national headquarters
Lakshmi Mazumdar Bhawan
16, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, I.P. Estate, New Delhi-110002
Tel. No. 011-23370724, 23378667 Fax. 0091-11-23370126
E-mail : info@bsgindia.org | website : www.bsgindia.org
All Rights Reserved
i Print - 1976
ii Print - 2006
iii Print - 2018
Printed : December, 2018 - 1000
Published by : Director, the Bharat scouts and guides, National Headquarters, Lakshmi Mazumdar Bhawan, 16, M.G. Marg, I.P. Estate, New Delhi-110002
Price : 35/-
ii RoverPrinted by : deeya Media art, D-41/A, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-110092 Ph. : 09312550335, 09211656230 E-mail : infodma07@gmail.com
The Scout Guide is a Movement for the youth and the programme for the youth has been designed in such a way that it is progressive and help develop all-round personalities.
In the recently introduced youth programme for the Rovers, activities other than the selfdevelopment i.e. Community Development, Disaster Management has been made more community development oriented with emphasis on self-development.
It necessitated revising our 2006 publication “Rover Scouting”. Mr. Krishnaswamy, Jt. Director(S), Mr. Arup Sarkar, Asst. Director and Dr. Arun Kumar Gupta, LT have made their contribution for revising the book as per new programme.
I am happy that the job of updating the publication is successfully over. The book will be a handy guide to Rovers and adult leaders in their efforts to catch the joy of being members of the brotherhood of the open air and of service.
Best of Luck and Happy Rovering.
dr. K. K. Khandelwal, ias (retd.) Chief National Commissioner
“Happyness is not measured in the Amount of Money you have. It is the people in your life that create wonderful memories.”
contents
chaPter - i 1-5
Rover scouting - what it is? The aim of Rover Brotherhood - The aim of Rovering is brotherhood and Service for otherprogramme Ideals of the B.S.G. - Rover Section.
chaPter - ii 6-8
Happiness- two keys to happiness-pleasure is not happinessActive work brings happiness-Paddle your own canoe-self education is necessary.
chaPter - iii 9-27
Voyage of life - Horses - Wine - Self-indulgence Sell command - Women - Sex instincts and risks - The monarch of the Glen Menhood -Sexual temptation comes from perfectly natural causes, viz Sap -The action of germ - seeds in making a new child -The germ is a sacred trust for carrying on the race - Temptation - Herd Bravado - Manliness - chivalry - It is up to be master of yourself - The mother’s influence -Save yourself and help to preserve the race - The Ruk-Sack - Cuckoos and Humbugs - self education a safeguard - Books and book reading - listening service -Civic Service -Irreligion or ungodliness The soul Conscience.
How you can join Rovering - Stages - Admission - The Rover aspirant -Sponcers.
chaPter - v 31-37
Tests for the advancement of aspirant - Test for Pravesh Badges - Study of “Scouting for Boys” - The Scout Law Period of Probation.
chaPter - vi 38
The Rover Investiture - The vigil of Self examination.
chaPter - vii 39-41
The training of a Rover Scout - Four Distinct purposes Individual Training and Collective Training - The Basic training.
chaPter -viii 42-44
v The Progressive training of a Rover Scout - Rashtrapati Rover award - The proficiency badge.
How to be Happy Though Rich-or Poor
chaPter -iX 45-46
Rover-in-service - Being a member of crew. chaPter - X 47-60
rover quests
The quest of Younger brother - The quest of trust - The quest of World Scouting - The quest of beauty - The quest of kindness to animals - The quest of conscience - The quest of happinessThe quest of personal efficiency - The spiritual quest - The quest of Rover Adventure -From the man’s point of view - suggested activities.
aPPendiX 61-69
The presentation of a Rover - preparation for self - examination. The Promise and law - The vigil (Self - Examination)
The Investiture Ceremony of a Rover - Preparations - The Ceremony.
The aim of the Scout Movement is to develop good citizenship among the boys and youngmen by developing their character, health, handicraft and skills and the spirit of service. This is accomplished by:
1. Training youngmen in habits of observation, obedience and self-reliance through training in wood-craft.
2. Inculcating loyalty and thoughtfulness for others by instructions and giving service to others.
3. Teaching youngmen about services useful to the public and handicrafts useful for themselves
4. Developing mental and physical power of the individual through whole some social contact and activities.
5. Leading the individual to develop spiritual and social values by example and association.
This is achieved through various interesting activities provided in the programme. The programme is mostly outdoor oriented and aims at making the youngmen efficient in the out-of-door, through camping, hiking and other out-door activities, and at the same time trains them to achieve self-reliant and self-discipline through self-education. In short it is a programme which provides them an opportunity for self-development through the help of adult leader and through the company of members of their own age group in the Rover Crew. It provides them opportunity of learning by doing, which is the main method of the movement, through good fellowship and sound guidance.
The programme deals with boys and youngmen of age group 3-6 Bunny and further till thirty five years. The boys whose age ranges from Six to Ten are called Cubs. Ten plus to seventeen are called Scouts, fifteen plus to twenty five are called Rover Scouts, (Training Stage) and twenty five plus to thirty five years are called Rover Scouts to service group. Thus the movement provide a progressive programme of activities and achievements and goes to develop the type of character which is needed in the youngmen of the country.
# Please refer the APRO II for Sections and age.
Rovering -What it is?
Rovering which is the third section of the Movement, is a continuation of the training given through Cub and Scout sections in good citizenship as the final goal. The aim of Cub training with its motto ‘Do your Best’, is to prepare boys to become better Scouts when they reach the age. The aim of the Scout section with its motto, ‘Be Prepared’ is to prepare boys by training them in various crafts and skills and the aim of the Rover Section, with its motto “Service” is to prepare them to occupy their proper place in the society and to be service to the community, thus enabling them to take the country a step forward in development. Thus the motto of the Movement, ‘Do your Best’ to ‘Be Prepared’ for ‘Service’ can be fully achieved only if a youngman passes through all the three stages of training i.e. Cubbing, Scouting and Rovering. Hence the aim of Rovering, that it is a continuation of the training received in Cubbing and Scouting is established the aim of rover Brotherhood
The founder Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell in his famous book ‘Rovering to Success’ described the aim of the Rover Brotherhood as: “Rovers are a brotherhood of ‘open air’ and ‘Service’. They are Hikers on the Open Road and Campers of the Woods, able to shift for others. They are in point of fact a senior branch of the Boy Scout Movement- youngmen of over fifteen years of age”.
The four main aims of the training in wood-craft are to develop these points: Character and intelligence, Handicraft and skill, Health and strength, Service for others-citizenship
The Rover Brotherhood has spread to many countries.
It is not only a brotherhood but a jolly brotherhood, with its Camp comradeship, its badges, its secret signs, its uniform, and its ‘dens’ or meeting places all the world over.
Since it is a brotherhood of wanderers, you can, as a member of it, extend your travels of foreign countries and make your friendship there with other Rover of other nationalities.
- Scouting
This side of our Movement is not only interesting and educative but is going to make a real step in ensuring the future peace of the world through mutual goodwill.
If you have already been a Scout you will know pretty much what there is to know about it.
If you have not been a Scout, the first things needed are a pair of scout shoes and a scout heart. Then beg, borrow-or get hold of a copy of ‘scouting for boys’ from the nearest Scout troop or from the Head quarters Equipment Department. That will give you the details for hiking and camping for you to go upon. In series of “Camp Fire Yarns” it gives the details of:
1. Scoutcraft and Scout’s work.
2. Life in the open.
3. Camp life.
4. Treckking.
5. Wood-craft and Nature Lore.
6. Health and Strength.
7. Chivalry.
8. Life saving and dealing with accidents.
9. Duty as Citizens. the aim of rovering is Brotherhood and service for others.
The object of the Rover Training is to enable youngmen to themselves as Happy Healthy Citizens
Useful and to give each his chance of making a successful career for himself.
It gives older boy the means of remaining under helpful influences at the difficult time of his life when he is just entering manhood.
It provides Scouting for youngmen with its joys back woodmanship and nature craft.
It help youngmen of over eighteen years of age, who may desire it, to train for warranted rank of Scouters or instructors in the Scout Movement.
Rovering -What it is?
It gives youngmen the opportunity of doing useful service for other on a recognised footing.
“By Rovering I don’t mean aimless wandering. I mean finding your way by pleasant paths with a definite object in view, and having an idea of the difficulties and dangers you are likely to meet by the way.”-B.P.
Rovering is an individual training experience for young men, carried out in a democratic setting with Scouting ideals governing the conduct of individuals and the group as a whole so that they may individually and collectively give practical expression of these ideals in their adult lives.
By the time a young man completes the full course of the Rover/ Programme he will be able to:
1. make scouting a way of life.
2. become an active and participating citizen.
3. improve skills, vocational and otherwise to be self dependent and useful to others.
4. emerge as practical person who has respect for himself and for others and their experiences.
5. realise that he has a responsibility in the development of his community and undertake Community Development Projects individually and collectively.
6. lead a refined religious life in service of man and God/ Dharma.
7. select in future, a right partner for a life of full understanding and adjustment and lead a harmonious life.
8. do all his best to project public property.
9. prepare himself to do his duty to country and develop love for Universal Brotherhood i.e. peace and goodwill among human beings.
10. develope a positive attitude to undertake considerable risk for others, making the full use of his Rovering Skills and Values.
11. work for the upkeep of our National Heritage and Culture with love for Human values.
12. promote and participate in the developmental activities pertaining to National priorities like National Integration, Population Education, Conservation, Sanitation etc.
13. become a Strategic Leader who loves to grow with the group.
14. have fair understanding of the World Affairs in general.
Rovering -What it is?
The Founder wanted every youngman to have a happy and successful life. In his book ‘Rovering to Success’ he describes that “The only true success is Happiness.” The following lines are worth noting by every youngman :
“My belief is that we were put into his world of wonders and beauty with a special ability to appreciate them, in some cases to have the fun of taking a hand in developing them and also in being able to help other people instead of over reaching them and through it all, to enjoy life - that is TO BE HAPPY.”
That is what I count as success, to be happy. But Happiness is not merely passive; that is, you don’t get it by sitting down to receive it, that would be a smaller thing-pleasure.
But we are given arms and legs and brains and ambitions with which to be active that counts more than the passive in gaining true Happiness.
The richman has his limitations. He may have two or three houses and dozens of rooms in each, but he can only occupy one of these in turn, since he only has one body.
He is not better off than the poorest in that way he may look at and admire the sunset, enjoy the sunshine, or the view but the poor man can do that just as fully :
If the poorer man has the sense to do two things in life he can enjoy just as well as the millionaire and probably better. the First is :
Not to take things too seriously, but to make the best of what you have got and to look on life as a game and the world as a play ground. But, as Shackleton has said, ”Life is the greatest of all games; but there is the danger of treating it as a trivial game........ The chief end is to win through honorably and splendidly. the second is :
To Let your actions and thoughts be directed by Love. By Love with a capital “L”, I don’t mean falling in love and so on. I mean the
use of kindly spirit which you show when you do good turns to other people, when you are kind and sympathetic and when you show gratitude to others for kindness done to you. That is Goodwill.
Happiness is within the reach of everyone, rich or poor, It is no use putting off happiness for some future day, but the way is to enjoy your life all the time.
Pleasure is too often only a distraction. Happiness is another thing, it sticks to you and fills your life.
The happiness is like radium. It is a form of love that increases in proportion to the amount that it gives out and that is where happiness comes within reach of everyone even the very poorest.
The Rev. Canon Mitchell has written, “Don’t ask God to make you happy, ask Him to make you reasonably useful and I think- I really think - that happiness will then come of its own accord.”
