WORLD GUIDES FLAG

WORLD FLAG

The golden Trefoil remains the focal point on a blue background. A white blaze in the lower, right-hand corner represents WAGGGS' commitment to peace. This is crowned by three golden blocks symbolising the three-fold Promise. It is used at the World Centres, the World Bureau, WAGGGS' gatherings and by all Member Organisations, often as a unit flag.

NATIONAL FLAG OF INDIA

THE NATIONAL FLAG OF INDIA  is in tricolour ( TIRANGA) of deep saffron (Kesari) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportions.

The Indian flag is a horizontal tricolour in equal proportion of deep saffron on the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom. The ratio of the width to the length of the flag is two is to three. In the centre of the white band, there is a wheel in navy blue to indicate the Dharma Chakra, the wheel of law in the Sarnath Lion Capital. This center symbol or the ‘CHAKRA’,  is a Buddhist symbol dating back to 200th century BC.

Its diameter approximates the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes, which intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation. The saffron stands for courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation; the white, for purity and truth; the green for faith and fertility. The design of the National Flag of India was adopted by India’s constituent assembly on 22nd july, 1947. It’s use and display are regulated by a code. The flag symbolizes freedom. The late Prime Minister Pandit Nehru called it a flag not only of freedom for ourselves, but a symbol of freedom for all people.

WORLD SCOUT FLAG

The flag is actually royal purple with the white fleur-de-lis and rope is the flag for the World Organization of Scouting Movements (WOSM), headquartered in Switzerland. The flag represents all member organizations of the WOSM in a like manner as the United Nations flag represents all member nations of the UN.

The flag is taken from the fleur-de-lis, or lily of the flower, which as the previous poster wrote, is found as part of the Scout emblem of every other nations’ Scouting organizations. It is also found frequently on compasses and pointing devices and points in the true direction, as Scouts should also be moving positively toward.

The two stars on the flag allude to truth and knowledge, the two most important elements found in the creeds, promises and oaths of all member organizations. They also remind us of the stars in the sky and the outdoor element of Scouting.

The rope encircles the fleur-de-lis and a reminder of the true brotherhood of all WOSM members. The rope is tied at the bottom in the reef knot (we Americans call it the square knot), which is the most useful of all rope knots if tied properly and reminds all of our obligations to be of service to one another as well as to be useful.

BHARAT SCOUTS & GUIDES FLAG

The Bharat Scouts and Guides Flag shall be in dark blue color, the emblem in yellow colour shall be in the center of the flag with Ashoka Chakra in blue color. The size of the flag shall be 180 cms. In length and 120 cms. in width, the emblem will be 45 cms by 39 cms. The size of the Group Flag, which is the same as above, shall be 180 cms X 120 cms. with proportionate emblem. The name of the group shall be written in a yellow color below the emblem in straight line. The Fleur-de-lis the International emblem of Scouting and Ashoka Chakra is meant to emphasize the all-India character of the Movement. The super imposed trefoil represents the guide wing of the B.S.&G.

HISTORY OF SCOUTING IN INDIA

History of Scouting

Genesis of scouting in the world: 
The Boy Scout Movement took a start in the United Kingdom when Lord Baden Powell (Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden Powell) organised a Scout Camp at Brown sea Island on 1907 and the ‘Scouting for Boys’ was published in 1908. The movement spread quickly in United Kingdom and other countries of the world.

Scouting / Guiding in India before 1950:
The first Scout Troop in India, consisting of Indian Boys, was formed by a Scottish Missionary, in the Central Provinces (present Madhya Pradesh) in 1908. However, the troop was disbanded in 1910. The common confirmed date, however, for the start of Scouting in India is 1909, when three troops for British boys were started at Bangalore, Kirkee and Jabalpur.

This list of three Scout Troops increased to nine different Boy Scout Organisations in early 1911 in Shimla, Calcutta (present Kolkata), Jabalpur, Allahabad, Bangalore, Poona, Kirkee, Saidpur and Madras (present Chennai).

Efforts were made to merge all the Boy Scouts Organisations with the help and assistance of Lord Baden Powell in 1921. These efforts were partly successful. An endeavor was again made in 1937.

The Girl Guide movement got a start in India at Jabalpur (M.P.) In 1911. It expanded enormously. There were about 50 girl guide companies with a membership of over 1200 by 1915. There companies were directly registered with imperial scout headquarters, London, like other Scout organisation. But an All India Girl Guides Association was formed in 1916. Girl Guiding was restricted to British Girls till 1916.

Unification of Scouting and Guiding
There were scattered organisations during the pre-independence era. However, serious efforts made by leaders like Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the then Education Minister, Govt. of India, Mr. Mangal Das Pakwasa, the then Governor of C.P. and Scout Leaders like Dr. H. N. Kunzru, Pt. Sri Ram Bajpai, Justice Vivian Bose. Final merger took place on 7th November 1950 under the name of the Bharat Scouts & Guides. The Girl Guides Association joined the Bharat Scouts & Guides a year later in 15th August 1951.

The Bharat Scouts & Guides was housed in small rooms in Regal Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi. It shifted to its new building at 16, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, New Delhi in the year 1963 – 64.

The Bharat Scouts & Guides has extended since 1950 enormously in quantitative and qualitative terms.