Statement from Auradha and Rosy in response to Auronet post by GB FAMC re Afsanah Guest House...

Statement from Auradha and Rosy in response to Auronet post by GB FAMC re Afsanah Guest House Dear Aurovilians, dear Friends, We write in response to the announcement posted on Auronet on October 18th by the GB FAMC regarding Afsanah Guest House. The characterization of events presented there is deeply misleading and we feel it is important to share the truth with our community. The takeover of Afsanah Guest House on October 16th was not "peaceful" as claimed. What actually occurred was a violent and traumatic event involving approximately 15 people who forcibly entered the premises, broke open multiple doors, and committed physical assault. Auradha was struck in the throat by Giacomo Colomba, causing injury that has been documented by a Medico-Legal Certificate. This assault was witnessed by multiple people. We were intimidated, our neighbors and friends were physically blocked from entering, and the entire event created an atmosphere of fear and coercion. The announcement claims we were "unauthorized occupants" who "grossly mismanaged" the Guest House. This is simply untrue. We were duly appointed as executive and manager of Afsanah Guest House and were never lawfully dismissed from our positions. Under our three-year management: - Income more than doubled - Staff wages and benefits were substantially increased - We consistently contributed Rs. 1-3 lakhs per month to City Services - The Guest House operated professionally and successfully We were never given proper notice, never shown any proof of the allegations against us or provided an opportunity to respond to them, and never granted a fair hearing—all fundamental requirements of natural justice, the Code of Conduct and the spirit of Auroville. When the takeover occurred, we explicitly requested an official handover of all accounts, assets, computers, and records. This request was refused and dismissed as "unnecessary" by those present. The Guest House computers and external hard drive—containing all the complete accounting data—were removed and loaded into a personal vehicle without any inventory or documentation. If they truly believed in transparency and proper processes and accounting, why would they refuse an official handover? We want to be clear: we never treated Afsanah Guest House as private property. We always understood it as a collective Auroville asset that we were honored to manage in service to the community. Our track record demonstrates this commitment. We have consistently insisted on following proper procedures and community processes, as outlined in the Code of Conduct—and it is precisely this insistence that has been met with threats, intimidation and force. The allegations of financial mismanagement are unsubstantiated and were never communicated to us through any fair process. They have been made publicly only after violent acts were committed against us, in what appears to be an attempt to justify those acts retroactively. We are pursuing our response to the criminal acts committed against us on October 16th. We share this with you not to create more division, but because we believe our community deserves to know the truth. We continue to stand for transparency, proper process, and the values that Auroville was founded upon. With love and in truth, Rosy Shankar and Auradha Markus