India, May 29 -- Near the entrance of Adishakti Theatre's campus, at the feet of a large ficus tree, is a board saying, "It wasn't always like this." It's true - it wasn't. It has been told that the land - now a myriad shades of green, filled with butterflies and lush ferns - was arid, when Veenapani Chawla, who had arrived in Auroville to pursue a spiritual life, was gifted it. "Do something here," the person who gifted it to her had said. Somehow, they knew that she could turn that land around. And how she did!

During the 11th edition of the Remembering Veenapani Festival (RVF), held at Adishakti Theatre, Auroville from 13 to 19 April, it was plain to see that the land is now moist and fertile. Creatures of all kinds abound on many leg...