Interview with Narad
By Alan – Auroville Today
January 31, 2005
Slightly Revised
Question: Is there a conflict between the ‘Green Belt’ people and the Matrimandir Gardens staff
There is no conflict. Our work differs in its focus but that is the only difference. We have the greatest respect for each other and I always visit some Greenbelt communities every time I return. The Matrimandir Gardens are something quite different in aim and expression from the afforestation work, though all work with and for the earth is essentially one. The Gardens will be intense in the concentration and power of beauty they must manifest but in size a small fraction of the Greenbelt around the township. The planting of indigenous species and the return of the natural forest has been the aspiration and aim of those who have worked in the Greenbelt since its inception. I am in full accord with this plan but there are also some excellent tree species that were introduced from other areas of the world that accept the same climatic conditions and add to the beauty and diversity of the forest and these are being cared for as well. When the climate changes with the Supramental force fully active on earth we will see wonderful changes in the plant world. That is, however, something of the future of which we cannot now speak.
Some may not be aware that in the early years from 1970 on we grew thousands of trees at the Matrimandir Gardens Nursery for planting throughout the greenbelt. Many of the species we planted were indigenous to South India, collected on visits to forests and jungles with some of the finest Conservators of Forests in the Indian Government. One day I could send you copies of some of their correspondence after visiting the Matrimandir Gardens in its infancy.
We also grew thousands of “Work” (Acacia auriculiformis) trees to act as ‘nurse’ trees, opening up the soil, building up the forest litter and providing shade cover for the slower growing indigenous species. This has become a beautiful example of successive regeneration. As the indigenous trees create a dense canopy the ‘Work’ trees slowly die out but their seeds germinate in barren areas carrying on the ‘work!’.
Last year I had the opportunity to walk through some of the forests of the Green Belt. I was amazed to see the amount of work accomplished by these rugged pioneers who are realizing and have already realized to a vast extent the Green Belt which is creating the beneficial microclimate Mother envisaged. I feel, unfortunately, that their sincere efforts have been largely ignored by the greater body of Auroville. Just as I made lifelong contacts with Conservators of Forests, the French Institute, and other horticultural institutions so too have the Greenbelt experts continued this invaluable collaboration with scientists and other plant specialists, exchanging seeds, knowledge and experiences for the benefit of Auroville and Mother India.
A walk through the Green Belt with Jean of ‘Two Banyans’ and Patrick of ‘Revelation’ was truly a revelation for me. Jean pointed out tree after tree received from the Matrimandir Gardens Nursery, now towering giants in a mixed forests and along with indigenous species, thriving only on the yearly rainfall. I walked through Patrick’s cow barn and compost area and never saw one fly! Through his association with one of the Vector Control experts they introduced an ant that lives on the fly eggs and keeps the place clean. I also acknowledge humbly that their knowledge of all the forest species, trees, shrubs, vines, far exceeds all that I learned in the first twelve years of Auroville. To know that two species of civet cat have returned to the forest, eat the berries of native shrubs and vines, distribute the seeds to germinate in other places, to realize that when we arrived in Auroville there were approximately thirty species of birds and today’s count is in excess of 300, is a tribute to all the communities of Auroville who have devoted themselves to planting trees and flowering plants. Not only that but the work of building check dams and allowing the water to percolate into the aquifers instead of running out to sea continues, and today there are large areas where the rain water is fully contained. Lastly, I bow to the knowledge the workers of the Green Belt have developed in the field of ecology and water conservation.
With the tragic death of Sydo I pray that the community of Auroville will visit the Green Belt areas, learn of the first South Indian eagle to nest there in more than 100 years, who flies two metres above the road in the early evening, speak with the Green Belt foresters who are versed in so many subjects. There are many others in the Green Belt who have spoken to me or with whom I have visited or met briefly and all have my profoundest respect. I pray too that Auroville will help to further their efforts with funding to continue the work and protect the forests as well as the Aurovilians who work there. Mother’s charge to me to create a beauty never seen on earth before has yet to be realized but the Green Belt is already on the way towards accomplishing Her vision.
The morning after Sydo’s death we transplanted about 18 new varieties of lotus from seed that was sent to me by Peter Slocum, the owner of the largest water lily and lotus firm in America. Mary Helen and I had met him on our world tour of plant collecting in 1977. I wrote him saying that I wanted to bring seeds of the of the finest lotus hybrids created curing the last twenty-five years for Auroville and the Ashram. I wrote him on my letterhead, Tropical Plant Specialists and signed my name Richard M. Eggenberger. Peter replied within a few days and said: “Of course I remember you, Narad.” He then sent me the seeds of their most beautiful cultivars.
We planted these in one of the Ashram gardens and Kabul of the Ashram has worked out the best method for propagation. In just over two months from seed the lotus have developed excellent tubers and we were able to take 22 plants to Kireet at Gaia’s Garden. As these tubers increase and divide and are shared in gardens throughout Auroville I would like it to be known that they were planted to honour Sydo that all might remember him in the beauty and fragrance of the flowers.