Tara Jauhar

Tara Jauhar, known as Tara Didi, is a writer and educator who has given her life to spreading the teachings of Sri Aurobindo. She was named for the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of literature and education, from Delhi ^[1].

Growing up with The Mother

Jauhar was born on 5 July 1936 ^[2]. Her father, the freedom fighter Surendranath Jauhar, sent her to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry when she was eight, and she lived there under the guidance of The Mother until she was 40 ^[2]. Her memories of those years fill four books she compiled, two in French and two in English, among them Growing Up with the Mother ^[2].

The Delhi ashram

For 45 years she has led the Delhi branch of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, expanding its work ^[2]. In 1981 she started the Mirambika Free Progress School, putting into practice The Mother’s ideas of integral education ^[2]. With her support, more than 200 rural schools across India have been helped with teacher workshops and materials in mathematics, science, libraries and sports ^[2]. In 2018 she started Auro-Mira Vidya Mandir, a free residential school for tribal children in Kechla, in Odisha’s Koraput district, open all year ^[2].

In 1977 she began youth camps in Nainital to build courage and endurance in young people, and in 1989 vocational training for rural youth at the Delhi ashram ^[2].