SCOUTING IN INDIA

Scouting started in India in the year 1909, when Captain T.H.Baker established the first Scout Troop in Bangalore and got it registered with imperial Headquarters, London.subsequently, Scout Troops were formed in Kirkee (Pune), Simla, Madras, Jabalpur, Lonavla (Mumbai) and registered with the Imperial Headquarters during 1910 and 1911. These units were open to European and Anglo Indian Children only. •

The first Guide Company in India was started in Jabalpur, Central India in 1911. •

As the Scout Movement was not initially open to the Indian boys, Nationalist leaders of India decided to offer Scouting activities to Indian Boys and Sewa Samiti Scout Association was formed with Headquarters in Allahabad by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru and Pandit Sriram Bajpai. Dr.Annie Besant with the help of Shri G.S.Arundale started a seperate Scout Association for Indian Boys in Madras. •

Efforts were made for unification of different scout groups existing in India during the visit of Lord Baden Powell to India in 1921 and 1937 but failed. Major reason for the failure in unification was the promise clause which included the word “Duty to King”. Our Patriotic sentiments of our Nationalist leaders did not approve the allegiance to the British Empire and instead it was insisted that allegiance loyalty to the Country should be part of the Scout Promise.

SCOUTING GUIDING IN INDEPENDENT INDIA

After the independence of our country efforts were made for unification of the Scout and Guide Associations functioning in India. Serious efforts were made by our National leaders like Pt.Jawahar Lal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India, Mauland Abul Kalam Azad, the First education Minister of India,Shri Mangal Das Pakvasa, Governor of Central Province, and Scout leaders Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru, Pandit Sri Ram Bajpai, Justice Vivian Bose and others for the merger of the Scout / Guide Associations. •

Dr.Tara chand, Education Secretary ,Government of India made significant contribution in finalizing the merger deed. • The Final merger took place on 7th November 1950 and the unified Organisation came into existence under the Name “The Bharat Scouts and Guides”. The Girl Guides Association formally joined the Bharat Scouts and Guides a little later on 15th August 1951.

CONSTITUTION AND HEADQUARTERS

The Bharat Scouts and Guides is a Registered Society under Societies Registrations Act. It is totally voluntary, non-political and secular Organisation. The National Headquarters of the Bharat Scouts functioned from Regal Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi, till 1963.Thereafter, it shifted to its own building and is functioning from Lakshmi Mazumdar Bhawan , 16, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Indra Prasth Estate, New Delhi – 110002. The National Headquarters building was inaugurated in the year 1963 by the then Vice President of India Dr.Zakir Hussain.

OUR FUNDAMENTALS DEFINITION:

The Bharat Scouts & Guides is a voluntary, non-political, educational movement for young people, open to all without distinction of origin, race or creed ,in accordance with the purpose, principles and methods conceived by the Founder Lord Baden Powell in 1907.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Movement is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of local, national and international communities.

PRINCIPLES

The Scout /Guide Movement is based on the Following Principles.

DUTY TO GOD:

Adherence to spiritual principle, loyalty to the religion that expresses the acceptance of the duties resulting there from.

DUTY TO OTHERS:

Loyalty to one's country in harmony of local and international peace, understanding, co-operation. Participation in the development of society with recognition and respect for dignity of one's fellowmen and for the integrity of the natural world.

DUTY TO SELF:

Responsibility for the development of one’s self.

THE METHOD: The Scout /Guide Method is a system of progressive self-education through:-

- A Promise and Law - Learning by doing. - Membership of small groups under adult leadership involving progressive discovery and acceptance of responsibility and training towards self -government directed towards the development of character, and the acquisition of competence, self-reliance, dependability and capacities to co-operate and to lead. - Progressive and stimulating programmes of various activities based on the interest of the participants including games, useful skills and services to the community taking place largely in an outdoor setting in contact with nature.

PROMISE: SCOUT/GUIDE PROMISE

"On my honour I promise that I will do my best - to do my duty to God* and my country, to help other people and to obey the Scout/Guide Law."

CUB/BULBUL PROMISE

" I Promise to do my best to do my duty God* and my Country, to keep the Cub / Bulbul law and to do a Good turn every day" • * The word "Dharma" may be substituted, if so desired for the word "God"

E LAW FOR THE SCOUT AND GUIDE IS:

o A Scout /Guide is trustworthy. o A Scout /Guide is loyal. o A Scout / Guide is Friend to all and brother/Sister to every other Scout/Guide. o A Scout / Guide is courteous. o A Scout / Guide is friend to animals and loves nature. o A Scout / Guide is disciplined and helps protect public property. o A Scout / Guide is courageous. o A Scout / Guide is thrifty. o A Scout / Guide is pure in thought, word and deed. • THE LAW FOR THE CUB AND BULBUL IS: o A Cub / Bulbul is obedient. o A Cub / Bulbul is clean and polite. • Note: The Law and Promise for Scouts & Guides are applicable to Rovers/Rangers and Adult leaders in the movement.

SCOUT/GUIDE PRAYER

• Daya kar dan bhakti ka, • Hamein paramatma dena • Daya karna hamari • Atma mein shuddhata dena. • Hamare dhyan mein aao • Prabhu ankhon mein bas jao • Andhere dil mein aakar ke • Param jyoti jaga dena • Baha do prem ki ganga • Dilo me prem ka sagar • Hamen aapas me miljulkar • Prabhu rehana sikha dena • Hamara karam ho seva • Hamara dharam ho seva • Sada imaan ho seva • Wo sevak char bana dena • Vatan ke vaste jeena, • Vatan ke vaste marna • Vatan par jaan fida karna • Prabhu hum ko sikha dena • Daya kar dan bhakti ka, • Hamein paramatma dena • Daya karna hamari • Atma mein shuddhata dena.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS IN RECOGNITION OF ITS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING UNITED NATIONS “PEACE MESSENGER AWARD”

– The United Nation conferred the Peace Messenger award to the organization in recognition of outstanding contribution for promotion of International Understanding and Harmony in the year 1986-87.

INDIRA GANDHI AWARD FOR NATIONAL INTEGRATION –

The Organization received the 3rd Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in the year 1987 in recognition of its contribution for promoting Harmony and Integration.

BRONZE WOLF AWARD

The following National Commissioners of Bharat Scouts and Guides has got the Bronze Wolf Award during their term as National Commissioner 1. Smt. Lakshmi Mazumdar 2. Shri. Sardar Lakshman Singh 3. Shri L.M.Jain Shri. G. Ranga Rao, Former Director of Bharat Scouts & Guides also received Bronze Wolf.

ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICES

The President of the Bharat Scouts & Guides Shri Rameshwar Thakur and Shri L.M.Jain, National Commissioner received the Asia Pacific Regional Award for distinguished services in the year 2009 and 2006 respectively.

PADMA BHUSHAN

The former National Commissioner of the organization Sardar Lakshman Singh was conferred Padma Bhushan Award from Government of India in the year 1988. He is also a recipient of Bronze Wolf Award from WOSM

PADMA SHRI

The former National Commissioner of the organization Smt. Lakshmi Mazumdar received the Padma Shri Award from Government of India in the year 1965 for her contribution in the field of Scouting. She is also a recipient of Bronze Wolf Award from WOSM