Self-organising for Sustainability in an Intentional Community: Planning the International Cultural Township of Auroville in South India

Sasidharan, Sahil (2018) Self-organising for Sustainability in an Intentional Community: Planning the International Cultural Township of Auroville in South India. Masters thesis, University of Sheffield.

Text UoS MA CGD Dissertation on Auroville_Sahil Sasidharan.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB)

Abstract

This is a case study of practices of planning and governance of a township called Auroville, near Puducherry in India. Auroville is a unique township in its origin itself and by many standards it is the largest eco-village in the world. Its conception is that of a global city where citizens of Auroville are conceptually thought of as citizens of the world, even though the township itself is located in India and comes under Indian constitutional act. Nevertheless, the governance strategies and planning practices in this township are unique to this place. Auroville has a spiritual and cultural conception which stems from Sri Aurobindo’s writings which has allowed for such an experiment to take place and is an important part of its planning and governance systems. The current theoretical paradigm in planning and governance is stuck with questions of sustainability, that are in turn linked to the urban-rural divide. Auroville can be a unique site that can throw a new light on this debate. This research output is inspired from a decade-long interest and intermittent association with the intentional community of Auroville located in south India. As a dissertation reflecting on the experience of this sustainable eco-community, it is also a humble attempt to respond as an academic student and researcher –but also as a young global development and planning practitioner – to the central challenge posed before humanity: What is to be done in the face of combined global challenges that threaten planetary sustainability? This study, through the grounded experience of Auroville, offers a few answers out of the many possible pathways to sustainability.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	Collective Organisation > Collective Organisation (General) Town Planning > Town Planning (General)
Depositing User:	Admin User
Date Deposited:	02 Jun 2020 13:33
Last Modified:	02 Jun 2020 13:33
URI:	http://aurorepo.in/id/eprint/54

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