Happiness seems to me partly passive but largely active.
Passive, because the appreciation of the beauties of nature, glory of the sunset, majesty of the mountains, wonders of animal life, scent of the campfire, coupled with the joy of a happy home, produce a sense of gratitude to the Creator that can only be satisfied by some active expression of it; the effort to be helpful to others largely supplies the want. It is the active doing of good that counts.
A joyful home coupled with ability to serve others gives that best happiness.
There is a tendency for you as a youngman starting out into life to feel that you are but one of a crowd, and so can drift along with the rest and you will be all right.
Well, this is a rotten bad tendency. Remember, you are you. You have your own life to live and want to be successful if you want to be happy, it is you who have to gain it for yourself No body else can do it for you.
So, Paddle your own canoe. Look ahead and actively paddle your own canoe - i.e. Shape your own course. Don’t rely upon other Hapiiness
people to row your boat. You are starting out on an adventurous voyage from the stream of childhood along the river of adolescence, out across the ocean of manhood to the port you want to reach.
You will meet with difficulties and dangers, shoals and storms on the way. But without adventure life would be deadly dull. With careful piloting above sailing and cheery persistence there is no reason why your voyage should not be a complete success, no matter how small the stream in which you make your start.
Remember that on leaving school you have not been educated fully to become a man. Mainly you have been shown how to learn.
If you want to win success, you must now finish your education yourself. I suggest that this should take three main direction, viz :
To make yourself capable for the responsibilities of your profession or trade as a future father of children as a citizen and leader of other men.
- Scouting
Every Youngman has to undertake his voyage of life. For completing this voyage successfully the youngman has to prepare himself in many ways. The Founder has described life as a voyage through rough seas. On this voyage a youngman has to navigate carefully, avoiding the rocks and other dangers and know how to get pleasure by overcoming these hurdles.
According to the Founder a youngman voyaging through life has to meet with certain temptations, difficulties and dangers and he has listed these as below. He calls them rocks which have to be avoided.
1. Horses : i.e. Betting or temptation of easy earning.
2. Wine : i.e. Self-indulgence
3. Women : i.e. sex instincts and their risks.
4. Cuckoos & Humbugs : i.e. Boasters and braggarts.
5. Irreligion : i.e. ungodliness.
Avoidance of these temptation and dangers is necessary and the youngmen should understand how to guard against these. A little explanation in regard to each may be found helpful by the youngmen.
i.e. racing, betting and temptation of easy income :
So many youngman fall a prey to betting and acquire the desire of getting easy money or getting things without effort or getting something for nothing. By seeing other enjoy life without making much effort the youngman is likely to be lured. It is also easy and frequent occurrence for people to judge themselves and others on outward appearances i.e. clothes, house, standard of living, car etc., and as a result get a temptation of getting money to reach this standard without much effort. These days there is a great temptation among the young people to won the Lotteries floated by so many State Governments even. This is another temptation for getting money
without working for it. Some people may place all their hopes on this kind of win and not concentrate at all upon actually earning money by working for it, and making an effort which is the expression of work as a creative action, even if it gives smaller dividends.
In permitting into this difficulty it is hoped that the Rover Scout will not be deceived. It is quite all right to win a prize in the lottery now and again is some other similar type of win What Should be avoided is the deception through the variety, which such a new situation may produce.
It is not a good thing for people to invest a large proportion of their earnings in these kind of adventures and to plan their future on a stroke of luck.
Further more the attitude of a habitual better suggests a certain lack of self confidence, since he does not think that he can obtain the advantages he appears to aspire to in any other way.
All these are to be avoided if happiness and success is to be achieved.
The Founder has given hints as to “What you can instead” -Don’t loaf;
Go in for clean, true sport, Take up hobbies, Earn your own living instead of chancing it, Choose your profession well, Learn responsibility, Be thrifty in good time, Do service for other and you will get all the enjoyment you want.
(Rovering to Success)
Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self control. These three alone lead life to sovereign power. - tennyson
Use of alcohol and other narcotics is described by the Founder as the second Rock.
Rover - Scouting
Temptation of drinking and so also of smoking among the youngmen is everyday increasing. We hear of it and read it in papers. Why do youngmen take to these evils which are not at all necessary?
The Founder while describing the reason for this says, “I suppose half the men who take to drink get drawn to it in the first place by companionship and suffered good fellowship with a lot of other fellow. A lad first camping out unto the world feels that he must do as others do in order to show that he is one of them. Nine out of ten boys begin smoking for that reason - out of bravado.”
Youngmen should be warned of these things. Alcohol is not a necessary, and further more it is frequently the sign of a pathological state. People for whom life has closed many doors escape from the dreariness of their daily lives by means of alcohol. They are suicide case who kill themselves slowly, they are escaping from reality in a drunken stupor, which gradually debilitates them. A process starts where by the individual attempts to maintain his mental equilibrium with the help of alcohol. This is how addiction starts.
Consumption of alcohol is in no way a proof of virtue, of manliness of physical resistance to certain toxic liquids, it is merely a way in which weakness and failure find their expression.
Similarly about the habit of smoking. It is now know that smoking is a cause of lung cancer. But the rate at which this habit is increasing among the youngmen is simply alarming. Non smoking is treated as a great weakness along the so-called society even through we know that it is harmful and unhealthy.
The young Rover Scout should guard against this. Once you start smoking, it may be difficult to give it up. Other similar drugs to which the youngman can get addicted to are Indian Hemp and cannabis Sativa, generally know as Marijuana, opium and its derivatives, Lysergic acid (LSD), masculine etc., which make their appearance daily in the market.
The founder has warned the youngmen against these in the following words :
The bright side is the fact that through overcoming desire you gain strength of character and a higher enjoyment of life.
Voyage of Life
The temptation to good fellowship leads to first step in drinking.
Drunkards are a danger to the State.
Prohibition will now be needed where nation consists of men of character.
Over-smoking is a danger to health, as are also other forms of self-indulgence such as : Over-eating
Over-sleeping
Over-working
Physical fitness brings self control and long life.
Swearing is a sign of weak character. self command :
Strength of Character is the antidote to self -indulgence.
Self-control is the biggest item in Character.
Habit and thought can be commanded.
Loyalty to yourself is as important as Character forming, is loyalty to others.
Shame makes a man an outcaste.
Auto-suggestion can cure temptation to self-indulgence.
About this Rock the Founder has advised as below:
The Danger is the temptation to forget the reverence due to women.
The Bright Side to it is the development of chivalry and manly and protective strength.
sex instincts and risks the Monarch of the glen :
One of the finest sights that you can see of animal life on the moor or in the forest is a full-grown stage in the pride of life. He is the king of the herd-the Monarch of Glen, as Landseer has pictured him.
He is type of courage, strength and virile beauty, as he stands roaring out his challenge to all rivals to “come on.”
In the “rutting” season in autumn it is an exciting sight to watch the stages when they are calling and fighting each other for possession of the hinds.. They seen to go off their heads for a time, running hither and thither, restless and excited, for weeks unable to settle down to feed or to sleep till utterly worn out, It is those that best reserve their strength which then come out on top.
The same kind of things goes on in a greater or lesser degree among other animals of the jungle, among the birds in spring and even among the fishes in winter.
Even plants, trees and flowers come under the same law of Nature and in their rutting season, the spring, the sap rises and spreads itself through every branch, leaf and tendril, and the flowers blossom out, so that the female pistil can receive the pollen dust from the male semen, which is a small germ that unites with the female germ and they jointly make the young seed for a new plant.
Even the throwing out of beautiful flowers by the plants in springtime is similar to the habits of animals and birds, which put on their brightest plumage in the mating season and this we see reproduced again among the young mashers with their pink socks, fancy ties, and well-oiled hair.
Manhood :
It is the impulse of Nature and it therefore, occurs also with man.
But here the difference comes in, that through the unrest comes to him it does not do so every years, but once in his life-time that is when he is just growing from boyhood into manhood.
And as with the stag, in some cases he comes out of it a strong virile “Lord of the Herd,” while in other he deteriorates and becomes the weakling or even the outcast.
This “rutting season is a very up setting time and it troubles some fellows to an alarming amount of depression or excitement, which often lasts for several months.
When a boy grows into menhood his whole body undergoes a gradual change which anyone can see for himself. His voice becomes
Voyage of Life
deeper, hair grows where it didn’t grow before, his muscles become set hardened, his organs develop, and so on.
sexual temptation comes from Perfectly natural causes, viz sap.
This change is brought about by a fluid forming within and ripening from his childhood upwards and which is now spreading throughout his body just as sap does in a tree. It gives the vigour of menhood to his frame and it builds up his nerves and courage. Then it has a further and special use.
It is called semen, a Latin word meaning seed, because in this fluid, when it goes into the sex organs, a number of tiny germs or seeds are developed.
the action of germ-seeds Making a new child.
The value of these seeds is that when mixed among the female seeds that are possessed in a similar way by women. They fertilise them, that is the two seeds become joined together, and between them grow into a larger germ or small egg, which in its turn gradually takes form and life, until in the end a miracle is brought about and it comes into being as a child.
It is Just the same miracles that you see carried out daily when your hen lays an egg. That egg contains in yoke and “White” the future live chicken, and is a result of the seed of the cock bird being joined to that of the hen.
So, in the case of the human being, from the joint germ there emerges a living, brain and mind and even with many point of likeness in appearance and character to both of its parents.
the germ is a sacred trust for carrying on the race.
And this young creature carries within it again the germs for reproducing further children in its turn, when it has grown to the riper age.
The whole thing is a miracle a work of God the Creator. The germ form which you were made was passed down by your father just as he came from the germ of his father before him; and so away back into the Dark Ages.
14 And you have that germ in you to pass out, when the time comes, to join with that of your wife in making your with that of your wife in making your son.
Rover - Scouting
So it is a sacred trust handed down to you through your father and his father from the Creator - the Great Father of all
Sometimes, when this semen is forming over or rapidly, you may find that you some of it out in your dreams while you are asleep. This need not alarm you; it is the natural overflow But don’t try and bring it on for yourself; that would be staining and draining it out of your system.
Keeping the organ clean and bathed in cold water every day is best preventive.
Youngmen are sensible enough and are willing, to take advice if they can only get it and I am certain that if only these things which I have mentioned above were better understood by them they would do their very best to preserve that vigour of manhood that is growing up inside them; but so many of you have never been warned; you have never been told what it is that is going on and is excited you and you are apt to give way to the temptation to work it off either with women who may tempt you, or, as often happens if you are shy of this, with yourself in “self-abuse.”
And if you give into temptation it is very bad for you in many ways. For one thing, it Knocks out your self-respect; you are doing a thing that you dare not mention to your parents or sister; you are ashamed; it is sometimes low and unmanly. A man who is ashamed is no longer a man; he becomes a conscious sneak.
Also it just checks the semen getting its full chance of making you the strong manly man you would other-wise be. You are throwing away the seed that has been handed down to you as a trust instead of keeping it and ripening it for bringing a son to you later on.
The usual consequence is that you sap your health and brain just at the critical time when you would otherwise he gaining the height of manly health intelligence.
Young fellows in this rutting stage are apt to get together and to tell smutty stories and look at lewd pictures; and they think if very fine and many to talk on the subject when they are really dangerously ignorant about it.
Voyage of Life
They generally get all sorts of wrong not notions into their heads and with this talking and thinking about it is brought on a feeling of desire, that often seems to the weaker chartered fellow almost impossible to fight down.
In the ordinary course, the rutting period would pass off in a few weeks or months, but by giving way to temptation and by keeping up the thought of it in talk and loose companionship many a fellow get into the habit of immorality with women or self-abuse with himself, which then goes on after the rutting season is over and when he has grown to manhood.
