more-in Driving through the eerie silence of the green zone in Auroville, the chimes in the air brings you to Svaram. In front of the garden of music, a gate with strings attached opens up to a space with humongous wind chimes hanging on trees and swinging chimes placed close to it. As one follows the music and enters the room, rows and rows of different musical instruments are stacked on shelves allowing people to pick up and try playing them. Casually seated on a stone bench, Aurelio, co-founder of Svaram, says that it was his penchant for Tamil culture and musical instruments that created this centre. “I am interested in Tamil culture and I research in shastras, music, organology, music ethnology and the social need for employment brought me here,” says Aurelio, who shifted his base from Austria to Auroville more than 20 years ago. With more than 100 varieties of musical instruments, Svaram, which was established in 2003 by Aurelio along with the Mohanam Cultural Centre, now draws people from across the world to this small music world. “Svaram brought out the inherent skills of artisans here. The idea behind this project was to create employment for the youth in the village. Our project was adopted by United Nations in their music as a natural resource initiative. It was basically in the category of music and community building. There was local, indigenous traditional craft combined with my study in music and music ethnology and consciousness and experience in performing arts,” he said. He says Svaram became a quick success because of its magic combination of scientific study and local craft. There are at least 45 artisans currently employed in Svaram making musical instruments out of different materials including wood, stone, seeds, coconut shells. Healing therapy Aurelio with his background on music therapy has evolved a unique approach to sound healing work. Through this healing power of music, he offers treatments and sessions in the quiet healing centre. For Karthikeyan.S, a native of Alankuppam village, the journey with Svaram has been life-changing. After his family sold their land to Auroville, he was looking for a job. “I was in Class X and there was no employment opportunities around. I met Aurelio. He had different musical instruments. Though I did not know how to play them, I liked spending time with him. Slowly, I started repairing the musical instruments. I was skilled in carpentry and painting and over the period I learnt to make instruments,” he said, adding that seven of his classmates joined to form the Mohanam Cultural Centre. “Now we make instruments, teach students how to play them. I have even started travelling to other countries to participate in workshops and learn from them. Many other youth from this village also got the opportunity to travel abroad because of this music,” he says.

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