Boy Scout Movements

When we talk about boy scouts or scouts, the first thing that comes in our mind is adventure, wondering around in jungles, camping and stuffs like that. But do we know what actually boy scout is?

Baden Powell was a national hero of Britain during 1900. He wrote a military field manual in 1899, which caught attention of the youngster those days. Being whelmed with this marvellous response from youth, Powell came up with a non-military field manual for teens which emphasised on the importance morality and good deeds.

He then decided to try out some of his ideas with a group of boys. On July 25, 1907, he took a diverse group of 21 adolescents to Brown Sea Island in Dorsetshire where they set up camp for a fortnight. With the aid of other instructors, he taught the boys about camping, observation, deduction, woodcraft, boating, lifesaving, patriotism, and chivalry. These important lessons were being taught by simple yet exciting games. And this came out to be a great victory.

With this victory, Powell came up with a Central scout boy office, which not only registered boys but also designed the uniform for them. By 1980, there were 60,000 boy scouts.

Now, how did boy scouts come up in India?

The first Scout troop in India was formed by a Scottish Missionary in the Central Provinces: Madhya Pradesh, in 1908. However, the troop was disbanded in 1910. The common confirmed date, however, for the start of Scouting in India is 1909, when three troops for British boys were started at Bangalore, Kirkee and Jabalpur. This list of three Scout Troops increased to nine different Boy Scout Organisations in early 1911 With the aid of Baden Powell, efforts were made to merge all the Boy Scouts Organisations.

Well, that was all about the foundation of Scouts, but what does a scout do? What are his responsibilities and duties? A scout is expected to practice good manners and behaviour, do his best by living the ideals of the scouting. A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, well-mannered, courageous, disciplined, pure in thought, word and deed.

Anvi Tyagi

Class: 9^th

DWPS Noida Ext.