Maniam Selven, popularly known by his pen name Ma.Se, is a distinguished Indian artist and heir to the celebrated legacy of his father, artist Maniam. While shaped by this remarkable inheritance, he has emerged from his father’s towering shadow to establish a distinct artistic identity of his own—moving beyond commercial illustration into the realm of fine art. Ma.Se has developed a sophisticated visual language marked by luminous water colours, experimental textures, and expressive compositions. His work reflects a shift from narrative illustration to independent art that emphasizes mood, light, movement, and fluid anatomy.

In her talk “Between Legacy and Self: Becoming Maniam Selven”, Ma.Se’s daughter, Subhashini Maniam, explores the life and works of Maniam Selven, tracing his remarkable journey from aspiring Air Force pilot to acclaimed artist. She highlights his evolving style, his constant experimentation with techniques and media, and his enduring legacy as a unique bridge between illustration and fine art.

The online Talk in English is at 5.30 pm IST on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

To receive your link for the talk, please register at: bit.ly/THT_Register

Subhashini Maniam, the daughter of Maniam Selven, is an experienced artist and educator based in Western Australia, with over 20 years of contributions to the arts communities in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Western Australia.

With a background in Fine Arts and Contemporary Art Practices, Subhashini is passionate about cross-cultural integration and nurturing the next generation of artists. She has conducted children’s workshops across various arts centres in Perth and specialises in watercolours, sketching, and Plein air painting, drawing inspiration from nature.

Trained in Carnatic music, Subhashini brings a unique, multidisciplinary approach to her artistic practice. Her versatility is demonstrated in a wide range of projects, including visual design, set development, music presentations, workshops, and curatorial roles.

Dates: 9th March to 2nd April, 2026

Organised by:
Auroville Film Institute

Image: Collage by Akay Jharia Toppo

Curricular Outline & Time Frame

09 Mar (Mon)
Check-in & Introductions
Site: Lupungpath

10 Mar (Tue)
Doljatra Festival
Site: Popolpath

11–12 Mar (Wed–Thu)
Sites, Dialogues & Perspectives
Site: Lupungpath

13–14 Mar (Fri–Sat)
Conference: Political History & Current Affairs
Site: Lupungpath

15 Mar (Sun)
Self Explorations & Processing Time
Site: Lupungpath

16–18 Mar (Mon–Wed)
Self-Surrounding Stories: Immersion, Dialogues, Perspectives & Filming 1
Sites: Barpath, Navatoli

19–21 Mar (Thu–Sat)
Self-Surrounding Stories: Immersion, Dialogues, Perspectives & Filming 2
Sites: Polpolpath, Dumbarpath

22–23 Mar (Sun–Mon)
Sarhul Festival: Celebrating & Filming the Celebrations
Site: Tutuapani (Festival)

24–25 Mar (Tue–Wed)
Retreat at Biju Toppo’s Village: reviewing footage, recounting experience & preparing 1st assemblies
Site: Lurugmi Kala, Bijuda’s Village

26–28 Mar (Thu–Sat)
Editing to Rough Cuts
Site: Netarhat

29–31 Mar (Sun–Tue)
Editing to Final Cuts
Site: Netarhat

01 Apr (Wed)
Public Presentations of 1st Cut of Shorts
Site: Netarhat

02 Apr (Thu)
Sharing Circle & Check-Out
Site: Netarhat

Venue: European House
Date: 10 January

Program Highlights

• Violin music

• Folk dance

• Vegetarian Goulash

Schedule

AVI Hungary Presentation: 5:30 PM
Dinner Served: 6:30 PM

Volunteers welcome: from 3:00 PM onwards

Hosted by

AuroBende, Barney, Bogi, Zsolti

Contact

+91 98847 44739

On friday december 19th, 4–5 pm

Discovering ‘savitri’
a recorded video talk by dr. nirodbaran

In the sangam hall of savitri bhavan
Everyone is welcome

Presents

Guru Samarpanam Series

A special musical offering celebrating the timeless bond between guru and disciple. this presentation brings together distinguished maestros who have dedicated their lives to the art and its lineage.

with
Kalaimamani Sri Vittal Ramamurthy
(violin)

&
Kalaimamani Dr. Ramesh Srinivasan
(mridangam)

Accompanied by
Srihari Vittal – violin
Sathya Ramesh – mridangam

06:30 pm, thursday
18th december 2025

Venue:
Sri Aurobindo Auditorium,
Bharat Nivas, Auroville

Enquiry contact: Krishna at +91 97878 80211

Parking available outside at the main gate

We’re hosting a fun, hands-on workshop for kids ages 11-16 to explore how AI can help them imagine and build simple and interesting solutions for Auroville.