Once established the habit is then very difficult to break down, but it can be done if he makes up his mind to it- if he takcles the job and sticks to it. Each time he succeeds makes success all the more certain.
Sunday is the worst day in the week for vice, because young fellows have nothing to do and aimless loafing encourages loose talk. If you carry out Rovering you will find lots to do in the way of hiking and enjoyment of the out-of-door and manly activities to get rid of the bad you must put in something good in its place.
You will, I hope, have gathered form what I have said about this Rock “that it has its dangers for the woman as well as for the man. But it has also its very bright side if you only manoeuvre your canoe aright.
The paddle to use for this job is Chivalry.
Most of the points which I have suggested a being part of the right path are comprised under chivalry.
The knights of old were bound by their oath to be chivalrous, that is to be protective and helpful to women and children.
This means on the part of man a deep respect and tender sympathy for them, coupled with a manly strength of mind and strength of body with which to stand up for them against scandal cruelty or ridicule and even, on occasion, to help them against their own failings.
A man without chivalry is no man. A man who has chivalry and respect for women could never lower himself to behave like a beast nor would he allow to ruin herself with him by losing her own selfrespect and the respect of others. It is up to him to give the lead and that a right one; and not to be led astray.
I have known such chivalry on the part of a man to give further then this, even to the point of raising a woman she had expected him to join her, in debauchery his courteous respect for her, which overlooking her faults and was given because she was a woman, caused her once more to think of her own self-respect and so restored her to her place.
Chivalry, like other points of character, must be developed by thought and practice, but when gained it puts a man on a new footing and a higher one with himself and with the world.
To be Chivalrous he must put woman on a pedestal and see all that is best in her; he must also have sympathy for the weaker folk, the aged and the crippled; and he must give protection to the little ones.
For this he must use his self-control to switch off all that is impure from his mind and ensure that his own ideas are clean and honourable, that his sense of duty is so high that ridicules and chaff will mean nothing to him.
The thing to remember, as I have said before, is that you are YOU and you have got to make your own road for yourself if you mean to gain happiness. Come out of the herd and take your own practical steps towards fighting down the desires that come upon you in the course of Nature.
Keep away from loose companion, whether men or girls; take on lots of other occupation and healthy exercise, such as boxing walking, hikes, football, rowing, etc. Keep your thoughts off lewdness by taking up hobbies and good reading in your spare time; keep off drink and over smoking, over-eating, sleeping in too warm or soft a bed, since all these help to make the temptation worse.
Keep yourself clean inside and out by daily washing and swimming if you possibly can. Constipation and neglect to keep the racial organ cleaned daily are apt to cause sight irritation which leads to trouble.
The temptation has to be fought down mainly during the few months of your changing from boyhood into manhood. If you are past that stage and have unfortunately contracted bad habits it is not too late, but at the same time you can’t be too early in curing yourself.
Remember also that you have this, not only for your own sake, but because you have a duty to the nation, to the race, that is to beget strong, healthy children in your turn; and to do this you have to keep yourself pure.
A large proportion of the men who have risen to eminence in the world admit that they have owed very much of their character and success to the influence off their mother.
And this is natural, since in any case she has been the one who cared for him and watched over his up bringing from his earliest childhood. She has given of her best for him.
The man owes a debt to his mother such as he can never fully repay. But the best that he can do in this direction is to show that he is grateful and prove himself worthy of and bring success to her efforts.
She has probably dreamed ambitions dreams to herself of what her boy would do in the world and disappointment, as bitter as it is secret, will overshadow her where he turns out a waster or a failure.
Boys don’t think of this enough They are cruel without intending it; they are apt to forget how grateful she would be for the smallest return.
Now, as I have said before, in giving you these ideas. I am only trying to help you to get happiness.
Happiness depends to a large extend on health, though it also depends on knowing that you are aiming to help the general well-being of the country as well as of your self. It is no use of your getting married, indeed in some cases, it is a crime to do, unless you are fit and healthy and able to beget healthy children. And part of your responsibility as a parent will be to teach your children how to grow healthy.
Well, there is an awful lot of happiness missed in our country through ill-health and of that ill-health could be prevented if fellows only took reasonable care of themselves.
So if you would be strong and well stick to regular daily habits, keeping yourself clean inside and out, give yourself plenty of exercise in the open air, a plain food and not too much of it, abstain from smoking and drinking, breathe through the nose-and you will thank God you’re alive.
Your exercise must be out of doors in the fresh air, and the very best you can get is at the same time the easiest and cheapest, namely, walking. Week-end walking tours are the very best thing for health of mind as well as of body.
I know nothing more enjoyable or more cheering and health giving than a good old tramp every week-end. A Ruksack on your back makes you absolutely free and independent. You load it with only the essential things and no luxuries. It is not merely every kilo but every gram of weight that tells on a long march. Nothing can beat the Norwegian type of ruksack with its light wooden frame which holds it securely in position without galling or over heating your back. It will take in addition to your clothing a light little tent that can be set up on your staff or on a tree stem and your sleeping quilt and waterproof sheet. Thus equipped, week-end hikes are possible and what is more enjoyable all the year round Weather? Can anything be better than a good long tramp on a cold blowy day? If it is wet, all the better; you get a very real enjoyment out of a good fire and shelter in a sung farmhouse at the end of the day. I tell you, you get so hardened by practice of the out-of-doors that
you really don’t notice the weather very much and you mind it less. Whatever it is, hot or cold, rain or shine, you gain strength. vitality and cheeriness by it.
Our Culture is ‘YATRA NARYASTU, POOJYANTE RAMANTE TATRA DEVTA’, where women are worshipped there dwell the Gods.
This is what Founder has suggested to navigate this rock.
A Cuckoo is a bird who when she wants to lay an egg. does not go to the trouble of making a nest, she goes about looking for some other birds nests, preferably that of harmless little meadow pippit. When she finds one she goes into it. Regardless of any protest on the part of the owner, she takes up one of the pippit’s eggs in her beak and drop her own egg in its place. Then she flies off to a neighbouring tree and eats the egg that she has stolen. The pippit on her part meekly accepts this dictation and does all the work of hatching out the cuckoo’s egg among her own. The result is big ugly nestling which even before its eyes are open at once begins to bully its nest mates and finally heaves them out one by one till it has the nest to itself and the full service of the parents pippits for its feeding. etc.
We all know the insistent voice with which the cuckoo goes about proclaiming above all other birds.
Down with Everything - And up with me!
Rover - Scouting
We have Cuckoos among humans also. A human Cuckoo is generally a superior sort of person who sees his own side of a question but no body else’s. He is the self-interest man who wants only his own way in world; he makes use the work of other humbler folk for his own benefit, or he pushes others out who maybe the way of his getting the things he wants you find the human Cuckoo in various forms such as cranks, political tub thumpers, intellectual high brows and social snubs and other extremists.
There are two dangers about these Cuckoos.
One is that you may be sucked in to follow their lead.
The other is that you may become one yourself. Well-it is much that same with the good load-voiced political orator, with the gift of the gab he will bag at one go a whole crowd of open-mouthed wondering lads, who have never troubled to hear the other side of the question about which he is spouting. He hypothesis the whole herd. But he cannot mesmerise the individual fellow who does not mean to be carried away by the rest.
It is not only the orator that catches unthinking listeners, there are writers too and some how, when you see a thing in black and white, one seems to think it must be true. You naturally take for gospel anything that you read in the papers until you come to enquire into it and to recognise that opinion of one man writing for his loving or to back certain views.
There are writer of repute who have studies greats questions and who claim to put the mater clearly for those who have not the time or opportunity for going deeply into it.
But even these make their mistakes or take sides and are apt to colour their pictures rather highly, so it doesn’t do to trust them entirely. If they happen to be writing on one side of the question it is well to read what some equally good authority has to say on the other.
And then there are the snakes in the grass, the fellows who get hold of you by chance in conversation, with great ideas, or who lure you through attractive clubs or with well sounding “Brotherhoods” there are lot of them about; so keep at least one eye open and both ears and all your wits. Every one of these cuckoos and snakes has his particular aim in getting hold of promising young men. Sometimes
the aim is harmless, but more often than not there is some vice underlying it.
The Cuckoo has no respect for the views of others. The danger of cuckooism is that of being astray by the persuasive call of the cuckoo yourself.
To get past this rock in safety, education is one great safeguardeducation of mind and soul. If you expand your mind by giving yourself wider knowledge through travel and reading through learning from the experiences of others and from the study of nature, You will be safe against the call of the cuckoo, and if you expand your soul by giving yourself higher ideals and by giving to others your sympathy through goodwill and helpfulness you can never be much of a cuckoo yourself and will find yourself a better and a happier man.
With your books around you, you have a magic power. Books are the best friends a man can have. You choose those that you like, you can rely on them at all times; they can help you in your work, in your leisure, and in your sorrow. You have them always around you at your back and call in your home.
But when you read, read, don’t skim and if you study while you read, that is, if you worry out the meaning carefully in your mind, it will stick by you all the longer and be the more useful to you in the end.
If you read with the intention of remembering, you will remember.
Reading make a Full Man, Conference a Ready Man and Writing an Exact Man.
Remember always there is a great value and great art in keeping silent.
It is the silent man, the one who only speaks when he has got something really important to say, is the one they listen to.
“ It is the silent men who do things”.
Rover - Scouting
As you train yourself in character and efficiency. Let your aim all the time be not merely the attainment of position or prospects yourself, but of the power to do good to other people, for the community. Once you have put yourself in a position to do service for others you have stepped on to the higher rung of the ladder that leads to real success- that is happiness.
Service includes not merely personal little good turns of courtesy and kindness to other people, these are right and good they are what every Boy Scout does every day; but I mean something higher and bigger than this-service as citizen of your country.
When you see where you can, according to your particular gifts, be helpful, chip in and help, just as you would when backing up your side in game of football infect a serviceable citizen is very much like a good football player; he makes himself in the first place as efficient an individual so that he can then play effectively in his place in the team.
Footballer Citizen Individual Qualities keenness, fair play and good temper, fitness in mind and limb Skill with the ball
character and intelligence, Health and strength, Handicraft and skill.
Service for the Qualities and not for self Community.
Collective Play for the side
The crowning good that you can do for the community as a good citizen is that of taking a share in civic service.
When you come of age as a citizen, you get the privilege of voting for the member to represent your constituency in Parliament, State Assembly or Civic Bodies. You ought to make yourself efficient to be able to take this responsibility and to play in your place in the great game of citizenship. The first step is to make yourself efficient
You should know how our National Government is constituted and what are our responsibilities as citizens of the world.
Self-education and service for the community will counteract the lure of Cuckouism.
Only Mutual goodwill & Co-operation will enable you to tackle the big log successfully.
Ours is country of various faiths and religions. Generally all Indian belong to one religion or the other. There may be some who have no religion, who don’t believe in God. They are known as atheists.
Duty to God is one of the fundamentals of scouting. All those who have taken the Scout Promise have expressed their faith in one or the other religion and it is expected that they follow faithfully the dictates of their religion.
The policy of the Scout Movement is that all members will reverently, follow the dictates of their religion as regards their Promise of ‘Duty to God’ at the same time they will respect the faiths of others. (Thus means that every Scout is tolerant and believe in giving freedom to every other member to profess and practise his own religion).
It is realisation of god and Service to Brother men, which is the outcome of this policy and every member has to strive to achieve it. A Scout is not atheist.
Study of nature is a direct help in achieving this.
The Founder says, “ If you are really out to make your way to success- i.e. happiness - you must not only avoid being sucked
- Scoutingin by religious humbugs, but you must have a religious basis to your life.
Religion very briefly stated means :
Firstly : Recognising who and what is God.
