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Time of India

Auroville pioneer faces deportation after sixty years in india

At 86, all that Frederick Schulze-Buxloh wants is to live out the rest of his life in his adopted home, Auroville . However, the grand patriarch of the township was asked to book a one-way ticket to Germany after spending 60 years of his life was just 10 when he was made to go to Dachau with other schoolchildren and witnessed the atrocities committed against Jews in the concentration camp. While it was common practice in Germany to inculcate hatred toward Jews in children, the visuals never left his mind. As soon as he reached adulthood, a disillusioned Frederick left Germany for India. "Four Indian personalities inspired the world at that point: Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Vivekananda, and Aurobindo. The moment I met Mother (Mira Alfassa, the spiritual collaborator of Aurobindo), I left it all and joined Aurobindo's Ashram in 1960," says donated his family inheritance to Mother and dedicated his life to "manifest Aurobindo and Mother's vision of human unity" to become one of the pioneers of Auroville, where he spent the next 60 years setting up the township from scratch. "There was nothing but barren land here. We built a few huts, bought bread from Pondicherry, and soon, others started coming in. Roads had to be built, and the children's education had to be arranged, but we got help from all over the world and the govts," he the years, Frederick became an indispensable part of the community, involving himself in sports, social projects, educational projects, governance, fundraising, and community building. "We built community centres and kitchens while working on education and afforestation within the township," he today, Frederick's future is uncertain. Non-Indian residents in the township stay on X2 and X3 visas made for Aurovillians, which can be renewed only with a recommendation letter from the foundation secretary. Frederick says he has not received the letter. "Auroville is my only home and India, my country. I have no one in Germany except step-siblings. Four of my five children and all my grandchildren are here," he Jagadeesh, spokesperson for Auroville Foundation , says a "leave India notice was issued to Frederick by the Ministry of Home Affairs". The notice was a result of an inquiry committee's report which named Frederick among others for buying benami properties in Puducherry and Kodaikanal, she says. "He has also obstructed development activities at Auroville and organised mob attacks."Frederick says he has not received a notice from the govt. "Allegations of illegal activity can be levelled at anyone, but I'm yet to get any communication in this regard. I hope I get the visa on humanitarian and medical grounds." A petition seeking the immediate renewal of Frederick's visa is going around, which has garnered more than 1,000 signatures of Aurovillians, and another 2,000 of well-wishers. "Frederick's visa denial is like a warning to the rest of us," says Chali Grinnell, an international resident, adding that anyone who opposes the new administration is being denied visa renewals.