Sumitra Manou

Mrs. Sumitra Manou passed away in the morning of Saturday 12th August, 2023, at Jipmer hospital due to her chronic health issues. She was 54
A Sweet Presence
Sumitra Manou (Veeralakshmi) hailed from a Gandhian family of Thengampudur, Nagercoil District.
She came to Auroville in 1990 as a trainee of a leadership camp and stayed at the old Ilaignarkal campus at Matrimandir Nursery. Then she stayed longer to explore Auroville, became Aurovilian and got trained in teaching pre-school children. Later she joined New Creation Kindergarten. Sumitra had a passion for cooking nutritious food in a traditional way and serving people happily.
She got married to J. Manou, the then executive of Auroville Electrical Service. He passed away in 2006. Sumitra got a house at Protection. After working for years at Aikiyam’s Kindergarten in New Creation, she joined Ilaignarkal Education Centre as a teacher for neo-literates and became the caretaker of Library & Assets. She became co-executive of Ilaignarkal Education Centre from 2010.
In the early afternoon of Sunday, 13th August, her remains were buried at the Auroville cremation grounds, with many of her colleagues and friends attending.
Many of us will miss her beautiful smile and quality hospitality. Let the Mother hold Sumitra in Her arms.
OM Shanti