Secondly : making the best of the life that He has given one and doing what He Wants of us. This is mainly doing something for other people.
That should be your belief, not as a matter of thought for Sundays only, but as one to live up to in every hour and every phase of your daily life.”
Two things are recommended by the Founder in order to enable you to avoid atheism :
1. Read your scriptures or Holy Books so that you get the Devine Revelation, and
2. Read ‘The Book of Nature’, to see and study all you can of the wonders and beauties that she has provided for your enjoyment. And then turn your mind to how you can best serve God while you still have the life that He has lent you.;
According to Shakespear there are “Sermons in stones, Tongues in trees, Books in the bubbling Brooks and God in every thing”
“The study of the Book of nature is the true key to that of Revelation”. --Bacon
“seest thou not that all in the heavens and all on the earth serve the God; the moon the stars and the mountains and the trees the beast and many men?
- holy Koran
Nature study is not a form of worship or a substitute for religion, but it is a step towards gaining religion and a step to realising God.
One antidote to the cocksureness of atheism is Humility coupled with Reverence. This is hard a thing to learn as it is to teach. These can be gained by commune with nature, on the seas, in the forest and among the mountains.
It is not necessary to wander far afield in order to get in touch with Nature. If every fellow studied a little of his own body and how it works, he would quickly gain a new idea of the miraculous Voyage of Life
handiwork of God and would realise how He is actually active in your body as well as in your mind.
The wonders and mysteries of Nature are unlimited. There are big chances before you fellows of the next generation, so there is material value in studying them-but the more you study them the more you become humble in the presence of the work of the Creator.
Animal life is there at hand for you to study if you care to give you better inside into the wonders of nature.
As a man you have this pull over the animal - you can recognise and appreciate both the wonders and the beauties of Nature. You can enjoys the golden glory of the sunset, the beauty of the flowers and trees, the majesty of the mountains, the moonlight and the distant views.
But more than this, you can make things, which is more than animals can do and a good many of you can make pictures or poetry or render music for yourself. That is an additional pull that you have towards the enjoyment of life.
But there is bound to come in the thought that some thing more is expected of you than is expected of rooted trees or animals who have limited powers, something more then merely enjoying the sunshine as they do.
You have all this extra intelligence, with the ability to apply it. But it is wasted if you don’t use it or if you spend it badly, as for instance in quarrelling with your next door neighbour over some petty little question of politics or creed, when all around you is the vast universe and God for you to work for.
There is one thing, however, that I feel sure of myself, and that is that God is not some narrow minded personage, as some people would seem to imagine, but a vast Spirit of Love that Overlooks the minor differences of form and creed and denomination and which blesses every man who really tries to do his best, according to his lights, in his service.
How can you best serve him with the intelligence and power that he has given you? If You are in doubt ask your conscience, that is, the
- Scouting
voice of God within you. He will tell you at once what is needed of you. And it is generally to give of your goodwill and to give freely.
Animal can quarrel and snarl, “dogs delight to bark and bite”, It is their nature to, but they cannot, as a rule, rise to being largeminded, charitable helpful and kind. Men can do this when they really mean business. That is where a man attains his proper footing, namely, when he exercises the Divine Love that is in him in service for others.
The better realisation of God may possible through Nature- study rather than through books. If you find this method does help you, the next step is to talk with a minister of Double religion who can then put you on the right line for gaining the truer religious beliefs.
Having made up your mind to join the brotherhood of Rovers you have to go forward with determination.
There are three stages in the career or a Rover Scout viz :
(a) Rover Aspirant
(b) Rover and (c) Rover-in-Service
admission : the rover aspirant
The following are the rules of the Movement for admission:
“A boy whether previously a Scout or not and who is a citizen of India and who has completed 15 years of age but not completed 25 years of age may be enlisted as a Rover aspirant; a person who has completed 35 years of age is not eligible to be a Rover provided, however, with the special; permission of the State Chief Commissioner he may be enlisted upto 28 years of age.
If you have been a member of a Scout group having a Rover Section then your Scout Master will hand you over to the Rover Scout Leader who will be glad to take care of you.
If you have been a Scout before, your Scout Master may be able to give you necessary guidance. In many institution, universities, colleges, technical schools etc. there are Rover Crews Functioning.
If that be so you have only to contact the Rover Leader incharge of this crew who will take care of you and give you necessary guidance. He will put you in contact with a Rover mate who will help you in your training and prepare you for your investiture as a Rover Scout, You will be called a Rover Aspirant i.e. a person who is aspiring to be a Rover Scout.
If you have been a Scout before, you have to search out a Rover Crew which is registered as an unit to the Bharat Scouts and Guides in your neighbourhood. If you have a Headquarters of Local/Dist. Association they will be able to guide you about the address of the Rover Crew and that of its Rover Scout Leader.
If you have not been a Scout before or if there are no chances of your being able to join a Rover Crew in Your neighbourhood, Then you can be registered as a Lone Rover and you can continue your training in Rovering. The Secretary of your Association will make arrangement for this.
To seek admission in a Rover Crew you have to apply to the Rover Scout Leader of the Rover Crew selected by you. It may be on a form which you may obtain from the Secretary of the Crew concerned. If no form is used then you should find out all the rules regarding admission and fees etc. from the Secretary and act accordingly.
Your application will be considered by the Crew Council and you will be duly informed about your admission. The Crew Council reserves all right of admission.
sponsors :
After the Crew has taken a decision to offer membership to you, you will be accepted as a Rover Aspirant as stated above. This means that you must take up Rover Scouting seriously and are aspiring to become a Rover Scout for this you have to undertake some initial training. The responsibilities rests with you have to satisfy the Rover Scout Leader that you have become fit to be invested as a Rover.
In order to help you to prepare yourself for this responsibility the Crew will appoint two experienced Rovers as your Sponsors. You may be asked for your Choice of one Sponsor and the other will be left to the choice of the Crew.
how you can join the rover scouting
You should remember that the training in Rovering is an Individual affair. You have to work hard to prepare yourself and the sponsors will do their best to help you in this.
The Sponsors will guide you through your early days in the Crew, they will help and advise you in your training, they will see that you are at home in the Crew and that you are taking part in all its activities and they will bring you in closer contact with the Rover Mates and the Rover Scout Leader and eventually to speak for you and present you for investiture as a Rover.
If you have been a Scout before, Your Rover Scout Leader will ensure that you are fully acquainted with the Rover Pravesh requirements. You will then be asked to reaffirm your Scout Promise in the presence of the Crew.
If you have not been a Scout before, then you have first to prepare yourself in the Rover Pravesh requirements. You will be helped in this by your sponsors and also by the Rover Scout Leader. When you have prepared yourself and passed the Pravesh requirement to the satisfaction on the Rover Scout Leader, he will then invest you and admit you as a member of the world wide brotherhood of Scouts and you will be qualified to wear the Rover uniform and Badges.
- ScoutingYou will now start your preparation for your investiture as a Rover for being admitted to the brotherhood of Rovers. The following are the rules for this :
A Rover Aspirant who has been a scout or who on admission as a Rover Aspirant passes the Pravesh Badge Tests shall wear the uniform of a Rover.
1. Understand and appreciate the contents of “Scouting for Boys” and books on Rovering prescribed by the sponsors.
2. Know the principles and programme of Rovering and show preparedness to try to live the Law as interpreted for Rovers and keep the Promise.
3. If a young man has never been a scout and wishes to join the crew afresh he should qualify for the pravesh tests of the Scout Section and work at least for 3 months as an Aspirant Rover.
4. Undergo a period of probation as decided by the Crew Council.
(a) On completion of the tests to the satisfaction of the Rover Scout Leader the Rover Aspirant shall be invested as a Rover
on making or reaffirming the Scout Promise at an Investiture Ceremony after the “Vigil” See appendix for details.
(b) The Pravesh Badge is a cloth badge with a red background and the fleur-de-lis in yellow superimposed by the trefoil with the Ashoka Chakra also in yellow, in the centre. It is worn in uniform in the middle of the left pocket of the shirt, or at the same place on the jersey.
(c) This membership badge is issued by the Local or District Association as the case may be on the recommendation of the Rover Scout Leader.
In your advancement as an aspirant, the sponsors and the Rover Scout Leader will guide you and help you.
The following may prove helpful to you in this.
You should work on this closely with your sponsors, You Should go through the book chapter by chapter and try to learn the Scout Craft technique as much as you can. You should remember that your future Scouting will depend mostly on your knowledge of Scout-craft given in your book. Occasionally during your training as a Rover, The Crew may embark on a project in which knowledge gained by you from ‘Scouting for Boys’ will be found useful.
Your Rover/Crew may be holding occasional discussions on certain portion or activities given in this book and must take active part in these discussions.
You have to grasp the underlying spirit of this book and you have to make a sincere effort to put this spirit into action in your daily life.
As a Rover Aspirant you have to study and understand the Scout Law and the Promise as they concern the Rovers.
If you have not been a Scout before, then you will have to pass the Pravesh badge test for Scouts.
32 Rover - Scouting
1. have a general knowledge of the scout Movement.
Know from your sponsors about the founder Lord Baden Powell, be acquainted with the fundamentals of the Movement which he had laid down in his basic books. Know the history of the Movement and its international aspect.
The Scout Promise and law are the foundation of the Movement. By making the promise a person become bound by the promise to act in a particular way. The making of the promise is the outward sign of your intention to do the things contained in the promise.
The founder has given the following interpretation of the Promise and Law which the young men are expected to follow:
the scout law
The term Rover Scout Stands for a trueman and a good citizen. The law for Rovers is the same as for scouts in working and principal but has to viewed from a new stand point, i.e., from that of a man. In both cases the principal underlying the Scout law knocks out self and shoves in goodwill and helpfulness to others. It is a direction to manliness.
(1). a scout is trustworthy :
When a youngman has taken the promise he can be trusted, he will not tell lies. He will endeavour to put into practice his duty to God and will help other people in his daily life. Similarly as a Rover no temptation, however great or however secret will persuade him to do a dishonest or shady action however, small he does not go back on a promise once made. A rover’s word is as good as his bond. The Truth and nothing but the truth for the Rover. (2). a scout is loyal :
As a good citizen you are one of a team “playing the game” honestly for the good of the whole. You can be relied upon to do your best for others. You must stick to them through thick & thin against any one who is considered an enemy or who even talk badly of you.
(3). a scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout :
Thus, if a Scout meets another Scout, even though a stranger to him, he must speak to him and help him in any way that he can
Test for the Advancement of a Rover Aspirant
either to carry out the duty he then doing or by giving him food, or as far as possible anything that he may be in want of A Scout must never be a snob. A snob is one who looks down upon another because he is poor, or who is poor and resents another because he is rich.
A Scout accepts the other man as he finds him, and makes the best of him.
“Kim,“ the boy Scout was called by the Indian “Little Friend of the World”, and that is the name every Scout should earn for himself.
(4). a scout is courteous :
That he is polite to all but specially to woman and children, and old people and invalids, disabled etc. And he must not take any reward for being helpful or courteous.
(5). a scout is a friend to animals and loves nature :
A Scout has faith in God and respect God’s creation - nature and animals. He takes care of animals, birds and tries to save them from danger and enemies. He does not kill any animal unnecessarily, unless it is endangering one’s life. He loves nature, the creation of God, trees, plants, flowers, etc. He does not harm them and will try to protect them.
(6). a scout is disciplined and helps project public property :
Even if he gets an order he does not like, he must do as soldiers and sailors do, or as he would do for his Captain in a football team - he must carry out the order all the same, because it is his duty, and after he has done it he can come and state any reasons against it, but he must carry out the order at once- that is discipline. Public property is meant for the benefit of all in general and any loss to it will be a loss to all of us and in particular to the country. Hense a Scout helps to protect the public property and tries to prevent any damage to it. He sets an example to others also to protect public property.
