BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BHARAT SCOUTS &
GUIDES
The
Scouting Movement was conceptualized as far back as 1890 by Lord Baden Powell
and the first Scout Camp was organized in 1907. Initially, Scouting was a
movement intended for the benefit of British boys. In or around the year 1911,
a corresponding movement was started for girls and came to be known as the
Guide Movement. In India, the Scouts Movement started in 1909 and the Guide
Movement in 1911. The Scouts and Guides movement in India has an illustrious
history. The movement initially started under different names and different
provinces in India such as the Sewa Samiti Scouts Association, The All India
Boys Scouts etc. several stalwarts of various fields of public life in India
have been associated with the Scouts and Guides movements in India in different
points of time. Some of the public figures actively associated with the
movement including Mr. Vivian Bose, Dr. Annie Besant, Dr. G.S. Arundale, Shri
V.K.Krishna Menon, Shri S.V. Kamat, Sri K.B. Godrej, Mr. Rustomji, Dr. Mohan
Singh Mehta, Shri Janaki Saran Verma, Pandit H.N. Kunzru, Pandit Madan Mohan
Malviya, Mr. Justice M. Hidayatullah, etc.
That at
the time of independence, there are mainly 2(two) boys Scouts Associations,
namely, “Boys Scouts Association” and “Hindustan Scouts Association”, and one
All India Girl Guide Association. Efforts were made by Lord Baden Powell, the
Founder of the Movement, at the instance of Lord Chelmsford, the then Viceroy
of India, in 1920-21 and again in 1937-38 to unify different Associations.
Efforts could not be succeed because the Indian Associations could not owe
allegiance to the Crown as desired by the then regime. After the independence
of the country incessant efforts were made by the National Leaders of the time
like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India. On 29th May
1948, an informal meeting was conducted and presided over by the then Education
Minister, Mr. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It was stressed that Scout/Guide
organization be free of any taint of political or communal partisanship and
there would be unification of the movement. Ultimately, after a long
discussion, representatives of the two pioneer associations, existing at that
time, decided to set up a committee with Dr. Tarachand, Secretary, Ministry of
Education as Chairman and Commander G.H. Nicholla, Deputy Private Secretary to
the Governor General as a Member to work out the details of the amalgamations.
3.
That the name of the organization was evolved and agreed upon after many
deliberations. The Constitution of India has accepted the name “Bharat” as an
alternative name of India. It was, therefore, agreed that the merged
organization would be registered under the name “Bharat Scouts & Guides” to
form a singly National Scouts and Guides Movement. The merger had the blessings
of the late Chief Guides Lady Baden Powell. The merged organization’s new name
came to be registered and incorporated under the name and style of Bharat
Scouts and Guides on 6th November, 1950 under the Societies Registration Act
(Act XXI of 1860). The merger of two organizations came into effect on 7th
November, 1950. The amalgamation was pursuant to a meeting convened under
Societies Registration Act dated 24th October, 1950. (A Photocopy of the
certificate of Registration is enclosed herewith as Annexure-1). The All India
Girl Guide Association merged with the Bharat Scouts and Guides later in
August, 1951.
4.
The Bharat Scouts & Guides is the largest voluntary, non-political,
uniformed Youth Organization and educational Movement in the Country working in
the field of character building of the young boys and girls, without any
distinction of caste, creed and religion. While, there were several Scout
Organizations and a separate Girl Guide Association functioning in India during
the pre-independence era. The Bharat Scouts & Guides came into existence on
November 7, 1950 as a single joint Organization of Scouts as well as Guides.
This could happen as a consequence of merger of Boy Scouts Association of
India, Hindustan Scouts Association and the Girl Guides Association under the
guidance of the then the leaders of the country like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr. H.N.Kunzru, Justice Hidyatullah, Sir Vivian Bose
and many other stalwarts. The Bharat Scouts & Guides is recognized by the
World Organisation of Scout Movement (WOSM) and World Association of Girl
Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
5.
The Bharat Scouts & Guides was internationally recognized in December 1950
pursuant to Circular to Circular No. 40 of 1950 of the Boys Scouts
International Bureau and in April, 1954 when the Bharat Scouts and Guides
became a member of the World Association o Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Prior
to this affiliation, the All India Girl Guides Association was a member of the
world body. It is pertinent to mention that more than 160 Counties are members
of the International Scouts body i.e. World Organization of Scout Movement
(WOSM) and approximately 140 Countries are members of the International Guide
body i.e. World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). (A
Photocopy of the Circular No. 40 of 1950 is enclosed herewith as Annexure-II).
6.
At the
international level, there is only one body for Scouts namely “World
Organisation of Scouts Movement” with its headquarters at Geneva (Switzerland)
and one body for Girl Guides, namely, “World Association of Girl Guides and
Girl Scouts” with its headquarters at London in Great Britain. As per the rules
of the said two apex bodies, only one national body from affiliated countries
is recognized and admitted as a member. Thus, the Bharat Scouts & Guides is
the only recognized body by the said two international bodies in India.
7.
The Movement of
Scouting and Guiding is internationally recognized. The movement has the
universal Motto “ Do your Best” for Cubs & Bulbuls ranging from the age
group 05-09 years, “Be Prepared” for Scouts & Guides ranging from the age
group 10-16 Years and “Service” for Rovers & Rangers ranging at the age
group 16-25 years. In India, almost 46 State Associations including Union
Territories, 9 Indian Railway Zones, Scout/Guides Associations of the Kendriya
Vidhyalaya Sangathan and those of the Navodaya Vidhalaya Samiti are all
affiliated and members of the Bharat Scouts & Guides. The Bharat Scouts
& Guides has district units in different countries where Indian Schools are
functioning including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Sultanate of Oman. The Central
Tibetan Administration Schools are also having Scout/Guide Unit which are
affiliated to the Bharat Scouts & Guides.
8.
The Bharat Scouts & Guides is engaged in the task of developing the
personality of the youth and canalizing their energies into the task of
National resurgence. The Scouts and Guides are seen working with dedication and
commitment to serve the community. The membership of the Bharat Scouts &
Guides today touches all time record of over 50 lakhs Scouts & Guides. We
are the third largest in the world in the number of Scouts and second largest
in the number of Guides.
9.
The representatives of the Bharat Scouts and Guides have represented and have
attended various World events and Conferences and earned laurels for the
Country. The Bharat Scouts and Guides has been honoured with “PEACE MESSENGER
AWARD” by the UNO in 1987, “HABITAT AWARD” in 1990 and “INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL
INTEGRATION AWARD” in 1987. The stalwarts like late Mrs. Lakshmi Mazumdar
the then National Commissioner and Sardar Lakshman Singh have been the
recipients of “PADMA SHREE” and “PADMA VIVHUSHAN” respectively.
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