Lalit had an inherent interest in the unseen patterns that link different fields of experience and it was here in Auroville that his yearning for integrality was reciprocated. He first came to Auroville in 1998 to study the alternative model of Auroville Economy. He was deeply influenced by the effect that Auroville’s Charter has on the people here and the active roles they play in giving form to this dream of Auroville.
Towards the end of
1998, he joined Auroville’s Town Planning office as a consultant. During this
period, along with other team members, he worked on Auroville’s
Perspective Master Plan. After being here for 2 years, it became evident to him that
this was his home & he formally joined Auroville in 2001.
Coming from a
conventional academic background, the encounter with Auroville initiated a
transformative process of unlearning. His work as a planner helped him to
develop insights about the dynamics of societal growth and the real-life
challenges of collective organization. This experience also made him realize
that planning, by definition and especially so in Auroville, embraces
collectivization and necessitates a synthesis of diverse viewpoints.
Inherently, planning is a field of intensive churning that requires a wide range of
skill sets.
The experience of
working with Roger Anger, and subsequently with B.V. Doshi, on the planning of
Auroville helped him gain different perspectives & approaches in planning
& developmental matters. He realized the relevance of an empowered and
educated public participation and opted to channel his energy in creating
awareness about Planning & allied activities. His facilitating work on Integral
Sustainability Platform (ISP) was an initiative responding to this understanding. This
gradually steered him towards the field of education and learning which led him to take
steps towards developing the Auroville Integral Sustainability Institute
(AISI).
Auroville has given
him an opportunity to experience a wholesome living environment with interconnectedness of self & society
and helped evolve a holistic perspective of life, offering him a wide canvas to explore, to
learn & to be. His work is guided by the desire to communicate the need and
relevance of the Auroville model as an example of integral society. Thus, he continues his
quest for Integrality and acts as a facilitator of this insightful experience.
Professional Profile
-
Graduation in architecture (1995) with a Master’s degree in Urban
and Regional Planning. (1997)
· Consultant Urban and
Regional Planner in a Sri Mayapur Master Plan Office, Bangalore. (1997-1999)
· PG Diploma in Urban
Environmental Policies & Local Agenda 21 (2000)
· Technical team member
in the Planning Office (L’Avenir d’Auroville) (1999-2007), including
serving as the Urban Planning Coordinator (2007-10). Initiated work on Integral
Sustainability Platform, ISP, with Alon and Batel.
· Core team member for
the proposal formulation for Pondicherry Asia Urbs Project - ‘Achieving Economic & Environmental
Goals through Heritage Preservation Initiatives’. Also worked as Landscape
Consultant. (2001- 04)
· Coordinator for 40
panel Auroville Planning exhibition along with Vastu Shilpa Foundation, CEPT
(Ahmedabad) & Artes (Chennai) in 2010. Click here to view.
· Formed Planning and
Architecture Towards Holistic development (PATH) – a studio engaged in the
fields of Architecture, Planning, Interior and Sustainability with Shailaja Sudhalkar
Bhati.
· Established the Auroville Integral
Sustainability Institute (AISI) in Auroville in 2012 which is a research and learning oriented
setup. Apart from organising learning & educational visits to Auroville,
hands on workshops & ‘Holistic Sustainability’ programmes for diverse
background participants, few Study Abroad Programmes, in collaboration with
Queens University, Canada have also been hosted.
· Auroville Campus
Initiative (ACI) came into existence in
2014, (one of the founding team members) ; a learning & long term capacity
building initiative which has been hosting ‘Joy of Learning Series,’ an awareness programme
for residents of Auroville covering different aspects of Auroville. ACI team
was also instrumental in ‘Auroville Retreat’ organisation.
· ‘Swadharma’ – an Auroville
Semester Programme is being offered by Auroville Campus Initiative (ACI).
Engaged as faculty & programme coordination team member
Links:
·
Lalit’s article on Sustainable Campus Design published in the Times of India.
Contact:
PATH Planners &
Architects
Progress Community
E-mail: lalit@auroville.org.in
.jpg?1592292040)
