UNESCO Executive Board – Farewell to Dr Karan Singh, Member of UNESCO Executive Board.
October 21, 2014 2014 UNESCO relocation of Sri Aurobindo statue - Address by Irina Bokova.jpg
PDF (4 pages)
Address by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the ceremony to mark the new location of the statue of Sri Aurobindo at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris.
September 16, 2009 2009 UNESCO installation of Sri Aurobindo statue - Address by Koichiro Matsuura.jpg
PDF (2 pages)
Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the unveiling of the bronze statue of Sri Aurobindo at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris.
October 10, 2008 2008 UNESCO Round Table on Auroville - Address by Koichiro Matsuura.jpg
PDF (3 pages)
Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the Round Table marking the 40th anniversary of Auroville (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris).
September 17, 2007 2007 UNESCO Executive Board meeting - Reinforce association of UNESCO with Auroville.jpg
PDF (4 pages)
From 177th session of the UNESCO Executive Board - draft decision to strengthen the association of UNESCO, and in particular its Culture Sector, with Auroville in the context of the commemorative activities at Auroville's 40th anniversary.
April 10, 2003 2003 UNESCO Auroville exhibition - Address by Koichiro Matsuura.jpg
PDF (3 pages)
Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, at the opening of an exhibition on Auroville (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris).


4th UNESCO Resolution on Auroville – 1983

The General Conference,

Recalling the foundation of an international township, Auroville in South India in February 1968, when the youth of 124 Member States participated in the ceremony by depositing the soil of their countries in the foundation urn to symbolise the coming together of the nations of the world,

Noting that the Charter of Auroville, announced at the Foundation Ceremony, declared that Auroville belongs to nobody in particular but to humanity as a whole and enunciated the aims of unending education and youth that never ages, as also material and spiritual research for the living embodiment of an actual human unity,

Recognising that Auroville seeks to ensure international understanding, peace, innovative education, a learning society and all round material and spiritual development for harmonious individual and collective growth and that such aims contribute to the advancement of the objectives of UNESCO,

Recognising that during the last fourteen years, Auroville has been growing steadily and that the resident members of Auroville, including 125 children represent twenty‑four countries,

Noting that Auroville International Centres have been established in different parts of the world to work for the growth, development and promotion of the aims and objectives of Auroville,

Noting that the Government of India has taken an active interest in Auroville and has fully supported its ideals of international understanding and the unity of mankind,

Welcoming the fact that an International Advisory Council has been set up to advise the Government of India on ensuring the promotion of the ideals for which Auroville was established,

Noting that the work at Auroville aims at restoring the ecological balance of a severely deforested, eroded land by an extensive programme of afforestation, erosion control and soil conservation, and also by initiating a new approach to integrated rural and educational development,

Appreciating the experimentation in Auroville in alternative sources of energy and in new methods of economic development permitting the free pooling of resources and cooperative activities,

Recalling that in 1970 the General Conference adopted a resolution inviting Member States and international non‑governmental organisations to participate in the development of Auroville as an International Cultural Township, and inviting the Director‑General to take such steps as might be feasible, within the budgetary provisions, to promote the development of Auroville as an important international cultural programme,

Invites the Director‑General to extend all possible support for the development of Auroville and to participate in its activities within the framework of the Programme and Budget for 1984-1985.


3rd UNESCO Resolution on Auroville – 1970

The General Conference,

Recalling resolutions 4.36 and 4.131 concerning Auroville which were adopted by the 11th and 15th sessions of the General Conference,

Noting that the Charter of Auroville aims inter alia at establishing “a place of unending education, of youth that never ages”, and “living embodiment of an actual human unity”,

Recognising the progress made in Auroville since the foundation stone was laid on 28th February 1968,

Conscious of the new responsibilities cast on Unesco in the wake of growing unrest among youth from almost every part of the world; and which has taken the form of an open dispute with the universities and society,

Aware of the urgent need to welcome the “newly vocal young as allies in the search for a better world,” and in keeping with the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, for the promotion among youth of ideas of peace, mutual respect and understanding between peoples, and in conformity with the Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Cooperation,

Noting further that towards this end Auroville is already preparing and creating an instrument of education capable of meeting the formidable demands of our age, linking East and West in a new relationship,

Considering that Unesco’s Major Project on the Mutual Appreciation of Eastern and Western Cultural Values gave a pioneering start, and recognising that Auroville can be an effective and integrated and follow-up to this Project,

Requests the Director-General to take such steps as may be feasible within the budgetary provisions, to promote the development of Auroville as an important international cultural programme.


2nd UNESCO Resolution on Auroville – 1968

The General Conference,

Recalling that in connection with commemoration of the 20th anniversary of UNESCO, the Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, India, had taken steps to establish an international cultural township known as Auroville where people of different countries will live together in one community and engage in cultural, educational and other pursuits, and that this project has been commended to all those interested in UNESCO’s ideals in resolution 4.36 passed at the fourteenth session of the General Conference,

Considering that Member States, believing in the pursuit of truth and the free exchange of ideas and knowledge, have agreed and determined to develop and to increase the means of communication between their peoples,

Considering also that, despite the technical advance which facilitates the development and dissemination of knowledge and ideas, ignorance of the way of life and customs of people still presents an obstacle to friendship among the nations, to peaceful cooperation, and to the progress of mankind,

Taking account of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideas of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples and the Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Cooperation,

Noting that the foundation stone of Auroville has been laid on 28th February 1968 and that the youth of many nations participated in this solemn ceremony symbolizing the coming together of nations in a spirit of human unity,

Confident that Auroville with its many interrelated sub‑projects will add a new dimension to UNESCO’s activities for the promotion of international co‑operation and understanding and appreciation of cultural and human values,

Invites Member States and international non-governmental organisations to participate in the development of Auroville as an international cultural township designed to bring together the values of different cultures and civilisations in a harmonious environment with integrated living standards which correspond to man’s physical and spiritual needs.


1st UNESCO Resolution on Auroville – 1966

The General Conference,

Being apprised that in connection with the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of UNESCO, the Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, India, a non governmental organisation affiliated to the Indian National Commission for UNESCO, proposes to set up a cultural township known as “Auroville” where people of different countries will live together in harmony in one community and engage in cultural, educational, scientific and other pursuits,

Noting that the township will have pavilions intended to represent the cultures of the world, not only intellectually but also by presenting different schools of architecture, painting, sculpture, music, etc, as part of a way of living,

Appreciating that one of the aims of “Auroville” will be to bring together in close juxtaposition the values and ideals of different civilizations and cultures,

Expresses the belief that the project will contribute to international understanding and promotion of peace and commends it to those interested in UNESCO’s ideals.


See also

External links