(7). a scout is courageous :
When he gets an order he should obey it cheerfully and readily, not in a slow, hang-dog sort of way.
Scout never grouse at hardships, nor while at each other, not swear when put out, but go on whistling and smiling.
34 Rover - Scouting
When you just miss a train, or some one treads on your favourite corn-or under annoying circumstances, you should force yourself to smile at once then whistle a tune and you will be all right.
The punishment for swearing or using bad language is for each offence a mug of cold water to be poured down the offender’s sleeve by the other scouts It was the punishment invented by the old British Scout, Captain John Smith, three hundred years ago.
(8). a scout is thrifty :
That is, he saves every penny he can, and puts it into the bank, so that he may have money to keep himself when out of work and thus not make himself a burden to others; or he may have money to give away to others when they need it.
(9). a scout is pure in thought, word and deed :
• That is he looks down upon a silly youth, who talks dirt and he does not let himself give way to temptation either to talk, or to think, or to do any thing dirty.
• A scout is pure and clean minded and manly. o-o-o
3. The Scout Motto, Sign, Salute and Left Hand Shake.
4. Cultivate the habit of doing at least one Good turn a day and keep a record of your Good turn.
5. Know the parts of the scout uniform and how to wear it.
6. Know the composition and significance of the National Flag. The Bharat Scouts and Guides Flag and the World Scout Flag.
7. Your sponsors or any Rover Mate of your crew or your Rover Scout Leader can help you in this.
The Crew Council fixes a period of probation for you. During the period, you prepare yourself for your investiture as a Rover. This probationary period may be extended by the Crew Council on the recommendation of the Rover Scout Leader based on the advice of your sponsors. The main purpose of this probationary period is to enable you to attain certain standards of Scout craft, moral conduct and the “scout spirit”.
Another purpose of this is to enable the Rover Scout Leader to determine whether you would fit into the Crew life and whether Test for the Advancement of a Rover Aspirant
the Crew will fulfil your needs; and also it is a duration given to you to decide whether Rovering suits you or not. Normally the probationary period may not go beyond six months.
During the probationary period, you are expected to attend all meeting of the Crew and take part in all its activities. When planning and executing the Crew Activities on the agenda you may be called to attend the Crew council meetings, in order to provide you an experience in the working of the Crew.
The founder has said, ”Rovers are a Jolly brotherhood of the Open Air and Service. They are Hikers on the open Road and Campers of the woods, able to shift for themselves but equally able and ready to be of some service to others”
You as a Rover Aspirant have to take interest in out-door aspect of this programme and ultimately have to gain skills which will make you efficient in the out-of-door. Hiking is a very interesting and useful activity for young men with this purpose and ultimately you train yourself to be a good camper. The founder, himself was a good camper and about his camps in different parts of the world he has stated :
“You have there the joys of camping almost at your door, at the least possible cost in money, time and trouble.
Out of the stuffy smoke and second-hand air of the noisy town you have stepped out into the freshening breezes of the open downs and drinking deep of the pure air you gain new blood in your veins and new life in your brains.
And as you swing along with the untiring stride of perfect fitness you know the joy of living. Over hill and dale, with changing beauties of scenery at every step you feel a free man. The view is yours to gaze upon, you’re to go and free to stay and free to pitch your lodging where you feel inclined.
Whether you prefer solitary hiking or tramping in company depends on your personal temperment - and temper.
There is no pleasure that comes near to that of preparing your own meal over your little fire of wood embers at the end of the day and no scent like the smell of that fire.
There is no view’ like that from your lair on the woodland hillside. And there is no sleep like that in the open with a warm
- Scoutingblanket or a good thickness of paper beneath you (More under than above you “is the tramps secret for laying warm O’nights).
The sounds of the night and the companionship of the beasts and the birds make you feel a comrade of them all in the Brothership of Nature.
Rain? Cold? Yes. I Suppose they come, but you really get to disregard them when you are in the regular swing and habit of week-end camping.
Whether you are a lone hiker or whether you camp with a companion or in company with a Patrol of pals, it is all good.
With the opening of a new and human side to your character you can, if you will, make your hiking into the wandering of a knighterrants by being a doer of good turns to all and sundry as you go along”.
If you have been a Scout before, you must have had the pleasure of hiking with your Troop. But if you have not been a Scout before, it would be good to take your sponsor with you on your first adventure. He will be able to give you may useful hints on how you can enjoy your hiking. He will also be able to give you many good hints on how to write a good log-which you are expected to give to your Rover Scout Leader on the completion of the hike.
You have to approach this requirement gradually. Satisfactory skill in hiking and camping cannot be attained over night. It is much better for you to make a number of hikes, starting out with one day ventures covering a relatively short distance. You should keep a log of all your trips, no matter how short or long the hike may be.
Test for the Advancement of a Rover Aspirant
After you have completed the probationary period and your sponsors have given a satisfactory report to the Rover Scout Leader regarding your interest and progress as a Rover Aspirant, the Rover Leader will decide and fix a date when the investiture is to be held This consists of two parts, viz, the Vigil or Self-Examination and the Investiture.
:
Before being invested, you will subject yourself to a form of selfexamination which is called the Vigil.
This is what the Founder said about Self-examination :
Some process of self-examination (in the form of a Vigil or otherwise) and an Investiture are essential to emphasize the fact that as a Rover he is undertaking certain definite responsibilities The degree of ceremony used in the Vigil and the Investiture may be varied as shown in the form according to the wishes of the Crew and of the individual to be invested, but it is desirable that within these limits, the same form should be used by all.” (See the form in the appendix).
The central idea is that the youngman before becoming a Rover shall, with the aid of the questions drawn up by the Founder and his interpretation of the Scout Promise and Law for Rover, quietly think out what he is doing with his life and whether he is prepared to be invested as a Rover, renewing or making his Scout Promise from the man’s point of view.
So, before you offer yourself for investiture, you should think carefully and make sure that you will stick to it honestly. You have to be fully determined that you will shape your life in accordance with the Rover ideals.
The vigil can be kept at any place you decide to do. It may be in your own home, in your temple or mosque or church or in the open air or in the Rover Den or at any place where quiet is assured. You have to take decision regarding the place. You will be left entirely to yourself, without interruption, to consider the questions by yourself. Simplicity and sincerity should be the keynote as the purpose is spiritual strengthening. For the method see appendix.
- ScoutingAfter you have been invested as a Rover you will enter into the training stage. Remember what the Founder has said about Rovering-a continuation of the training in citizenship received as a Cub and as a Scout’. It provides further training for the development of good citizenship by forming the character of youngmen.
The Rover is expected to adopt and be governed by the following principles :
1. His promise of duty to God or his Dharma, as the case may be. through conscious effort to develop his own spiritual life and through the practice of his religion or ethical or moral code, as the case may be;
2. His promise of duty to country through earnest endeavour to secure proper knowledge of the Government of his country and through performance of his duty as a citizen;
3. His promise of duty to his neighbours through a logical development of the Scout Good turn, after proper preparation and training in some form of effective service to the country, he must first realise that his first service is-to his home and that it is his duty to establish himself in life and make every endavour to consolidate his position so that he is not a burden on others or the State.
4. His Promise to obey the Scout Law by the adoption of an ideal to be expressed in his actions and in good will, fellowship and clean living.
5. A Rover in furtherance of his progressive development shall under go practical training in the Scheme of advancement of a Rover and shall participate in the management of the affairs of his Crew.
* Refer to APRO Part II Rover Section
The training stage really has four distinct purpose:
1. The rounding off and in some sense the completion of training in Scout-craft. Which in this case means camping, hiking etc. (see the chapter on Scout-craft in Scouting for Boys’.)
2. The broadening of the youngman’s vision; leading him to see what the world has to offer, in helping him to secure his lasting interest, vocational and avocational.
3. The giving of spiritual and moral strength to the Rover to carry effectively the spirit of Scouting into the adult community.
4. The training of the youngman for service to the community both within and out side the Scout Movement.
The training of a Rover may be conveniently divided into two parts viz. Individual Training and Collective Training. The first part concern the training of the individual much of which is his own responsibility connected with the scheme of advancement of a Rover and the second part concerns with the collective programme of the Crew.
Rovering provides a programme for each Rover. Every member of the Crew has different interests and endeavours to develop these. Therefore, you have to set your own programme to suit your needs and interests choosing from a wide range of subjects. This means that you have to embark upon a series of quests designed to help you find yourself.
Your individual training in the Crew will be concerned with the principles and activities which are common to whole Crew. The Crew as a joint effort will help you to strengthen your ideas about your duty to God, duty to the Country, duty to the neighbour and the promise of obedience to the Scout Law.
The Crew will provide you opportunities to take part collective activities such as planned outings, training for service (first aid, traffic duty, fire fighting, civil defence etc.), visit to palaces of interests, visit of speakers and experts etc.
Thus you will advance on your personal development physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially for better service of your country.
In addition to pursuing your own chosen Scout-craft and training for Service are considered formal basic training for every Rover.
As Rovers are a ‘Brotherhood of the Open Air’, you should train yourself for a high standard of camping and hiking. As a ‘Brotherhood
of Service’, you should train yourself for efficient service. Training in this direction is also essential for your individual development and for community service.
These activities can be taken up individually or with other brother Rovers as a Crew programme or as an individual programme.
Rover : A boy whether previously a Scout or not and who is a citizen of India and who has completed 15 years of age may be enlisted as a Rover ASPIRANT, A person who has completed 25 years of age is not eligible to be a Rover, but he can continue as a service Rover up to the age of 35 years.
1. rover :
There are three stages in the career of a Rover namely;
(a) Rover Aspirant
(b) Rover and
(c) Rover-in-Service.
A Rover Aspirant can be invested as a Rover only after completion of fifteen years of age and should have worked for three months for Pravesh Test.
A. He must have completed fifteen years of age.
B. A Rover Aspirant who had been a Scout or who on admission as Rover Aspirant passes Pravesh Badge’ test as laid down for Scout shall wear uniform as a Rover.
(i) A boy of fifteen years of age can be admitted as a Rover Aspirant.
(ii) A Rover Aspirant can be invested as a Rover.
(iii) A Rover Aspirant will work at least for three months to complete Pravesh test before investiture.
(iv) A Pravesh Rover will work at least for six months to qualify for Nipun Badge.
(v) A Nipun Rover will work at least for nine months to qualify for Rajya Puraskar Rover Badge.
(vi) A Rajya Puraskar Rover will work at least for one year to qualify for Rashtrapati Rover Award.
(vii) Efficiency Cords:
Rover Efficiency Cords are made of chiffon threads specially designed will be supplied by N.H.Q, It will be worn under the right shoulder strap extending the cord to the top of right pocket stitched horizontally just above the BSG Stripe.
1. After Nipun Badge, a Rover may earn more proficiency badges.
2. If a Nipun Rover earns seven Proficiency badges in all shall be awarded Yellow Cord by the Dist. Chief Commissioner
3. If a Rajya Puraskar Rover earns twelve proficiency badges in all shall be awarded Purple Cord by the Dist. Chief Commissioner
4. If a Rashtrapati Rover earns five proficiency badges not earned before shall be awarded Tri Colour (Blue, Green & Red) Cord by the Dist. Chief Commissioner in a ceremonial function following, soon after the award of a Cord.
4. On Completion of the Rover stage, the Rover will embark upon Service to the Community or to the Movement.
The requirements for the above advancement in badge work are given in Chapter III of A.P.R.O. Part -II.
You may refer to this and prepare yourself for Rashtrapati Rover Award as your aim.
