INDIA 1 January 2009 Parallel scouting movements mark centenary

The Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG) observes its centenary on 1 Jan with commerative events in New Delhi. Centenary stamps and coins honoring the BSG will be issued. A parallel scouting movement, the right-wing-backed Hindustan Scouts and Guides Association, plans protests and its own commemoration on the same day. The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports officially recognized both groups Apr 2001, but withdrew the recognition in Feb 2005 after pressure from the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

The Hindustan Scouts and Guides Association is covertly backed by Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) - the parent organization of all right-wing Hindu movements. It came in existence when a right-wing government (BJP) was in power (April 2001), and banned when left-center government was in power (February 2005).

WOSM, which recognised BSG in 1950 as the sole representative for India, asked India's government to withdraw recognition to the new body in the interest of the unity of scouting in India and at the international level.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will elaborate the achievements of BSG in its first 100 years, which includes the colonial era. He will urge more youth to join the organization. The BSG is a voluntary, non-political, educational movement for young people in India, particularly targeting the youth in schools, colleges and universities.

The first Scout troop in India, consisting of Indian Boys, was formed in 1908. But the troop was disbanded in 1910. The common confirmed date; for the start of scouting in India is 1909, when three troops for British boys were started at Bangalore, Kirkee and Jabalpur.

The scouting movement was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1907 as a result of a camp for young boys organised by Robert Baden-Powell at Brown Sea Island. The movement transcended borders and soon became popular in other countries, including India.

Famous scouts include Tony Blair, Hillary Clinton, Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates.

Baden-Powell wrote a special book for Indian scouts, the "Scouting for boys in India". There are more than 2.4 million Scouts and around 1.3 million Guides who are members of BSG-affiliated troops.

The BGS maintains units for Indian citizens in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. May/08

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RELATED READING:

BSG
http://www.bsgindia.org/

Recognition to new scouting body flayed (thehindu.com 28 Apr 2001)
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/04/28/stories/1428221e.htm