Workshop Name: Young Creators of Auroville: AI Problem-Solving Workshop

In small teams, they will:
Pick a local problem they care about
Use AI to research + create visual mockups
Learn teamwork, creativity & practical problem-solving
Build a small presentation

Date: Sunday, 30th Nov
Time: 9:45AM to 12:45AM (3 hours)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iSyhJXJUCRM874mf9 / Kinisi Cowork, CSR Campus, Auroville
Limited seats – Register for your child here: https://forms.gle/7RweED6DZHzv7Trf6

A gentle, guided session using child-safe AI tools.
The workshop is a voluntary contribution towards youth in Auroville, all curious minds welcome! 

November 28th (Friday)
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Sangam Hall, Savitri Bhavan

All are welcome

Dream Divine Series is a relaunch of an initiative designed especially for newcomers, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of the aims and ideals of Auroville, the life and works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and the principles of integral yoga. The series will feature interviews, lectures, and presentations by Aurovillians and Ashramites through video documentaries and live talks followed by interactive q and a sessions. A wide range of topics will cover the richness and diversity of Auroville’s vision, life, and reality.

Synopsis:
Step into the fascinating world of Lavani — a bold, beautiful, and deeply misunderstood art form rooted in matriarchal traditions.
In this interactive session, writer-researcher Bhushan Korgaonkar takes you into the lives of Lavani women — artists who “marry their ghungroos” and live by rhythms that defy easy categorization. Are these practices empowering or exploitative? What lies between performance and personal freedom?
Through rare anecdotes, stories, and songs, Bhushan unravels the creative and social worlds of Lavani — from the making of a song to the dynamics of performance. You’ll discover what a Baithakichi Lavani truly is, how women collaborate in this form, and the complex reality that exists beyond glamour and judgment.
Join us for an hour-long journey through stories, songs, and reflections — followed by a 30-minute Q&A with the audience. Discover Lavani as you’ve never seen it before.

About the speaker:
Bhushan Korgaonkar is a multilingual writer, theatre director, lyricist and translator. He has been engaging with Lavani artists since 2002, which led him to write his award-winning book ‘Sangeet Bari’ in 2014. Based on this book, he created the much-acclaimed shows ‘Sangeet Bari’, ‘Lavani Ke Rang’, ‘Love & Lavani’ and also curated and directed many other shows through his company B Spot Productions. He has written Lavani and other songs for music videos produced by ‘Agents of Ishq’. Bhushan also writes fiction that primarily deals with sexuality and crime. His erotic stories on the ‘Storytel’ app are widely popular, as are his periodic features in ‘Loksatta’ and ‘Mint Lounge’ chronicling his relationship with unique cuisines. He has also translated Shahu Patole’s Marathi book ‘Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada’ by Harper Collins.
In this session:
Dive into the unknown world of matriarchal communities of Sangeet Bari with an Audio Visual presentation including clips of live private performances and shows
Understand basics of the form, brief history and current status
Analyse lyrics and understand the raw expression.

Synopsis:
Step into the fascinating world of Lavani — a bold, beautiful, and deeply misunderstood art form rooted in matriarchal traditions.
In this interactive session, writer-researcher Bhushan Korgaonkar takes you into the lives of Lavani women — artists who “marry their ghungroos” and live by rhythms that defy easy categorization. Are these practices empowering or exploitative? What lies between performance and personal freedom?
Through rare anecdotes, stories, and songs, Bhushan unravels the creative and social worlds of Lavani — from the making of a song to the dynamics of performance. You’ll discover what a Baithakichi Lavani truly is, how women collaborate in this form, and the complex reality that exists beyond glamour and judgment.
Join us for an hour-long journey through stories, songs, and reflections — followed by a 30-minute Q&A with the audience. Discover Lavani as you’ve never seen it before.

About the speaker:
Bhushan Korgaonkar is a multilingual writer, theatre director, lyricist and translator. He has been engaging with Lavani artists since 2002, which led him to write his award-winning book ‘Sangeet Bari’ in 2014. Based on this book, he created the much-acclaimed shows ‘Sangeet Bari’, ‘Lavani Ke Rang’, ‘Love & Lavani’ and also curated and directed many other shows through his company B Spot Productions. He has written Lavani and other songs for music videos produced by ‘Agents of Ishq’. Bhushan also writes fiction that primarily deals with sexuality and crime. His erotic stories on the ‘Storytel’ app are widely popular, as are his periodic features in ‘Loksatta’ and ‘Mint Lounge’ chronicling his relationship with unique cuisines. He has also translated Shahu Patole’s Marathi book ‘Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada’ by Harper Collins.
In this session:
Dive into the unknown world of matriarchal communities of Sangeet Bari with an Audio Visual presentation including clips of live private performances and shows
Understand basics of the form, brief history and current status
Analyse lyrics and understand the raw expression.

