BSG – India - St. Paul's High School

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.

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 separate 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 and 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 7^th 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 15^th 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, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Indra Prasth Estate, New Delhi. The building was inaugurated in the year 1963 by the then Vice President of India Dr. Zakir Hussain.

Stalwarts of Scouting in India

General Sir W. R. Birdwood
Chief Commissioner for india-1910.
T. H. Baker
Started the 1st Scout Troop in Bangalore in 1909 and 1st General Secretary of Boy Scouts Association in India.
Annie Besant
Established Boy Scouts Association for Indian Boys. It merged with Boy Scouts Association of India in 1921 and she was appointed scout commissioner for India by Baden Powell.
G.S. Arundale
Co Founder of Boy Scouts Association for Indian Boys.
Captain Sir Muhammad Ahmed Said Khan
Chief Commissioner, Boy Scouts Association in India. He preceded and succeeded Sir Tej Bhadur Sapru.
Sir Tej Bahdur Sapru
Chief Commissioner, Boy Scouts Association in India till 1946.
Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya
He was the inspiration behind formation of Sewa Samiti Scout Association for the benefit of Indian Boys.
H.N. Kunzru
Chief Commissioner Sewa Samiti Scout Association and First National Commissioner Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Pandit Sriram Bajpai
Chief Organiser of Sewa Samiti Scout Association First National Organising Commissioner Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Tarachand
Education Secretary Government of India He played a vital role in merger of various Scout/Guide Associations resulting in Formation of The Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad
First Education Minister of India. He motivated the Scout/Guide Associations to come together to form a United National Organisation of Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Mangal Das Pakvasa
President of Indian Council. He played a key role in merger of Scout/Guide Associations and became 1st President of The Bharat Scouts and Guides.

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Contact

National Headquarters

The Bharat Scouts and Guides National Headquarters
Lakshmi Mazumdar Bhawan
16, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Indraprastha Estate
P.O. BOX NO.- 7043, New Delhi – 110 002
TELEPHONES Off: (011) 23370724, 23378667
FAX: 00- 91-11-23370126
E-Mail: info@bsgindia.org
www.bsgindia.org

Southern Regional Headquarters

The Bharat Scouts and Guides
C/o Karnataka Girl Guide Hqtrs.
39 Shanti Gruha, Palace Road
Next to Maharani College, Bangalore – 560 001
TELEPHONE: 080– 22353213
E-mail: adsr@bsgindia.org

Karnataka State Headquarters

The Bharat Scouts and Guides
39 Shanti Gruha, Palace Road
Next to Maharani College, Bangalore – 560 001
Telephone: (080)26701227, 26708776
FAX: 080- 26708803
E-Mail: shq@bsgkarnataka.org