HISTORY AND GROWTH OF THE KERALA STATE BHARAT SCOUTS & GUIDES

Kerala’s geography is unique; the State has dense forests and enormous backwaters, with exotic and virgin territories. The Government of Kerala and Department of Education is supporting the Scout/Guide movement in its functioning in Schools, by aiding and releasing grant for the organizational, administrative and training purposes. The government also added Scouting and Guiding one of the Co-Curricular activities in the Kerala Educational Rules. All these make the State ideal for Scouting and Guiding. The Scout-Guide Movement in Kerala has a rich past.

In 1915 Dr. Annie Besant organized Indian Boy Scout Association in South India meant for the Indian boys. The international participation of Kerala in scouting activity can be traced to a Maharaja’s College girl who participated in the first World Scout Jamboree which was held at Olympia, London in 1920. Miss Uthram Thirunal Padmini Bayi, daughter of the then, Maharaja of Travancore, Sri. Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma went to the Jamboree with her sister and their governess. After coming back home she started a girls’ troop in Nagercoil in 1922 under the patronage of Shri. C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, Dewan of Travancore, with help from A. E. Benson and Denys Rosoman, both ICS Officers holding important positions in Travancore at that time.

Before integration of States, the present Kerala State was in three parts viz; Travancore, Cochin and Malabar. In 1957 all the above provincial organizations were integrated as Kerala State Bharat Scouts & Guides, with a Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.

TRAVANCORE

In Travancore the first Scout Troop was organised in CMS College, Kottayam in 1910 by a Jesuit Father. When the Travancore Government took action to start Scouting officially in schools, in December 1918, there were about 160 Scouts in Nagarcoil, Trivandrum, Allappey, Thiruvalla and Aluva as reported by the Inspector of Schools. Scout Troops were working under the leadership of Dr. Srinivasan who was the State Commissioner as members of the Indian Boys Scout Association organised by Dr. Annie Besant. Two teachers of the Model Govt. High School, Trivandrum were deputed to Madras to undergo Scout masters’ Course for 15 days
In 1926 there was a meeting of the leaders and well-wishers at VJT Hall, Trivandrum under the patronage of Maharaja of Travancore, as a result of which Travancore Boys Scout Association was formed. Sri. H A B Vernon was the first State Commissioner and Sri Pattom Thanu Pillai (later became the Chief Minister) was the State Treasurer. Sri. Ramabhadran took charge of Scout Organiser.

For the purpose of organization and administration, the whole State was divided into 9 districts- Nagarcoil, Trivandrum, Alleppey, Kottayam, Thiruvalla, Mavelikkara, Quilon, Shencotta and Munnar. 9 District Commissioners were appointed over areas where troops had been organised. The Association had published a bulletin periodically since 1926 on information besides an account of the Movement and pamphlet of general information bearing the title “In a Nutshell”. Reports of Organising Secretary and other matters of general interest to Scouts and Scouters had been included.

Sri. Chithira-Thirunal Balarama Varma, Maharaja of Travancore was the Chief Scout, his younger brother Elaya Raja His Highness Prince Marthanda Varma was the Chief Cub of the State w.e.f 24-10-1931. In official functions of the Travancore State, presence of Scouts was obvious.

In 1928 (23rd April to 5th May) a Scout Masters’ Course was held at Punalur. Sri. T V Neelakandam, the then Scout Organiser of Travancore was the Course Leader (Later became Camp Chief of the Bharat Scouts & Guides). Sri. P Kuttikrishna Menon and Sri. M B Nath who later became the State Training Commissioners of the Kerala State Bharat Scouts & Guide attended the above course. When Travancore- Cochin state was formed in 1952 Sri. P Kuttikrishna Menon took charge as the State Secretary of the Travancore- Cochin State Bharat Scouts & Guides. He also worked as the State Training Commissioner. He continued to hold the above posts even after the formation of Kerala State Bharat Scouts & Guides in 1957. Sri A. N Thampi was the first State Chief Commissioner who was the Director of Public Instruction. Sri. K Gopala Pillai, Rtd Engineer was the State Secretary.
The Girl Guide Movement in Travancore was originally started in 1915, but after a few years disbanded. In 1921 it was reconstituted under a Local Association and with three companies. Due to the loss of leaders the work had again to be reorganized in December 1924. The Movement was conducted under the patronage of her Highness the Maharani Regent. Her Highness was the Senior Princess.

