The ‘Rovers & Rangers’ is a voluntary, non-political, educational movement of young people, open to all without distinction of origin, race or creed, under the purpose, principles and methods conceived by the Founder Lord Baden Powell in 1907. The State Headquarters of the Bharat Scouts and Guides is at Rewalsar, Mandi, H.P.
Purpose
The purpose of the movement is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual potential as individuals, responsible citizens and members of local, national and international communities.
Principles
The principles are the fundamental laws and beliefs which must be observed when achieving the purpose. They represent a code of conduct that characterizes all members of the Movement.
Scouting/Guiding is based upon three broad principles representing its fundamental laws and beliefs.
They are referred to as: “Duty to God”, “Duty to others” and “Duty to self”.
Duty to God: Adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom.
Duty to others: Loyalty to one's country in harmony with local, National and International peace, understanding, and cooperation.
Duty to self: Responsibility for the development of a person should assume responsibility for the development of her capacities. This is fully in harmony with the educational purpose of the Scout Movement, whose aim is to assist the young person in the full development of potential - a process that has been called the “unfolding” of the personality.
The Method:
The Scout / Guide Method is a system of progressive self-education through :
- A promise and law.
- Learning by doing.
- Membership of small groups under adult leadership involves progressive discovery and acceptance of the responsibility of training towards the development of character, self-reliance and capacities to cooperate and to be local.
Scouting in India
The first scout troop in India consisting entirely of Anglo-Indian Boys was formed by a Scottish missionary, in the then-central province in 1908. However, the army was disbanded in 1910. Thereafter nine different scout troops comprising British & Anglo-Indian boys came up in early 1911 in Shimla, Calcutta, Jabalpur, Allahabad, Banglore, Poona, Kirkee, Saidpus and Madras. Efforts to induct the Indian Boys to Scouts movement did not materialize till Montague & Chelmsford appeared on the scene as a secretary of the state of India and viceroy of India in 1917. After the Independence of India, the final merger of the Boy Scouts Association and the Hindustan Scout Association took place on 7th November 1950 under the name of "The Bharat Scouts and Guide".