I want to open an international conversation about a bold long-term question: could the United Nations one day establish its principal headquarters in Auroville, India - or develop a meaningful global peace center there as a first step?
I visited Auroville in 2011 and was deeply inspired by its atmosphere and founding vision. Auroville was founded on 28 February 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as “the Mother,” as an experimental international township dedicated to human unity. At its inauguration, young people from 124 nations and 23 Indian states placed soil from their homelands into a shared urn - an enduring symbol that humanity can meet beyond nationality, religion, politics, and division. Its Charter describes Auroville as a place for ongoing learning, progress, and the practical exploration of human unity > Auroville Charter
Today, the United Nations is headquartered in New York. This mission does not seek to diminish the city, its people, or the important work already carried out there. Instead, it invites a positive, thoughtful, and long-term exploration of what a globally shared and peace-centred location could contribute to the future of international cooperation.
I believe that an institution entrusted with humanity’s common future should continuously develop its ability to prevent war, protect human dignity, strengthen dialogue, and support peaceful solutions before violence begins. Auroville’s founding impulse - human unity in practice - could offer inspiration for such a conversation. Any future development would need to respect India’s sovereignty, the people and governance of Auroville, international law, and the democratic decision-making of UN Member States.
The aim of this mission is not to demand an immediate relocation. It is to create a respectful network of people who are willing to think generously, research carefully, and explore what would be needed for a stronger global peace architecture. Together, we could examine legal, diplomatic, cultural, ecological, financial, and practical questions. We will also explore how international institutions can become more capable of preventing armed conflict through dialogue, consensus-building, non-violent conflict transformation, and transparent, rights-based international cooperation.
First steps could be
Holding regular online meetings for people who share this vision. These meetings will be spaces for listening, learning, and developing realistic pathways. We will collect perspectives from peacebuilders, researchers, diplomats, educators, Auroville residents and friends, international-law specialists, young people, and anyone committed to a peaceful world.
We will begin by mapping the main opportunities and challenges:
What would a fair, lawful, and internationally supported process look like?
How could Auroville’s values of human unity inform global diplomacy without appropriating or burdening its community?
What legal, logistical, environmental, and financial requirements would need to be considered?
What can be learned from existing UN institutions, peace processes, and international mediation?
How can global institutions become more effective at preventing violence and strengthening peaceful cooperation?
Who I am looking for
I am looking for people who think big while remaining grounded, respectful, and willing to learn. You may be a peacebuilder, diplomat, lawyer, researcher, educator, community organiser, artist, student, Auroville resident or friend, or simply someone who believes humanity can develop better ways to resolve conflict.
In particular, I welcome support from people with experience in:
international law and UN reform
diplomacy, mediation, and peacebuilding
Indian and Auroville contexts
consensus-based decision-making
research, writing, translation, and communications
online facilitation and community building
environmental planning and sustainable infrastructure
How you can help
You can help me to organize the online meeting or just join, contribute research, share relevant contacts or resources, help facilitate respectful dialogue, translate materials, or co-create a realistic roadmap. Above all, I am looking for fellow thinkers and builders who want to explore this vision with care, humility, courage, and a commitment to peace.
This mission is an invitation: let us imagine, research, and build toward international institutions that serve the whole human family - and help make peace a shared global practice.