The Headquarters of the Movement functioned at Trivandrum and of the establishment charges and working expenses there of the major portion was contributed by the Government.
Every year in Honour of the Birthday of his Highness the Maharaja who is the Chief Scout of the State, the annual rally of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Travancore was held. An oil painting (drawn by Raja Ravi Varma) of his highness Maharaja was unveiled on 1931 by the Diwan Sir C P Ramaswami Iyer. And it is still there at State Headquarters.
In 1931 Girl Guide Association was formed. Smt Karthika Thirunal, sister of Maharaja was the Chief Guide. When C P Ramaswami Iyer took charge as the Diwan of Travancore he became the State Commissioner of Travancore Scout Association. In August 1933, DC of Mavelikkara, Mr. Ramavarma, during his European tour, been to be at the Scout World Jamboree held at Godolloo, Hungary, and also after that event went to Gilwell (Training Centre at Londan) to take a practical course. He availed himself of the opportunity to meet Lord Baden Powell, the Chief Scout of the World, who was gracious enough to send through Mr. Rama Varma, a message of Love to Travancore Boys Scouts. The parting words spoken by the Chief Scout is “ please convey the Scouts of Travancore my love. I hope to visit India once more and hope to know more about them”.

COCHIN

As a result of the formation of the Indian Boy Scout Association by Dr. Annie Besent in 1915, Scout Troops were working voluntarily in different parts of Cochin. A Section among them were separately working viz ., Gosree Scouts because of difference of opinion on certain principles. In 1922 Sri. V K Krishna Menon (later became the Defence Minister of India) conducted a Scout Masters’ Course at Cochin. Sri. Abraham Master (later became the Governor) who was the candidate in the above course and the Scout Master was Sri. P V Paulose (later became the State Training Commissioner (S) of Kerala State Bharat Scouts & Guides and translated ‘Scouting for Boys’ into Malayalam). In 1925 Cochin State Association was formed and worked under the patronage of the Maharaja of Cochin. Sri Rama Varma GCIE the Maharaja of Cochin was the Chief Scout. Local Associations were also formed in different parts of Cochin.

MALABAR

Malabar was part of Madras State. Christian Missionaries in Tellichery and other parts of Malabar started Scout Troops early in 1912. Sri. G.T.J Thadias of Palakkad who was the Travelling Secretary of the Indian Boy Scout Association also organised Scouting in Malabar area. He has participated in merger meeting where Lord Baden Powell was also present. In 1937 All India Jamboree was held at Delhi when Baden Powell was present, he was one of the chief organisers. Scouts of Malabar were members of the Madras Boys Scout Association affiliated to Indian Boys Scout Association.

AIM OF SCOUTING & GUIDING

Founded by Lord Robert Stephenson Smith Baden-Powell in 1907, Scouting- Guiding became one of the largest uniformed youth movements of the twentieth century. The first experimental camp for Scouts was held at Brown Sea Island-London in the year 1907. After the experimental camp B.P wrote the book “Scouting for Boys”which is known as the Bible of Scouting. By reading the book, boys formed small groups known as Patrols and started working. In 1909 a Boy Scout rally was held at Crystal Palace in London when a number of girls attended, proclaiming themselves to be girl Scouts Baden Powell decided that if they wanted to join in, they should have their own name and the Movement, and the programme suited to their needs. He given the responsibility to his elder sister Agnes in 1910 and later to his wife, Olave St.Clair Somes and has also been hugely influential as Scouting. For over 100 years Scouting Guiding ,this two organisations have shared many similarities: uniformed adult leaders, a set of core values, a structured programme encouraging development, and adventurous activities suitable for both genders. Despite often working in harmony, there are some differences that can only be explained in relation to the work of Lord Baden-Powell as founder. Scouting and Guiding are value formation process which works on principles of self-development and voluntary participation in facing challenges of life as a journey. The founder, Lord Baden Powell felt that the young people should be given more opportunity to learn from experience, be independent, self-reliant and develop their skills in understanding, planning and executing for themselves rather than being spoon-fed by others. He believed that this will make them strong to face any challenge.

Scouting and guiding aim to develop young people, giving them the ability to make moral choices and strengthen their characters through commitment to a set of values. Scouting and Guiding is as diverse now as it has ever been, reflecting the world in all its variety. But there are some things that cannot be changed: Scouting’s values are timeless and universal. They lie at the heart of our Movement and provide us with a vision for the future.

Scouting and guiding is an educational movement for young people, accessible to all without distinction of gender, origin, race or creed. Its purpose is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.

Scouting and Guiding is a deliberate educational scheme, and its aim is the development of character with a view to useful citizenship. The Scouts and Guides are organized into sections according to age. Each section has an ideal Scout Law, Promise and Motto which they endeavor to attain. The programmes are designed in such a way as to develop leadership qualities and community service.

Character: The Association is a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act and is a non-official organization and is non-political, non-sectarian and non-communal in character.