With a background that bridges classical technique and contemporary expression, Martin explores the guitar as both a percussive and lyrical instrument – his interpretations move seamlessly from intricate falsetas to moments of quiet reflection. His repertoire ranges from traditional palos to original compositions that reflect his own journey through the art form.

This performance invites listeners into the intimate dialogue between rhythm and emotion – a meeting point of passion, discipline, and improvisation that defines Flamenco at its core.

– Saturday 22nd November
– 7.30pm
– Cripa, Auroville
Entry free, contributions welcome 

An Inner-Work-Workshop Every Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm

Introduction to Integral Yoga

General Features

• Overview with Multimedia Presentation

• Questions and Answers

• Practice in Daily Life

• Introduction to the Reference Books

• Life Story of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother

• Concentration Exercises

Each introductory workshop also highlights a new subject. Specific to the workshop,

Explanations are given using various film-clips, images, charts and guided concentration.

During the workshops the main books of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are available for sale.

Led by Ashesh Joshi

Author of the book
“An introduction to the Integral Yoga”

Location

Mirabelle Education Centre, Auromodele

Register at: +91 9489147202

All are welcome

For general Introduction to the Integral Yoga and details of workshops, please visit
www.integralyoga-auroville.com

With a background that bridges classical technique and contemporary expression, Martin explores the guitar as both a percussive and lyrical instrument – his interpretations move seamlessly from intricate falsetas to moments of quiet reflection. His repertoire ranges from traditional palos to original compositions that reflect his own journey through the art form.

This performance invites listeners into the intimate dialogue between rhythm and emotion – a meeting point of passion, discipline, and improvisation that defines Flamenco at its core.

– Saturday 22nd November
– 7.30pm
– Cripa, Auroville
Entry free, contributions welcome

What if Auroville were real?

An Aurovilian Perspective by Rakhal.

Friday, September 12th 2025, 4-5pm, Savitri Bhavan, Sangam Hall
Everyone is welcome

Date & Time:

• Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
• Time: 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Admission:

• Free Entry

Registration:

• Spots are limited.
• Please register by WhatsApp to reserve your spot.

Contact for Registration:

• WhatsApp: +91 81487 15966

Join us for an informative presentation about our work at Pebble Garden. Register here : https://forms.gle/rZPHmyhSjWYdz8rDA

4 to 6 hours of studio time daily for creative work
Accommodation for artists and collaborators
Final performance or presentation opportunity
Support in connecting with local artists for collaboration
Invitation letters for funding and visa applications

Application Deadline: August 31, 2025
More Info: WhatsApp: ‪+91 9980560577‬

Lab Dates: September 1st – 15th, 2025

Location: Woodstock School, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India

Hosted By: Woodstock School

Facilitated By: UNIMA Puppeteers Trust – India

Eligibility: Open to traditional puppeteers under the age of 40.

Benefits for Participants:

• All expenses covered: This includes travel, food, and accommodation.
• Stipend: A stipend will be provided to all participants.
• Showcase Opportunity: 4 final projects will receive production grants from Serendipity Arts to create new performances.
• Festival Presentation: The grant-winning performances will be presented at the Serendipity Arts Festival in December 2025.

Application Deadline: July 1st, 2025

To Apply or Learn More: Write to: puppeteerstrust@gmail.com

An Inner-Work-Workshop Every Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm

Introduction to Integral Yoga

General Features

• Overview with Multimedia Presentation

• Questions and Answers

• Practice in Daily Life

• Explanation of the Basic Principles

• Life Story of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother

• Concentration Exercises

This Integral Yoga workshop also highlights
a new side of yoga, which is inner yoga.

Explanations are given using various film-clips,
images, and group discussions.

During the workshops the main books of
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are available.

You will get an introduction to Integral Yoga
at the end of the workshop.

Led by
Ashesh Joshi
Author of the book
“An Introduction to the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother”

Location
Mirabelle Education Centre, Auroville

Register at +91 9489147202
Email: integral.yoga@auroville.com

All are welcome

An Inner-Work-Workshop Every Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm

Introduction to Integral Yoga

General Features

• Overview with Multimedia Presentation

• Questions and Answers

• Practice in Daily Life

• Explanation of the Basic Principles

• Life Story of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother

• Concentration Exercises

This Integral Yoga workshop also highlights
a new side of yoga, which is inner yoga.