The Rashtrapti Rover Award is a covered award for every Rover. The President of the Indian Union has been graciously pleased to authorise the issue of this badge with a certificate signed by him to those Rover, who complete the requirement as laid down in the Aims, Policy, Rules, Organisation, (A.P.R.O.)
The earning of this badge means that after preparing yourself in different skills and crafts,
The Progressive Training of A Rover Scout
you are ready to place yourself at the service of the Nation and the Movement.
The following are the special proficiency badges available for a Rover :
the Proficiency badges for Rovers are divided in five groups:
Family Life Educator Heritage Personality Develop ment Public Speaker World Friendship
Cell PhoneMechanic ComputerOperator Desert Folk FashionDesigner Fine Art
First Aider Hair Dresser Information; Technology Journalist Modeling Motor- Mechanic Photographer Tailor Web Safety
AIDS Awareness Ambulanceman Blood Donor
Civil Defence CommunityWorker DisasterManagement Disaster preparedness Ecologist Literacy Population Education Pollution Control Rural Worker Sanitation Promoter
Energy Conser vation Forester Soil Conserva tion
World Conser vation World Scout- Environ ment
Physical health character hobby service conservation Athlete Boxer Climber Explorer Free Being Me Gymnast Rambler Rock Climber Self Defence Sportsman Yoga Instructor
note :
44 For further details such as the requirements for all the above proficiency badges see appendix of the latest A.P.R.O. Part-II
Rover - Scouting
After completing your training you will move to the Service stage. This you will do on completion of the age of 25.
The purpose of the Service stage is to provide you an opportunity to carry the Scout Spirit into the community and to offer trained service in many ways. As a Scout and also as a Rover, you have learnt and practised so many skills. It is now the time for you to give what you have received by way of training. This giving process should be a regular and sustained one and each Rover Scout is expected to embark upon definite jobs of service to the community or to any one who may be in need of your service. It may be within the Movement or it may be outside the Movement. The scope of your daily good turn must now expand to sustained service of the community.
Your entry into the service stage implies that you will set your personal example before other members of the Crew, specially before those young men who are Rovers. By watching you they must understand that you still believe in learning that you are leading your life keeping Scouting ideals expressed in the Law and Promise before you and that you are trying to represent; what is best in Rovering.
There are so many avenues in which you can render service to the community. Your Crew and the Rover Scout Leader will help you in finding out these avenues and you will take active interest in these programmes. But the greatest service which you can do to the community is to establish yourself in life. This is the first duty which you owe to the community, to your family and yourself so that you are not a burden on any one.
Being a member of Crew : After you reach 25 years of age, if you complete the following requirements you qualify for “Rover-inService” badge.
Promote and participate in a sustained community Development project.
Undergo unit leader Training and work as a Warranted unit Leader of a section of your choice. Actively assist units.
The Progressive Training of A Rover Scout
Rover-in-Service badge is a pair of green shoulder flashes of cotton or wool with the letter ‘R’ in red at the bottom with three yellow bars over the letter. When gained it is worn in place of Rajyapuruskar badge.
The Bharat Scouts and Guides work close cooperation with the Indian Fellowship of Scout and Guides an organisation for Adults, where you can actively contribute to your community.
ATAS [Association of Top Achiever Scouts] is yet another forum which enrolls President/Rashtrapati Awardees and continue to promote service to community. WOSM has recognised the service to rendered by the scouts and non-scouts alike. Register your self on world wide web of WOSM www.scout.org as a messenger of peace and post your good deeds and encourage your younger generation to serve the global community.
Dictionary defines the word Quest as a search’ an adventure or act of seeking etc. In Rovering ’Quest’ was defined as an activity for Rovering or Crew which as carried on continuously and could be a continuous study or a job which was to be finished within a definite period.
Questing can be called advanced Rovering in that it may be undertaken by an invested Rover Scout when he has finally decided along what lines his Rovering shall run. It is interpreting Rovering from the stand point of searching or ’questing in citizenship’. It represents sound, practical Rovering. Its secret lies in its delightful scope for originality. There comes a time in the life of a Rover it depends on his out-look and the chances he has had in the way of education and so on-when he feels he wants some definite and practical job, in Rovering if he take his Rovering seriously. He may sooner or later want something. What he does want and he does not always get it, is a Rover Quest.
Questing is seeking, searching, chasing, rooting out, pursuing a definite and continuous task and doing specific jobs of service. A quest is profitable from Rovering point of view. Interests like sport as a part of a Quest of Physical Education, Arts and Crafts, TV. and Radio. Air mindedness are interests that could be quest because it involves such a lot of exploring and search for increasing knowledge. You must distinguish between a personal hobby in which you and you alone are continuously getting everything out of it and a quest where you and others are getting a great deal of enjoyment and recreation.
Isolated jobs of service are definitely not quest, but continuous job of service extending over a period of time could be called questing. Personal quest is the main thing-which comes before anything else.
Quests can be listed out as personal or as Crew or District quests.
Questing, is the game of exploring with a purpose, ceases to be vague ethical idea and becomes a clean, practical programme, when it is based in the systematic study and practice of the Scout Law, each clause of which suggests different thought closely linked possibilities
for every Rover Scout. Whatever may be his immediate outlook on life.
The following are some suggestions regarding Quests on Scout Law as a way of looking at life as a series of adventures in service to God and man.
The First clause of the Scout Law is : ”A Scout is Trustworthy”.
Striving quietly each day - to live a little more honourably than before and to look out and help others who are trying to do the same; to think and speak more truthfully, with courtesy; to play the game” in the job and the home just as well as on the field to keep faith with all men. fulfilling every promise: whether actually made or only implied; and to lay a trail through life of trustworthiness, dependability and devotion to Truth.
1. Collect and discuss references in books, newspapers, etc. to the nature and effects of Truth.
2. Oraganise discussions in the Patrol. Crew or Association on subjects such as the following, always with the idea of finding out the best way of dealing with the difficulties.
a. Various petty dishonesties in ordinary life.
b. Definite cases of dishonesty being made compulsory in various kinds of employment and the study of the right remedies.
c. Cases where the neglect of Truth has led to disaster.
d. The part played by Truth in successful journalism and advertising.
e. The causes of untruth, as for example, the desire to escape out of trouble (into a worse one usually), false personal pride, desire to obtain something or to defeat an enemy etc.
f. The part played by Truth in the Lives of historic persons.
48 Rover - Scouting
3. Draw up in the Crew a list of-simple ordinary quests of Truth in daily life and place on wall of Den. Revise it once or twice a year according to the actual experience of members of the Crew. Register failures, but only as opportunities which will come again, perhaps with a happier issue.
4. Once a year at any rate, devote one evening to careful exploration by the Crew as a whole or what is implied by the phrase “A Scout’s honour”, with special reference to the home and job as well as to service outside. Emphasize such subjects as the need for preparation and for becoming more expert in Scoutcraft, as well as more adventurous in the practice of the Scout Law. Plan definite activities in the Crew for the next few months.
ii. the quest of World scouting.
The Second clause of the Scout Law is “A Scout is loyal”.
Realising more and more that loyalty is one step onwards in “playing the game” of life as well as of Rover Scouting; It is “playing the game together”, co-operating just as gladly with those in lawful authority as with friends and meeting cheerily all obligations due to God and man. Trying day by day to give a Scouty lead “to those under him”, and to help the whole Movement in some definite and regular way, even though only a small one. Accepting citizenship as a privilege only to be won by faithful service and as an opportunity for loyally assisting Scouting spread throughout the world. Striving to be a Peacemaker in your Crew, home and daily life, as a step towards the ideal of international peace.
1. Arrange classes in Troop and Pack management, including the keeping of logs and registers, and secretarial business in camp management; and in devising displays.
2. Organise instruction for Rovers in teaching the subjects of the various Scout Badges.
3. Plan lecture-demonstrations by combining Crews or Associations to explore the following subjects :
a. The ideals of other nations and why there have been in the past international disagreements, owing to such causes as
Rover Quests
“the clash of colour”, trade disputes, religious controversies etc. How could Scouting help in the future to minimise these
b. The methods of national government and the extent of its legitimate demand on individual loyalty in various countries as well as our own.
c. The principles and practice of local government, with special reference to the Rover’s present home, whether rural or Urban.
d. Conducting some form of local “regional survey” an excellent form of “tracking” in one sense and termed “exploration hikes”.
e. The national place and outlook of the various political parties, considered sympathetically.
f. The cause, prevention and treatment of such national evils as slum housing, intemperance. Dowry system, gambling, unemployment and the drug traffic-in all, so far as possible, defining what Rovers may be able to do in the future.
g. Preservation of open spaces, historic buildings and all means of promoting health of body and soul.
h. The aims and methods of various national and philanthropic societies which relieve unhappiness and promote unselfishness.
i. Compilation of the facts of the histories of states, towns, and villages, together with practical interest in old ruins, shrines, etc. so as to inspire local patriotism
j. Promotion of the health of the nation by legislation, education and philanthropic societies.
4. Form concert parties to assist poorer Troops and Packs to raise funds, getting camp equipment, books on Scouting, and Troop and Pack “properties” generally.
5. Hunt up suitable places for new headquarters, camping grounds and Rover dens.
6. Visit other Troops and Associations so as to pick up new ideas and fill vacancies for Scouters, temporarily or permanently; compile a list for the Local Association.
50 Rover - Scouting
7. Help start new Crews in other Groups where they do not exist and provide keen instructor for aspirants.
8. Help organise training classes for Patrol leaders.
9. Combine to publish Association or Troop magzines and reports.
10. Compile a list of Rovers to help in instruction and examination for Proficiency Badges.
11. Devote themselves to keeping Troop and Pack headquarters in good repair and preparing Scoutcraft gadgets such as Totems.
12. Organise village museums and information bureau provide local road guides on walls, or placards for use of strangers.
13. Co-operate in organising visits of Scouts and Rovers to foreign countries, when the occasion arises and in welcoming foreign visitors.
The third clause of the Scout Law is “A Scout is a friend all and a brother to every other Scout”.
Tackling the tough job of training yourself to be friendly to alleven to the unfriendly; seeking out and emphasising the points which you agree and leaving differences of outlook and opinion. received by neglect, of perish. Tackling the job of training your younger brothers in the movement and outside, holding the torch of Scouting in hand and setting a personal example of Love and affection to all so that the younger ones learn to love one another and be friendly with all whom they once across. Learning about the principles of character formation in them, so that your teaching may be adapted to their capabilities. Learning more and more about Scoutcraft, and the Scout law, so that you may incite them by your example, as well as by your instruction, to catch the joy of the game of Scouting.
1. Arrange lecture-demonstrations on :
a. The patrol system and how to help Patrol Leaders without interfering with their responsibility and freedom of action;
Rover Quests
b. The Scout Law - how to teach them so that they are realities in the Scout’s daily life;
c. The Badges system, with special reference to the value of each one in character training;
d. Games-the place of each in character training;
e. The elementary principles of psychology as regards boys of Cub and Scout age, from the practical point of view, and with reference to the actual programme of the Troop or Pack concerned.
2. Promote study for the Wood Badge or other training.
3. Form a study circle of ‘Scouting for Boys’ and the ‘Wolf Cub’s Handbook’ and the essential lines of Scout and Cub training.
4. Help Scouters by visiting the parents of Scouts and Cubs, preferably taking the Sixers and Patrol Leaders concerned with them.
5. Train Rover Instructors in swimming, gymnastics, boxing etc. and make them available to Groups.
6. Help in “Special Tests” Work locally.
7. Run Toy Repair Shops.
8. Concentrate on Tritiya Sopan Tests, the creation and inculcation of the Out-of-doors spirit etc. so as to give definite practical help to Troops and Packs.
