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”.
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”.
- courtesy: www.bsgindia.org
