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Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Humayun Kabir 97
by Bsg India
language at a very early date, and had thus exposed itself to the new and modem ideas of the West as they prevailed in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The west oriented educated Bengali middle class leaders in the field of education and other profession realised that, as a first step towards winning Swaraj from the British, India must build up worthy citizens. Along with other ideas, the story of Scouting as planned by B.P. for citizenship training reached Calcutta fairly early in the history of Scouting. A new set of England returned professionals such as Dr. S.K. Mullick, Lt. Col. Dr. S.P. Sarbahikary, Shri D.N. Bose Bar at law, Shri Satish Mitra, Bar-at-law, etc. to name only a few of them, took the initiative and formed the Bengalee Boy Scout League in 1914. Later, this name was changed under a new name Bengalee Scouts Association was given to the organisation. Among the first batch of trained Scouts, the name of Shri Saroj Ghose (a former National Secretary of the Bharat Scouts and Guides) and the late Shri Satta Bose Shri Ranen Ghose the present State Secretary of West Bengal, Bharat Scouts and Guides, and Shri J.M. Ghose, Barat law deserve special mention. The latter was the first Bengali to be warranted as a Scout Master. The Association sought the affiliation of the London Headquarters but failed to get it. It may be noted here that forward looking British officials and others, living in India had full sympathy for this demand of Indian Scouting for recognition by the Headquarters in England. Among those who took an active part in this matter were Sir Lancelot Sanderson, the then Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Sir Alfred Pickford, Major N. M. Ross, Col. J. S. Wilson and Rev. R.W. Bryan.
H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught came to India in connection with the inauguration of Reformed Legislative Councils in August. 1920. In his honour a Rally of B.P. Boy Scouts was held in which some Indian Scouts also participated. On that occasion Sir Alfred Pickford the then Chief Commissioner of India in his capacity as head of the Indian Branch of the B.P. Association, convened a Conference of the All India Scouts Associations. The Conference was held in Calcutta on 20 and 21 August 1920. Pandit H.N. Kunzru, Chief Commissioner, Seva Samiti Scout Association and Mr. F.G. Pearce Chief Commissioner, Indian Boy Scouts Association also attended this conference. Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta and Pandit Shri Ram Bajpai accompanied Pandit H.N. Kunzru to assist him at the conference. The majority of the participants, however belonged to the B.P. Association. Among
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