Ever wondered why all those beauty contests have a classical question embedded in them, where someone asks each contestant: What would you do to help make the world a better place? The answer is invariably: Bring about world peace! Why are we all searching for peace so much? Perhaps, we are too stressed with our lives! During my recent trip to Pondicherry, located about 160-odd kilometers from Chennai, I happened to visit Auroville, or the City of Dawn! Initiated by The Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the place is meant to be a universal town where men and women from all countries and nationalities can come and live in peace and progressive harmony. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity, as a very nice video demonstrated. You will be shown this video before a free pass is given to you to enable you to walk out into Auroville. Bang in the center of Auroville is the even more famous Matrimandir (literally translated as Temple of the Mother), acclaimed as an outstanding and original architectural achievement. Silence is maintained inside the Matrimandir to ensure the tranquility of the space, and the entire area surrounding the Matrimandir is called the Peace area. What’s interesting is the role of photonics (and solar) to bring about peace and harmony – here’s how! Inside the Matrimandir, a spiraling ramp leads up to a chamber of polished white marble – which is “a place to find one's consciousness.” At its centre is a 70-cm crystal ball in a gold mount and glow with a single ray of sunlight that is directed on to the globe from the top of structure. This is said to represent “a symbol of future realization.” Just a single ray of sunlight, passing through the crystal ball or globe! That’s it! After sunset, the sunray is replaced by a beam from a solar-powered light! May I also add that to reach the Matrimandir, you are required to walk about 1 kilometer from the reception area of Auroville in that searing heat of the Pondicherry sun! However, it is worth the walk! What’s even more interesting is that this place has its own small solar farm (well, it looked like a really nice solar farm to me, at least!) Everything is healthy about Matrimandir and Auroville. Stay healthy, stay fit, and live in peace! Pradeep Oct. 2, 2009