Follow guiding lights, celebrate unity: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

AUROVILLE:The much awaited visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Auroville International Township occurred without incident here on Sunday. Modi, who charmed every person who met him here, praised Auroville as an international pioneer in good living and urged the present management to keep up the work until the founder’s vision was realised.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister took part in the golden jubilee celebrations of the Auroville alongside Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, Puducherry ministers P Thangamani and C Ve Shanmugam.

From the Puducherry airport, Modi visited the Aurobindo Ashram and later reached Auroville by car. Auroville Foundation chairman Karan Singh received him at the Savitri Bhavan, where the Prime Minister met the governing board members of the Foundation, the members of the working committee, and the executives of Savitri Bhavan. He then paid floral tribute to the Aurobindo statue there. The Prime Minister also joined the singing troupe of 25 residents, who sang Vande Mataram.

Later, Modi meditated for a while at Matrimandir. At the lotus pond there, he poured in water from River Ganga, beginning the water unification ceremony. The Prime Minister then enjoyed the view of the amphitheatre from the vantage point near the banyan tree close to Matrimandir. After walking through an exhibition portraying the milestones in Auroville’s history, the Prime Minister reached the Aurobindo auditorium at Bharat Nivas at 12.45 pm.

After Karan Singh’s welcome address, a student presented the Tamil Thai Vazthu. The Prime Minister then released a special stamp to commemorate the golden jubilee celebration. He released a book on integral education, and a coffee table book on the buildings in Auroville.Modi also inaugurated the ‘Humanscapes’ programme, through which 50 residences were built for youth here, by handing over the key of a house to a young girl.

‘Happy to be here’

Narendra Modi’s speech excited the crowd from the beginning. He began the speech by expressing happiness on being part of Auroville’s celebrations. Praising Aurobindo as a philosopher, a poet and a man of action, Modi commended Aurobindo’s vision on India’s spiritual leadership, which continued to inspire even today. Auroville, as the manifestation of that vision, has emerged as a hub of social, cultural and spiritual innovation.

“Rabindranath, O Aurobindo, bows to thee! O friend, my country’s friend, O voice incarnate, free, Of India’s soul!” boomed the Prime Minister, echoing Rabindranath Tagore’s poem ‘Namshkar’, written as an ode to the spiritual leader.The Prime Minister went on to commend the vision of Mirra Alfasa, whom Auroville fondly remembers as the ‘Mother’.For ages, India has been a spiritual destination and great universities like the Nalanda and the Takshashila had hosted students from all over the world. India is home to the age-old tradition of Gurukul and Auroville was as a place of unending and life-long education, the PM added.

Drawing reference to the former Education Adviser to the Government of India Kireet Bhai Joshi, an ardent disciple of Aurobindo and Alfassa, he stated Auroville had done a lot to promote quality education in the country. He further hoped such efforts would continue in the township.“May Auroville be the guardian which calls for the breaking down of narrow mindedness and continue to celebrate unity. May Aurobindo and the Mother continue to guide you to the eventual fulfilment of your lofty visions,” Modi told the crowd.

French Consul General Madame Catherine Suard, Villupuram Collector Dr L Subramanian, Puducherry Chief Secretary Aswani Kumar, Puducherry Collector Satyendra Singh Dursawat, Pondicherry University Vice Chancellor Gurmeet Singh, SRM Institutions founder Pachamuthu and Alliance Francaise Puducherry president Lalit Verma were present.

Tight security cover

Nearly 5,000 police personnel were involved in surveillance along the Prime Minister’s route and at the surrounding villages of Kuyilapalayam, Edaiyanchavady, Morattandi, Kottakarai, Alankuppam, Bhoomiyarpalayam, Mathur and Periyamudaliyarchavady.

Unaware of the tight security measures, which stopped unauthorised entry of people into the township since Friday, many who had come to witness the celebrations were stopped at the entrances at East Coast Road and Tindivanam Bypass Road. This caused traffic snarls, but this was nothing unexpected during a high-profile visit.

‘UT could lead in heritage tourism’
Puducherry: The Central government has started building the Union Territory as a modern city, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that it could lead the country in heritage tourism. The Prime Minister was speaking at a public meeting in Lawspet. He elaborated various schemes and finances allocated to Puducherry and said that a fund of `1,800 crore would be spent under the smart city project. Under the project heritage architecture and buildings would be conserved, a modern transport system would be put in place and better service for delivery of government schemes would be established. The drinking water supply in the UT is also being improved through a funding `500 crore from
a French government  agency, he added.

Gifted books, incense at ashram
Puducherry: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced his visit to Puducherry, calling at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, after being received at the airport by Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, his Cabinet colleagues and Speaker V Vaithilingam. At the ashram, he paid homage at the samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and Mother. Modi, who visited the room of Sri Aurobindo and saw the personal belongings of Aurobindo, was gifted with books written by Sri Aurobindo and incense made in the ashram. Thereafter, he visited the Sri Aurobindo International School, which has a unique way of imparting education and interacted with the students. He also saw the various exhibits made by ashram school students as well as enjoyed a flute recital by the students.

Aid sought to bail out Puducherry
Puducherry: Chief Minister V Narayansamy on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take urgent steps to constitute the CMB and  CWRC, to protect the livelihood of farmers of Karaikal. He also sought assistance to the tune of `6262.70 crore for the UT to bail it from the severe financial crisis. Naraynasamy said that the available budget estimate and revised  estimate for the financial year 2017-18 alone would not be sufficient to meet even the minimum requirement of the UT, to undertake various development schemes. Narayansamy also urged PM Modi to take up the expansion of airport runway as the UT is not in a position to meet the financial burden on additional land acquisition.