On August 29, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Sri Aurobindo Society and Pondicherry University. The special ceremony, hosted by Pondicherry University, was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Gurmeet Singh. Shri Pradeep Narang, Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society and Prof. Rajneesh Bhutani, Registrar, Pondicherry University, signed the MoU. Several high-ranking officials of the university, Deans and HoDs were present at the event.

Dr. Beloo Mehra, Senior Academic Mentor and Renaissance Editor, worked closely with Dr. Richa Tiwari, Chair of Sri Aurobindo, Pondicherry University who coordinated the MoU on behalf of the university.

Formalizing a growing partnership built on trust and responsibility, this MoU will make possible for both institutions to co-create internships, workshops, seminars, sports events as avenues for deep learning and inner transformation. Elective courses on various aspects of Sri Aurobindo's thought and vision for humanity will be designed and offered for students of Pondicherry University. The MoU consists of various other opportunities and scope for scholars and academicians from both institutions to work together and uphold highest values of humanity.

While the work on the details of this MoU had been going on over the past couple of months, the official decision to sign the MoU was announced on August 21, 2023 at a jointly organised seminar hosted by Sri Aurobindo Society. (See the seminar report HERE).

On August 29, during the signing ceremony, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Gurmeet Singh spoke about the importance of this MoU and that the need to bring Sri Aurobindo’s thought into the academic experience of the students and faculty at the university. He reminded all the members present about the importance of Sri Aurobindo’s vision for the future of India and humanity. Shri Pradeep Narang shed some light on the integral and all-inclusive nature of the spiritual philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and the importance of putting that thought into practice if we aspire to evolve in consciousness. Dr. Richa Tiwari, Chair of Sri Aurobindo, said that while collaborative work between two institutions has already been going on for a while the MoU brings it under a formal structure and gives greater focus to the works being planned for future collaboration.