9. Help in Cub Packs.
The fourth clause of the Scout Law is “A Scout is courteous”.
Regarding the work of God in Nature with gratitude and reverence as a freely given act of courtesy to its Creator, who made earth beautiful to draw us to himself. Doing all you can; to make and keep your home and its surrounding beautiful. Recognising the image of God in your brother man, however defaced and therefore beautifying your human relationship with courtesy, gratitude and respect for others. Study to increase your own sense of Beauty so that you learn how to live life a little more beautiful than you found it.
1. Study the laws of Beauty in form of colour, movement, speech, music, literature and behaviour, as well as in Nature.
2. Study the effect of beauty in music, art, architecture, town planning, oratory, etc, on human life.
3. Trace the element of Beauty in high ideals, the broad outlook, the sense of proportion, friendship, holiness and the day’s work.
4. Make beautiful such waste places as back yards.
5. Help to provide window boxes with growing flowers.
6. Campaign against the ugliness of the dirty camp site; the broken trees or hedge public places strewn with litter; and slovenliness of all kinds.
7. Decorate the Crew Den in a “woodcrafty” fashion and keep a Crew Log which is a work of art as well as a record of events.
8. Form an orchestra to bring the beauty of real music into the lives of others.
9. Fight against all false values in art and life.
10. Teach and practise real courtesy to opponents in sport and the battle of life and the avoidance of the unworthy retort and act, also of cynical criticism of one’s neighbour.
11. Encourage civility at all times realise the importance of expressing gratitude, respect the good points in others and cultivate the beauty of humility-a very different thing from the vice of servility.
The fifth clause of the Scout Law is “A Scout is a friend to animals and loves nature.”
Befriending animals because they are your comrades in the Creator’s service. Freeing them, so far you possibly can, from pain and fear and giving them their full share of love, happiness and protection. Developing courage to fight against cruelty, which denies the Love of God and facing honestly up to the very serious problems which are involved, even if you cannot overcome them at once.
1. Obtain instruction from veterinary surgeons so as to be able to advise Scouts and others who keep pet dogs, cats etc.
2. Arrange discussions on Natural History subjects with a view to increasing interest in animals and the realisation of their place in the world, including the service they render to man, for example; how birds preserve the human race from destruction by insects and vermin; how the wild characters of some animals become modified so that they are able to help man; etc.
3. Train Rovers and others in methods of First Aid for animals suffering from accidents or illness. Where the help of qualified veterinary surgeons is not available create dispensaries in poor districts for sick animals under the charge of trained Rovers. (Work in connection with the ‘ Dispensaries for Sick Animals”).
4. Spread the view that animals have a right to freedom from pain and fear and also to happiness, so far as it is in our power to give it. Help the straining horse up the hill.
5. Make trays, baths and nesting boxes for birds.
6. Undertake charge of household pets during absence of owners on holidays etc.
The Sixth clause of the Scout Law is “A Scout is disciplined and helps protect public property.”
Realising the duty’ of obedience you own to the will of your Maker and therefore seeking to hear more clearly the voice of God amid the confusion of daily obligations and pastimes and above the clash of contending demands on your loyalty. Striving to obey what you believe to be will of God, even though it entails hardship or adversity, but being humble enough to realise that you shall sometimes be wrong in your judgment and therefore must be prepared in repentance to take up a new alignment which you believe a more in accord with your Creator’s plan for you. Recognising that others are similarly striving, and that you must necessarily respect their conscientious opinions, even though they differ from your own.
1. Arrange discussions on the Rover’s duty to his home and parents, repeating them after some months when his outlook may have altered.
2. Organise debates on the legitimate claims of the employer, the trade union, the other sex, the Rover Scout Leader. The Scout Movement and self-interest.
3. Arrange discussion on discipline
4. Discuss the difference between compulsory and voluntary discipline and their respective values.
5. Form a small advisory group in the Local Association to members of which (owing to their knowledge and experience) can be referred. Rovers actually suffering from these difficulties and anxious to meet someone who will discuss them sympathetically.
6. Band together in Crews and Local Associations to help Rover Scouts who are actually suffering for Conscience sake. vii. the quest of happiness
The seventh clause of the Scout Law is “A Scout is Courageous”.
Adventuring joyously as well as sturdily along the road of life, “happifying” your fellow travellers to the best of your ability by radiating a spirit of personal cheeriness throughout the day. Sowing seeds of future happiness for other people, in the hope that you may enable them to follow your example. Learning how to laugh more wholeheartedly when things go wrong, knowing that by so doing you increase your chance of putting them right in the end.
1. Arrange lecture-demonstrations on the greater happiness created by living more in the open (sunshine and fresh air treatment) better housing, purer food. etc. so that Rovers may help themselves and others to smile more easily and more frequently Suggestions can be obtained from the “Health
Exhibition’’ and “Health Weeks.” now steadily increasing in number.
2. Discuss the ways in which false imitations of happiness (for example, the excitement of gambling and the flight from boredom in alchoholism) can be exposed and be cured by substituting sources of true and lasting happiness.
3. Cultivate individual contentment and the better use of one’s own talents. Jealousy has to be realised as being a deadly enemy.
4. Discuss the varieties of happiness obtained from such activities as book reading, the study of nature, music, the realisation of work well and truly done, the possession of a healthy active body and mind, etc.
5. Organise parties for poor children, provide comforts for debilitated old people and radio sets for the bedridden, etc.
6. Help to organise and run athletic clubs of various kinds.
7. Form literary, musical and dramatic societies, open to other people as well as Rovers.
8. Build up Group libraries..
9. Organise quests of Friendliness, both for lonely individuals and for collections of them. Combine with other Crews to do something for lonely people.
10. Lose no chance of “happifying” such opportunities at home, as well as elsewhere, as are afforded by birthdays and other festivals.
11. Devise pleasure for war cripples and others afflicted.
12. Realise and teach that love of work well done and delight in the successful accomplishment of a hard task are sources of real happiness, as well as being among the purest and best motives which sway mankind. Do this by encouraging others, specially members of the Scout Movement, when up against a stiff job and avoiding the too easy criticism and depreciation of their work when it does not happen to be along own special line. This is a far too common fault in the Scout Movement, as well as outside it.
56 The eighth clause of the Scout Law is “A Scout is thrifty”.
Rover - Scouting
Accumulating carefully stores of energy, accomplishments, etc so that you may be ready, for days of adversity, whether your own or your neighbour’s. Realising that your service later on must be much fuller, freer and more frutiful than it is to-day, an that therefore you must prepare yourself for a coming grander life of helping God and man. Wasting as little time, money and energy as possible on transient amusement and hoarding them so that you may spend lavishly on the pleasures which endure.
1. Arrange for study circles of character development and of physiology in connection with sports and training generally; the gaining of self-control; the principle of educating the special senses, etc. Supply individual advice and assistance for Rovers trying to improve their own bodies and minds in a balanced way.
2. Organise systematic practical classes in observation and applied tracking (for use in business, etc.)
3. Arrange talks with practical work so far as possible on wireless, book-reading, history, engineering, photography, etc. Include evening classes by definitely recognising them as part of this quest.
4. Hold discussion on money-making in industry national and international banking methods of saving money and increasing it. Value of Life Insurance. Postal Insurance, Mutual Funds etc.
5. Study the various “vocations” possibly open to members of the Crew, emphasizing the wrong done to the Rover Scout by thinking of his job as something which has got to be done and not as a “vocation” to which he has been called by God.
6. Discuss such temptations as alcoholism or gambling, with a view to tracing their cause, prevention and cure. For instance: “Alcoholism is symptom, an indication of a nervous system with a too narrow margin of control, one which is likely to react too intensively to an inadequate cause. We must study the personality treat the underlying factors. Is it merely a social custom? Is it due to an unhappy home life to dissatisfaction
at work. To individual doubts and difficulties? To feelings of inferiority. To latent homosexual trends to feeling of insecurity are some of the questions we should have in mind”.
7. Plan gymnastic and other physical training such as Ju-Jitsu, Kabaddi. Yog Asans with special classes to teach how different exercises, games and competitions help.
8. Promote hikes and other forms of camping, also walking tours at home and abroad.
9. Create literary associations and run dramatic readings. Organise musical and dramatic societies.
The Ninth clause of the Scout Law is “A Scout is pure in thought, word and deed”.
Winning and keeping self control of your body, feeling and thoughts so that you may be as strong as possible to serve God in your generation. Becoming increasingly keen-sighted, through purity, thus gaining the vision of the Spiritual Bower-behind earthly manifestations. Struggling on in spite of setbacks because of the Spiritual Power which will in the end crown with success your persistent efforts.
1. Arrange discussions on the Rover obligations as regards cleanliness in thought, word and deed, with reference always to the main purpose of better service to God and mankind. If this objective is not kept in view such discussions lose half their value. Get real experts to explain to individual members of the Crew how to face up to their problems. Sentimental appeals often do more harm than good.
2. Promote the study and practice by each Rover of his own form of Religion, including its obligations, its work of inspiration and its purpose. The many possible subjects includes : study of sacred literature, comparative religion from the practical point of view of the Rovers; tracking out the Self-manifestation of God in Nature and human life: practical teachings as regards prayer;
The origin, history, aims and achievements of various religious denominations, etc.
3. Form small classes for more careful and intensive study of the manifestation in this world of the Holy Spirit of God.
4. Promote the reading of good books and explain how the nobler thoughts thus accumulated will crowd out the bad and base.
5. Study Creation in all its forms not alienating the physical form the Spiritual, as is too often done and then make a point of teaching others, in the Movement of outside.
6. Indulge in healthy occupations and realise the deep Spiritual values latent in simple pleasures.
7. Practise self-devotion to God in service, study, faith prayer, meditation and worship.
8. Join with one or two others in hikes for the special purpose of comparing experiences of the Spiritual when these begin to come. Mountain and sea scenery will be found helpful.
“To do my duty to God and Country” and “help others” are important parts of promise.
Bringing duty to God into the life of the Crew.
Discussing and practising duties of citizenship.
Exploring your self for traces of talents which could be development and used for helping others; trying to extend your range of useful accomplishments and hobbies, with a keen eye for chances of practising them in service. During your daily life being prepared to Jump to the assistance of anyone in real distress or necessity, thoroughly enjoying this game of Rover Adventure.
1. Organise training in First Aid and Home Nursing in Cordination with the St. John Ambulance Association and the Red Cross Society.
2. Arrange discussion and visits in connection with the societies. Handicapped children. Organisation and other societies taking up active work as soon as any occasion arises.
3. Arrange practical demonstrations of useful forms of service, such as repairs or construction (taken from the list of Proficiency Badges) for example, repairing fuses and burst pipes, making “gadgets” for the home. etc.
4. Join in the Blood Donation scheme.
5. Plan Rover Errantries, as for example, helping Rovers and others in poverty due to unemployment, illness etc.
6.. Form an “emergency” gang, perhaps with a reserve fund, to give immediate help in genuine distress while permanent measure of relief are being prepared.
7. Take up the Rover Pal scheme after full instruction in the difficulty and risk involved and realisation of the amount of patience and self-sacrifice which may be required.
8. Provide help in mid-day meal programme.
Some process of self-examination (in the form of a vigil or otherwise) and an investiture are essential to emphasize the fact that as a Rover a youngman is undertaking certain definite responsibilities. The Vigil proceeds the Investiture and the two together constitute his Presentation.
The Vigil may take any form but the following soul-searching questions as drawn up by the Founder are found to have a profound effect upon youngmen if the preparation for the Vigil has been seriously undertaken.
