B.-P's Portrait

Here is a new portrait of our beloved founder Lord Baden Powell painted by Mr. G. Bhuvan Babu, ALT(S) on account of Thinking Day.

Happy Thinking Day - 22February 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Here is an interesting article about Thinking Day and Lady B.-P's Thoughts on the day in her autobiography called "Windows on my heart".


"Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference held at Girl Scouts of the USA's Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to "think" of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their "sister" Girl Scouts. The delegates chose February 22 as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, who served as World Chief Guide."
"To emphasize the global aspect of Thinking Day, members at the 30th World Conference, held in Ireland in 1999, changed the name from Thinking Day to World Thinking Day."
From "Window on my Heart" by Olave Lady Baden-Powell with Mary Drewery, page 182
"It was in Poland [at the 7th World Guide Conference, held in Kattawice in 1932] that `Thinking Day' had its origins. A Belgian Guider at the Conference suggested that there should be one day set apart in each year when all of us should think of each other in terms of love and friendship. It could have as vital a power as the Women's World Day of Prayer. There was also a practical suggestion that on `Thinking Day', each Guide throughout the world should contribute `A Penny for Your Thoughts' towards the World Association funds. The Conference paid Robin (her pet-name for her husband) and me the compliment of choosing our joint birthday, February 22nd, as Thinking Day. At first the idea hung fire but, one by one, the nations began to promote the scheme. Money began to pour in for the World Association and the totals have risen steadily from £520 12s. 6d. in 1933 to £35,346 in 1970/71 — the last year for which I have the complete figures.
"Far greater than the financial success, however, is the spiritual impact of Thinking Day. A special message I broadcast some years ago gives my assessment of its value: "During the twenty-four hours of February 22nd, these kindly, generous thoughts are being thrown out into the ether by Guides who care personally about the preaching of love and goodwill in the world, and these thoughts and prayers are concentrated thus as a live force for the developing of friendship and understanding, for which all peoples are longing.
"Though you cannot visit sister Guides in France or Finland, in Austria or Australia, in Italy or Iceland, Canada or Chile, Ghana or Guatemala, U.S.A. or U.A.R., you can reach out to them there in your MIND. And in this unseen, spiritual way you can give them your uplifting sympathy and friendship. Thus do we Guides, of all kinds and of all ages and of all nations, go with the highest and the best towards the spreading of true peace and goodwill on earth."


Wish you all a very happy Thinking Day.

Yours in Scouting,

G. Mahadevan, LT (S)

Scouting 100 years - Scouter 100 Years

Centegenarion N. V. Ramaswamy, LT (S)

 

He always sleeps with a scout scarf on his pillow and a copy of Scouting for Boys in his bed.

‘Tamil Nadu Baden Powel’ as revered all along, N.V. Ramaswamy (101 years old) was born on 21^st March 1909 to C. Vythiyalingam Pulukkutthiyaar and Thirumathi Chellakkannu parents in Nalanpuththoor village, Kaattumannaar Koil Tahshil, Cuddalloor District, Tamil Nadu.

Studied up-to school final in Chidambaram Pachaiyappan School, N.V. Ramaswamy completed Secondary Teacher Training and rendered academic service as a Teacher until he retired in the year 1969 on superannuation.

During Secondary Grade Teacher Training, he got trained as ‘Rover’ and awarded with the Rover Scout badge; undergone Cub Master’s Training and as a renowned Scouter, reached new heights. At the same time, he rendered service as a scaffolding in building scouting infrastructure in Cuddalloor district. 

Right from a trained scouter, he scaled the ‘everest’ by being appointed as Member of the World Scouters’ Training Committee.

Fitting himself to the honour of ‘TN BP’, N.V. Ramaswamy as a leader trainer conducted a number of Scout Masters’ Training courses, thus paving way for hundreds of trained Scout Masters. The state association shouldered him with the responsibilities of Assistant State Commissioner and State Vice President etc.

Former Indian President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, awarded this right person with the ‘Silver Star’ award for his meritorious services rendered to the scout movement in the country at large to be followed by the highest award of Indian scouting, ‘Silver Elephant’   by R. Venkataraaman, also former President of Indian Republic.

It would be quite interesting to note that N.V.R. is also a successful insurance (Life Insurance Corporation of India) agent.  As a Notable social worker, NVR went round village after village cycling, approached the parents of the tiny tots to enlist them.

As put it in the beginning of the story, each and every useful youth of the society, should make it obligatory to follow, the below good habits of N.V. Ramaswamy. His multi-pronged strategy, showered him laurels one after another.

A friend in need, a good counselor, a man with a ‘mind’ and enjoys the life by helping the needy.

Centegenarian N.V. Raamasaamy, L.T. (S), has multifarious habitual background which keeps him fit are:

• leaving the bed before dawn
• exercise
• chill water bath setting aside seasonal changes
• taking vegetable stuffed-tasty food in time
• drinking warm water after every meal
• dressing with ironed clothes
• finishing the given work within time with all sincerity
• tea-totalitarianism
• dairy writing habit day-in and day-out
• newspaper reading
• keeping the material in their places after use
• plan the expenditure in accordance to the income
• loving one and all
• straightforwardness

Only the above-said habits kept our N.V. Ramaswamy alive and active among hundreds and thousands of scouts and guides generally in the State of Tamil Nadu and of Cuddalore district in particular.

It is a befitting honour to name the Aivadhukudi Scouts and Guides Training Centre in Cuddalore district  of Tamilnadu after this Silver Elephant awardee as N.V.R Park.

At present, Mr. N.V.R, 101 years old is living with his eldest son, Mr. Ilango in Chennai, Tamilnadu.

We are honoured to have someone who is as old as our scout movement with us.

By

G. Bhuvan Babu, ALT/S

Dr. Annie Besant

 Dr. Annie Besant in Indian Scout Uniform (C. 1931)

This article was published in 'The South India Boy Scout' Magazine (Nov & Dec 1932).

"Our readers will be glad to hear that the Chief Scout of the world has been pleased to award the Silver Wold to Dr. Annie Besant, our Honorary Scout Commissioner for All India. It is a fitting recognition for the great work done by her for the youth of the land. On our own behalf and on behalf of our readers, we offer to her our respectful and hearty congratulations. - Editor".

A New Year Resolution : 1933 (The South India Boy Scout)

To start with, here is a New Year Resolution given by our founder in the year 1933 to 'The Scout'  magazine and published in 'The South India Boy Scout' magazine in Feb - 1933.

A New Year Resolution

If a chap wants to get to the top of a house, he may try to jump there, or he may try to climb up the wall, or he may sit down and say to himself that it is hopeless. In any casem he won't get there. But if he gets a ladder and goes up it, step by step, he will succeed, even if it's a long way up and takes a lot of puffing and blowing to get there.

Well it's the same in your career in life. Look up and see where you want to get to. Don't imagine that you will jump there all at once, or that you can climb there without having to any proper preparation for it. But put up your ladder - that is, prepare yourself in your school and Scout training, step by step, to go up - and you'll get there in the end.

- LORD BADEN POWELL, The Chief Scout.

Happy New Year - 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It gives me immense pleaseure to meet you all through this blog.
In this new year, I have resolved to share all the collections and rare documents I have preserved for the past 40 years related to scouting. Your suggestions and comments are welcome. Also you can share your scouting experience and rare documents here.
Happy New Year!
G. Mahadevan, LT(S)