Auroville, on Friday, celebrated the birth centenary of its chief architect, Roger Anger, who under the inspiration of The Mother, had designed the galaxy-shaped plan for the universal township that aspired for human unity and transformation of consciousness.
Aurovilians assembled in a commemorative gathering at the India Space, Bharat Nivas, where a 1:100 model of the centre of the Galaxy Plan was installed, covering the whole floor space, and an exhibition with quotations of a 1988 interview with Roger Anger, were on display.
After the lighting of a candle in Roger’s memory by his wife Jacqueline Lacoste, many elder Aurovilians and friends shared memories and anecdotes of their encounters with, or long years of association, with the man.
Roger’s wife Jacqueline Lacoste lit a candle in his memory, and many elder Aurovilians and friends shared memories and anecdotes of their encounters with the man. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
According to a press note from Auroville, in 1965, Anger had been asked by Mirra Alfassa (who Sri Aurobindo named ‘The Mother’) to design a city plan for her new project of Auroville. For three years, she worked together with Roger Anger, and through several trials and various models, till she was satisfied that Roger had captured her vision with what became Auroville’s Master Plan, called the ‘Galaxy Plan’ as it closely resembles a galaxy with spiralling arms.
This plan was the central feature of the exhibition at the inauguration of Auroville on February 28, 1968. Anger himself had passed away in 2008, shortly after the completion of the iconic Matrimandir, the soul of Auroville.
Auroville said the galaxy plan has revealed itself to be a forerunner of the urbanism of the future with its ability to integrate life in all parts, the human being and a growing consciousness, and the grand scope of which the community was still discovering.
With the new impetus to realise the Master Plan given to Auroville by its founder, Auroville’s Town Development Council has, since one year, started the preparations for the immediate implementation of the Galaxy Master Plan. It has been identifying and prioritising its most crucial features, such as the Crown – the circular road and service belt which is the spine of the city – and the Lines of Force – the larger curved and rising buildings which will not just house many residents, but also give the very special shape to the City of the Future, Auroville said.
Roger Anger’s centenary dovetails perfectly with Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary and India’s 75th Independence anniversary and his seminal contribution towards a conscious urbanism will stand out for all time, both for Auroville, for India and the world, Auroville added.