The idea is that before becoming a Rover Scout a youngman, with the aid of these questions and his interpretation of the Scout Promise and Law for Rovers, quietly think out what he is doing with his life and whether he is prepared to be invested as a Rover Scout renewing or making, his Scout Promise from the man’s point of view.
In the self-examination the youngman reviews the past, thinks of future possibilities dimly seen, dedicates himself in silence to the service of God and his fellow-men. Without this, the Rover Investiture cannot be what it is meant to be - an outward sign of an inward change of attitude to life in the World.
Therefore, you have to take your decision as to how you wish to take the Vigil. You may do it in your home or in your temple or church or mosque or out-of-doors as may appeal to you. You may have one of your sponsors or your Rover Scout Leader by your side if you so desire. Normally it should be done on one evening or you may take more time to suit your convenience
The Rover Scout Leader should know when and where you are taking your Vigil.
After you have completed your training as a Rover Aspirant to the satisfaction of the Rover Scout Leader and the Crew and after you have completed your Vigil, The Rover Scout Leader in consultation with your sponsors will fix up a time and place for your Rover Investiture.
Rover QuestsYour honour must be a very sacred thing to you, a thing that will rule your conduct as a man. It means that you can be trusted implicitly to do what you know is right or what you agree to undertake
This particular promise is a solemn undertaking, not to be made lightly even by a boy, still less so by a man. Therefore, think it over carefully before embarking on it.
This means that though circumstances may hinder you from doing it as completely as you would wish, you will, at any rate, try your utmost.
What is your duty to God?
To put it briefly, it would seem to be to try in the first place to realize the nature of God and secondly, to develop and use, for good purposes only, the body which He has entrusted to you, to develop the talents of mind and intelligence with which he has endowed you and especially to cultivate by continual practice the spirit of love and goodwill to others, the part of him which is within you, that is, your soul.
That is to your country under the leadership constituted by the will of the majority.
Thus putting into constant and active practice the divine law of loving your neighbour as yourself.
To obey the Scout Law does not mean to sit down passively in a state of goodness, but to improve your own character and actively to practise Love (which underlies the Law) in all your daily doings.
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The term “Rover Scout” stands for a true man and a good citizen. The Law for Rover Scouts is the same as for Scouts, in wording and principle, but has to be viewed from a new standpoint-- that is, from that of a man. In both cases the principle underlying the Scout Law knocks out Self and shoves in Goodwill and helpfulness to others. Don’t take this as instruction in Piety, but as direction to Manliness.
As a Rover Scout, no temptation, however great or however secret, will persuade you to do a dishonest or a shady action, however small. You won’t go back on a promise once made.
“A Rover Scout’s word is as good as his bond”.
“The Truth and nothing but the Truth for the Rover Scout”.
As a good citizen you are one of the team “playing the game’ honestly for the good of the whole. You can be realised upon by your Government, by the Scout Movement, by your friends and fellowworkers, by your employers, or employees, to do your best for themeven though they may not always quite come up to what you would like of them. Moreover, you are loyal also to yourself: you won’t lower your self-respect by playing the game meanly; nor will you let another men down-nor a woman, either.
As a Rover Scout you recognize other fellows as being, with yourself, sons of the same Father and you disregard whatever may be their difference of opinion, or caste, creed or country. You suppress your prejudices and find out their good points; any fool can criticize their bad ones. If you exercise this love for men of other countries you help to bring about international Peace and goodwill, that is God’s Kingdom on earth.
“All the world’s a Brotherhood”.
63Rover Like a knight of old, as a Rover Scout you are, of course, polite and considerate to women, old people and children. But more than this you are polite also even to those in opposition to you.
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“Whose is in the right need not lose his temper; Whose is in the Wrong cannot afford to.
You will recognize your comradeship with Gods other creatures placed, like yourself, in this world for a time, to enjoy their existence. To ill-treat an animal is. therefore, a dis- service to the Creator. He does not kill any animal unnecessarily, unless it is endangering one’s life. He loves nature, the creation of god, trees, plants, flowers etc. He does not harm them and will try to protect them.
“A Rover Scout has to be big-hearted”.
As a Rover Scout you discipline yourself and put yourself readily and willingly a the service of constituted authority for the main good. The best disciplined community is the happiest community, but the discipline must come from within and not merely be imposed from without. Public property is meant for the benefit of all in generaly and any loss to it will be a loss to all of us and in particular to the country. Hence a Scout helps to protect the public property and tries to prevent any damage to it. He gets an example to others also to protect public property.
As a Rover Scout you will be looked to as the man to keep your head and to stick it out in crisis with cheery pluck and optimism.
“If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; ....You’ill be a man, my son.”
As a Rover Scout you will look ahead and will not fritter away time or money on present pleasures, but rather make use of present OPPOR1TUNITIES with a view’ to ulterior success. You do this with the idea of not being a burden, but a help to others,
As a Rover Scout you are expected to be not only clean minded, but clean-willed; able to control any sex tendencies and intemperances;
to give an example to others of being pure and above-board in all that you think, say and do.
There is an unwritten part of the law namely,” A Scout is not a fool” But this: I should hope, would be unnecessary as a code for Rover Scouts. Still, as a Rover Scout, you have to remember that in crossing the threshold from boyhood into being a man you are no longer learning to carry out the Scout Law : but are actually using it for guidance of your conduct in life. More than this, you are now in the responsible position of giving an example to others, which may lead them to good or evil, according to whether or not you model your conduct on the Law and how far you carry out that Promise which you have made, on your honour, as a Rover Scout, to give out goodwill and help to all.
It is not a ceremony or function but its having a very good impact on a young boy before to be invested as a Rover
This is a part of B.P.’s original thinking. It is not a ceremony and should not be treated as such. It is an invitation to a young man to find out from him whether he is fit to become a Rover. It must be a voluntary act carried out on the advice of the sponsors. Thus it is an opportunity for quiet meditation offered to an Aspirant.
No other single feature of Rovering can be compared with selfexamination in significance. The condition, place, time etc., should be according to the wishes of the Aspirant. The following is the original text of self examination as professed by B.P.:
As one grows older, time passes more and more quickly comparatively speaking, life only lasts for a short time and is soon away.
1. Am I making the best use of the life that God has given me?
2. Am I frittering away, in doing nothing that counts – that is wasting it?
3. Am I working at things that are not doing good to anybody?
4. Am I seeking too much my own enjoyment or money- making or promotion with out trying to help other people?
5. Whom have I injured or hurt in my life? Is there any one else I can help?
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The Rover Scout Branch of the Scout Movement is described as a “Brotherhood of Service,” so if we join it we shall get the opportunity of training for and of doing service in many ways that would not have been open to us otherwise.
1. Am I joining the Rover Scout Branch only for the fun I can get out of it?
2. Am I determined to put real self sacrificing Service into it?
3. What do I mean by Service?
4. Do I really think for others, rather than for myself, in my plans or undertakings?
5. What kind of service am I best fitted to do at home, at work, and in my spare time?
Service is not for spare time only. Service should be an attitude of life, which will find outlets for its practical expression at all times.
We get no pay or reward for doing service, but that makes us free men in doing it. We are not working for an employer, but for God and our conscience. This means that we are men.
As the success of our Service will depend to a great extent on our personal character, we must discipline ourselves that we may be a good influence on others.
1. Am I determined to try and give up bad habits acquired in the past?
2. What are the weak points in my character?
3. Am I absolutely honorable, truthful and trust worthy?
4. Am I loyal to God, my Country, my family, my employers, who are under me, the Scout Movement, my friends and myself?
5. Am I good tempered, cheery and kind to others?
6. Am I sober and clean living, and clean – speaking?
7. Have I pluck and patience to stick it out when things go against me?
8. Have I a mind of my own, or do I allow myself to be carried away by the persuasion of others?
9. Am I strong-minded enough to keep off temptation to gamble, to drink, to harm a girl or woman?
10. If I am weak in some of these things, do I resolve here and now with God’s help, to do my best to correct them and chuck them
up? May God give me strength to go forward henceforth a real man, a true citizen, and a credit to my country?
On satisfying himself that he has positive answers for all the questions he informs his sponsor (s) that he is now ready for the Investiture.
Note:- It is a matter of interest to know that the above questions raised is in 3 distinct parts.
1. spiritual
2. application
3. self analysis.
The following is an Indian version of Rover Investiture, which should be followed all over the country. You are aware that B.P. has encouraged adapting to satisfy local needs and social conditions).
The sponsor brings the Rover Aspirant finished self-examination, into the Horseshoe formed by the Crew in uniform. A table is supposed to have been arranged in such a way that it is in between the RSL and the Recruit. ,As, in such a ceremony, symbolism creates an emotional involvement any picture, photograph, scripture etc., of the Religion he belongs to or that of a National/Religious hero, as per the wishes of the Recruit should be kept.
All members in uniform and stand in a horseshoe formation with the Senior Rover Mate at its head. Aspirant flanked by the sponsors stands in the Centre of the formation. RSL is positioned himself on the spot meant for him during the flag ceremony. ARSL holding the membership badge, shoulder stripes, group scarf and woggle, stands one pace behind the RSL. Group Leader and other Scouters and invitees stand in line left to the ARSL. The Rover Mate with a group flag held upright on staff stands one pace ahead of the Senior Rover Mate.
The Senior Rover mate calls the crew to attention. The RSL takes over and described briefly the significance of the occasion. Immediately the sponsors move with the aspirant towards the leader and halt at 2 paces in front of him. The Rover Mate (with flag) too advances and positions himself in such a way that he can hold the flag horizontally between the aspirant and the RSL. So he faces the symbol to start with while conversing with R.S.L. as follows:r.s.l. : Have you come with a desire to become a Rover in our worldwide Brotherhood. aspirant : I have.
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R.S.L. : Inspite of any difficulties you have had in the past, are you now determined to do your best to be honorable, truthful and straight in all your dealings; clean in what you think in what you say; in all that you do?
aspirant : I am.
r.s.l. : Have you carefully thought what you are doing with your life?
aspirant : I have.
r.s.l. : Do you understand that Services means that at all times you will be Good-natured towards all other people, and will do your best to help them, even though it may not be convenient or pleasant or safe for You, and that you will expect no reward for doing so.
aspirant : I do.
r.s.l. : Do you understand that by becoming a Rover you are joining a Brotherhood in which we want to help you carry out your ideals and In which we ask you to obey our Rules and carry out our motto of Service for others.
aspirant : I do.
r.s.l. : Have you got reverence to the symbol that is kept before you on the Table.
aspirant : I have.
r.s.l. : Understanding these things, then, I ask you to make your Scout Promise, bearing in mind that you are expected to interpret it not from a boy’s point of view but from that of a man.
(The RSL advances and at the same time the Rover Mate/Sponsor Steps forward with the Group Flag in his hands and lower it between the Rover Leader and the Aspirant, who takes hold of the Flag with his left hand and makes the Scout sign with his right)
aspirant : On my Honour, I promise that I will do my bestTo do my duty to God and my country To help other people and To obey the Scout Law.
The Rover Scout Leader then taken the new Rover by the left hand and gives him a pat on the left shoulder with the right hand, saying.
r.s.l. : I trust you on your Honour to keep your Promise. After which the Rover Scout Leader pins on the new Rover’s shoulder stripes and presents him with his membership badge saying :
In this shoulder stripes of blue, green and red, you see the representative Colour of the three sections of our brotherhood first it reminds you of your duty to your younger brothers, and of your responsibility, as a Rover to set them at all times an example worthy of your best self. You are now a member of the world wide brotherhood.
The crew closes in around the new Rover shaking him by the hand and giving him welcome.
note : You can suggest that traditions like salute, prayer, giving appropriate yells and or singing a particular song can be established and allowed before dispersal.
