The “Working Committee of the Residents Assembly” stated in their “Update & Report May – July 2024”, “We strongly believe that it is our collective aspiration, manifested through action, that will determine what Auroville looks like in the future; and this is what fuels our inner fire while we stand for Mother’s Dream”.
The Working Committee backed by the Governing Board of Auroville requested the members of its WhatsApp Group "Auroville Connect" yesterday to sign a petition by Auroville resident Zech Joya Panganiban on the website Change Dot Org titled "A public Declaration by True Aurovilians" that seeks support for "Three Core Documents" including "A Dream", an essay written by the Mother in 1954 for Sri Aurobindo Ashram when Pondicherry was still under the French rule. The opening sentence of A Dream describes "a place which no nation could claim as its own" wherein the residents "could live freely as citizens of the world". This ideal is separatist and would be illegal in any sovereign nation and certainly it is so in India which has a Constitution that applies to the whole of India without exception. Besides, Auroville Foundation Act, 1988 like all the Acts passed by the Parliament of India is subject to the Constitution of India. It is relevant to note that when the Mother wrote the Charter of Auroville she omitted the words "nation" and "citizens" so as not to offend India. The Mother's explanation of the Charter is attached herewith for reference.
The following are some of the relevant extracts from the Constitution of India enacted to safeguard the sovereignty and Integrity of India and prevent anti-national activities.
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| The Preamble and Article 1 of The Constitution of India |
Article 1 of The Constitution of India opens with the declaration;
“India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States“.
It makes clear that India is a Union, not a Federation and there is no provision for any territory of India to secede.
The 16th Amendment to the Constitution of India, 1963 informally referred to as the ‘Anti-Secession Bill’ made it mandatory for candidates for election as MLAs and MPs to pledge the “Oath of Allegiance” to the Constitution of India. It “was designed to prevent local political leaders in different regions within India from using the electoral process to peacefully propagate secession from the Union”. (The Hindu, January 8, 2018)
The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution, 1976 states: “anti-national activity” “in relation to an individual or association, means any action taken by such individual or association – which is intended, or which supports any claim, to bring about, on any ground the secession of a part of the territory of India”.
The handbook for Personnel Officers 1987 (updated in 2013) of the Department of Personnel and Training, Govt. of India states: “All new entrants to Government service are required to take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India in the prescribed form”. The Oath of Allegiance:
“I, …………………………………., do swear/solemnly affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to India and to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, and that I will carry out the duties of my office loyally, honestly, and with impartiality.
(So help me God)”
The above information ought to make all concerned to cease from any act, advice or declaration that violates the Constitution of India.
A copy of the Article 1 of the Constitution of India, 16th & 42nd Amendments to the Constitution and the Oath of Allegiance are available at the following links:
Article 1 of the Constitution of India
16th Amendment to the Constitution of India
42nd Amendment to the Constitution of India