Explanations are given using various film-clips,
images, and group discussions.

During the workshops the main books of
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are available.

You will get an introduction to Integral Yoga
at the end of the workshop.

Led by
Ashesh Joshi
Author of the book
“An Introduction to the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother”

Location
Mirabelle Education Centre, Auroville

Register at +91 9489147202
Email: integral.yoga@auroville.com

All are welcome

An Inner-Work-Workshop Every Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm

Introduction to Integral Yoga

General Features

• Overview with Multimedia Presentation

• Questions and Answers

• Practice in Daily Life

• Explanation of the Basic Principles

• Life Story of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother

• Concentration Exercises

This Integral Yoga workshop also highlights
a new side of yoga, which is inner yoga.

Explanations are given using various film-clips,
images, and group discussions.

During the workshops the main books of
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are available.

You will get an introduction to Integral Yoga
at the end of the workshop.

Led by
Ashesh Joshi
Author of the book
“An Introduction to the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother”

Location
Mirabelle Education Centre, Auroville

Register at +91 9489147202
Email: integral.yoga@auroville.com

All are welcome

FRONTIERS’ DARSHAN

Claude Arpi

Wednesday 14ᵗʰ May
5.45 PM

Pavilion of Tibetan Culture

These ‘darshans’, which happened over 15 years, take us to the edge of the Tibet plateau. They show how rapidly the highest frontiers of the world are changing.

“You are entering the temple game. Over the next 1 & half hours, you will journey through symbolic stages of life, moving through the sacred geography of a Chola temple. As you progress, you’ll encounter the wisdom of architecture, deities, priests, and rituals—each presenting both outer challenges and inner hurdles to overcome. Through individual insight or team collaboration, you’ll collect tokens, offer pujas, and gather revelations. Emerging from the temple, you carry not just memories, but transformed understanding. This is not just a game—it is a pilgrimage of self-discovery.”

Divine Journeys Exhibition continues up to Sunday May 18th

TASMAI, a Centre for Art & Culture
17 Advocate Chinna Tambi St., Between 2nd & 3rd Cross, Kuruchikuppam, Pondicherry
Daily 3 to 7 p.m. | Mornings by Appointment | Monday Holiday

0413 2221052 |  tasmaipondy@gmail.com | www.tasmaipondy.com

We are a zero-waste, sustainable, conscious space; single-use plastics & PET bottles prohibited.

They explore how reconnecting with ourselves can regenerate both inner landscapes and social ecosystems.

What does it mean to live in coherence with our inner compass?
How can intuition become a reliable guide in collective and personal transformation?

Bernard shares his path, his tools, and his unique vision for cultivating the Self as sacred soil.

This is a gentle and deep conversation, rooted in authenticity and presence.

Thank you for joining us on this journey inward.

Subscribe for more conscious dialogues to come!
—
Bienvenue dans le premier épisode du podcast « Habiter en Soi » !

Dans cette conversation de 30 minutes enregistrée à Auroville, Bernard Alonso, fondateur de la Permaculture humaine, et moi-même partageons nos réflexions sur la guidance intérieure et le rôle de l’intuition dans la vie.

Nous explorons comment la reconnexion à soi-même peut régénérer les paysages intérieurs et les écosystèmes sociaux.

Que signifie vivre en cohérence avec sa boussole intérieure ?
Comment l’intuition peut-elle devenir un guide fiable dans la transformation collective et personnelle ?

Bernard partage son chemin, ses outils et sa vision unique pour cultiver le Soi comme terreau sacré.

C’est une conversation douce et profonde, ancrée dans l’authenticité et la présence.

Merci de nous rejoindre dans ce voyage intérieur.

Abonnez-vous pour d’autres dialogues conscients à venir !

Follow Habiter en soi on Instagram: @habiter_en_soi

Connect with Bernard Alonso:

Website: permaculturehumaineinternationale.org

Facebook: facebook.com/Permaculturehumaineinternationale

Instagram: @permaculturehumaine_int

Take the Niche Test in English here: https://permaculturehumaineinternationale.org/en/why-take-the-niche-test/
Le test en français: https://permaculturehumaineinternationale.org/presentation-du-test/

And thank you Edward for the Editing and Shooting! on Instagram at @focalplanemedia.co

We are now open to receive applications for the third edition of the Serendipity Arles Grant 2025-26, inviting project proposals from South Asia, stemming from photography, video, new media and other lens based explorations. The initiative seeks not only to empower artists from the region, but also further a spirit of regional cooperation and representation.

