As part of the visit by Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu to Auroville on August 8, 2023, a one-day conclave was organised by Auroville Foundation on the theme - Aspiring for the Supermind in the City of Evolving Consciousness.

Senior Academic Mentor and Renaissance Editor, Dr. Beloo Mehra was invited to participate as a panelist at this conclave. Among the other panelists were included Prof. R. Y. Deshpande, Prof. Gautam Ghoshal, Shri Narad, Srinivas Mulugu, Anmol Jain, Uday Arya, Shankaran, several Aurovillians and spiritual aspirants from various fields.

Dr. Mehra shared a few insights from some of the Mother’s conversations on how with sincere aspiration and surrender to the Divine Will, one gradually and consciously prepares oneself for the descent of higher consciousness. This preparation includes constant widening and deepening of consciousness, and gradual purification and perfection of all parts of the being. She connected this with the four aspects of the Mother as explained by Sri Aurobindo.

Towards the end of the panel in a question-and-answer session, Dr. Mehra shared some remarks on connecting the aspiration for higher consciousness with Sri Aurobindo’s first dream of a united India. She emphasised that only by ascending to a higher consciousness beyond mind a true unity can prevail, though all sincere efforts must be constantly made and all means must be employed to work toward a greater harmony, even when they are seen as works-in-progress.

In the afternoon, Dr. Mehra attended the grand event organised to welcome the Hon’ble President Smt. Draupadi Murmu which was organised at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium. She was deeply inspired by the special address delivered by President Murmu in which she spoke about the influence of Sri Aurobindo’s teachings in her own life and invoked some insights from special discourses that Sri Aurobindo used to give to his close disciples on his birthday.