Serendipity Arles Grant 2025

An Inner-Work-Workshop Every Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm

Introduction to Integral Yoga

General Features

• Overview with Multimedia Presentation

• Questions and Answers

• Practice in Daily Life

• Explanation of the Basic Principles

• Life Story of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother

• Concentration Exercises

This Integral Yoga workshop also highlights
a new side of yoga, which is inner yoga.

Explanations are given using various film-clips,
images, and group discussions.

During the workshops the main books of
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are available.

You will get an introduction to Integral Yoga
at the end of the workshop.

Led by
Ashesh Joshi
Author of the book
“An Introduction to the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother”

Location
Mirabelle Education Centre, Auroville

Register at +91 9489147202
Email: integral.yoga@auroville.com

All are welcome

An Inner-Work-Workshop Every Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm

Introduction to Integral Yoga

General Features

• Overview with Multimedia Presentation

• Questions and Answers

• Practice in Daily Life

• Explanation of the Basic Principles

• Life Story of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother

• Concentration Exercises

This Integral Yoga workshop also highlights
a new side of yoga, which is inner yoga.

Explanations are given using various film-clips,
images, and group discussions.

During the workshops the main books of
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are available.

You will get an introduction to Integral Yoga
at the end of the workshop.

Led by
Ashesh Joshi
Author of the book
“An Introduction to the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother”

Location
Mirabelle Education Centre, Auroville

Register at +91 9489147202
Email: integral.yoga@auroville.com

All are welcome

Dec 29th 7:30pm

Third lecture – Tue 3rd December 2024 at 5pm at Centre d’Art multimedia room.

Retinal Art and the Ruins of Representation: Revisiting Plato’s Cave and the Notion of Rasa in the Natyashastra – an Indo-European Perspective

A. Coomaraswamy and Marcel Duchamp criticized the West for producing ‘only’ retinal art. When we look at an object, an image is produced on the retina, which connects to the brain and sensation. That image can be represented through art and its transformative power. While Western art gradually moved toward abstraction and a disconnection from the object, in the Natyashastra, the notion of rasa (taste) always referred to the expression of the inner world and a connectivity based on shared inner sensation of rasa. This contrast can be illuminated through Plato’s cave allegory.

Future Lectures:
Tue Jan 7th 2025 – Who is Seeing When Seeing: The Kena Upanishad and the Sensation of Logic
Tue Feb 4th 2025 – Film is Thought: H. Bergson’s Cinematograph and How J. L. Godard Shocks the Viewer into Reality
Tue Mar 4th 2025 – Reading Deleuze in India: Plane of Immanence, Rhizome, Brahman, and Conversations with AI

Irumbai temple as yantram: Timeless union of physical and subtle planes

by Christoph Kluetsch, Veedushi Malik and Kalaivani

This session will explore the architectural and symbolic significance of Chola temples, focusing on the concepts of Vastupurushamandala and the intricate relationships between mantra, tantra, and yantra within the temple space, grounded in the Agamas.

Future Lectures

Tue Dec. 3^rd 2024 – Retinal Art and the Ruins of Representation: Revisiting Plato’s Cave and the Notion of Rasa in the Natyashastra

Tue Jan 7^th 2025 – Who is Seeing When Seeing: The Kena Upanishad and the Sensation of Logic

Tue Feb 4^th 2025 – Film is Thought: H. Bergson’s Cinematograph and How J. L. Godard Shocks the Viewer into Reality

Tue Mar 4^th 2025 – Reading Deleuze in India: Plane of Immanence, Rhizome, Brahman, and Conversations with AI

The Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
‘It is the old methods of yoga which demand silence and solitude. The yoga of
tomorrow is to find the divine in work and in relation with the world.’ – The Mother
An Inner-Work-Workshop Every Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm
Led by-Ashesh Joshi
Author of the book
‘An introduction to Integral Yoga’
Location-Mirabelle Education Centre,Auromodele
Introduction to Integral Yoga
General Features
Overview with Multimedia Presentation
Questions and Answers
Practice in Daily Life
Introduction to the Reference Books
Life Story of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
Concentration Exercises
Each introductory workshop also highlights
o new subject. Specific to the workshop,
Explanations are given using various film-clips,
images. charts and guided concentration.
During the workshops, the main books of
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are available for sale.
For general Introduction to the
Integral Yoga and details of workshops,
please Visit
Register at +91 9489147202
All are welcome