SCOUTING IN ORISSA

Scouting in odisha found its way almost in the year 1916 when kings of different princely states exposed their prince to the British education. They visited London and got influenced by scouting.

Those who got educated from the Raj kumar college of Raipur also brought the message of scouting to Odisha.

Boy scouting had started in Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Bolangir Patna and Seraikela royal families. Sri Sura Pratap Mahindra Bahadur Maharaja of Dhenkanal Introduced scouting in his State and formed a scout troop, but after his death in early age 1918 his minor son Raja Sankar Pratap was the ruler of Dhenkanal right upto the merger of states with the union of india and thus becoming a part of Orissa. Message of scouting in Raj Kumar College at Raipur and later study vay calcutta was in his mind. He was member of Calcutta Boy Scout Association under the Presidentship of Maharaja Bijaya Chand Mahatab of Burdhman. By 1929 introduction of Boy scout Girl Guide in all educational Institution of Dhenkanal State was a great achievement on the part of Raja Sankar Pratap. He got experienced hand from calcutta to achieve perfection in scouting and Guiding ,Young villagers also started practicing scouting. Patriotism and love for people in Scouts of Dhenkanal was influenced by Bal Sevak Dal and “Praja Mandal” came into existence played a vital role in freedom struggle of Dhenkanal. Thre first girl guide company was started at Dhenkanal in the year 1930 under the leadership of Rani Ratnaprava. Their participation and brilliant performance at Calcutta was highly praised and rewarded by Lord Baden Powel and Lady Powel in th year 1935. As the leader of all india Boy Scout contingent, Raja Sankar Pratap attened the world jamboree at Holland in 1937. Scouts including Samarendra Pratap, Bamdev Rath, Kanhu Charan Bhutia, Krushna Chandra Jena and Sri Shes Pratap from Orissa participated in the india cotingent and left Bombay for Holland via Eden, Lohit Sagar (Red sea), Suez canal, Egypt, Venice, Paris and London. He also participated as a delegate at the 9th Blennil international Scout Conference at the hague. He was decorated with the “Silver Cross” award for saving children fron a blazing hut.

IN 1916 there was another attempt to run service organisation in the pattern Scouting.

Pandit Raghunath Mishra who was a student of Benaras, was influenced by the work of Cadet Corps of central Hindu High School Establised by Dr. G.S.Arundale.

After his return to Orissa, Sri Mishra stared “Kalika Seva Dal” a: puri Young members of this group were cleaning their area and bringing awareness among public, fighting against social tattoos and offering voluntary service to pilgrims.

This Seva Dal was organizing service campus during all important festivals of puri, in melas and other public gatherings. Dal earned admiration and recognition from the british authority, from the gajapati King and from public for their voluntary service without expecting any reward. Gradually they started getting request from different corner to regulate the orderly movement of huge crowds of people, controlling traffic and rendering first-aid service. Their khaki uniform was a mark of distinction. By enlarging their network to district and block level, Dal started dealing with problems and issues of people who were neglected. Acharya Harihar Das, a great freedom fighter and follower of mahatma Gandhi was utilizing this Dal for Leprosy eradication.

They were also working as “Banar Sena” who are playing vital role in Indian Freedom struggle. By that time Pandit Raghunath Mishra was an active member in the freedom struggle and has been arrested several time for his anti government speech and activity.

Allahabad was then nerve center of national politics. Pandit Raghunath Mishra met Pandit Sriram Bajpai at Banaras who highly appreciated Raghunath’s commitment to serve the people for the promotion for the national cause and freedom of the country and invited Raghunath to visit their ”Bal Sevak Dal” Organization.

“Seva Samiti Scout Association” was founded in 1917 by Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and Dr. Hridaynath Kunzuru, based at Allahabad. Raghunath came in contact with Ashfaqualla Khan and Ram Prasad Bismal the famous poet of “Sarforosh ki tamanna ab hamara dil ne hai” in a meeting of Seva Samiti Scout of association. Being influenced by them, Pandit Mishra installed the spirit of patriotism in all member’s of “Kalika Seva Dal” in Orissa.

Pandit Raghunath Mishra received the decoration “Sahitya Bhusan” for his contribution to Hindi & Sanskrit literature in the year 1929 in the “Bid Batta Sammelan” at Allahabad. By that time Sriram Bajpai has completed “Wood Badge” training at Gilwel and was designated as chief organizing Commissioner. Dr. Mohan singh Mehta, Dr, D.L. Anand Rao, Sri Janaki Saran Sarma along with Sriram Bajpai invited Raghunath Mishra to “Seva Samiti Scout Association” and convinced him to rename to the “Kalika Seva Dal” to “Seva Samiti Scout”.

Local leaders were very much convinced by the ideology of boy scouting and attempts were made in different parts of the state of Orissa to start Seva Scouts and they were utilized in freedom struggle.

The eminent freedom fighter like Sri Gangadhar Paikray, Sri Akulananda Behera, Sri Bhagavan Pratihari, Sri Anant Mishra, Sri Bhabani Charan Pattnaik, Sri Bijaya Pani were leading scout in different parts of Orissa.



In 1934 Mahatma Gandhi started “Harijan Andolan” from puri. Pandit Raghunath ishra was one of her commanedrs for this movement and at that time scouts of “Seva samiti Scout Association”

Of Orissa were leading the Andolan. Mahatma appreciated their service.

“Seva samiti Scout of Orissa”also conducted the ALL TIME HARIJAN Conference where Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Ballavbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and many top leaders came to puri.

Pandit Mishra was invited to the all India Conference of Scouts at Delhi in the year 1937.

Sri Laxminarayan Sahu an eminent leader & freedom fighter of Orissa who had spent years at Calcutta and outside Orissa was impressed of Indian boy Scout association. He proposed introduction of boy Scouting in all educational institutions of Orissa and requested for Government’s patronization.




In 1937 Sri Biswanath Das (1st Prime Minister of Orissa, later on designated as Chief Minister) convened a meeting at Puri and requested all likeminded people and organisers to discuss and propose to form the Orissa boy Scout association.

After discussion, an organization was formed “The Seba Samiti Scout Guide Association” of Orissa with Dr. J. Choudhury as Chief Commissioner and Pandit Raghunath Mishra as Honourary Secretary. Scoutmasters Training was organised at that time.

That time Orissa State was having 5 districts and teachers from all districts attended this course.



During that period National efforts were made to bring various service oriented organizations under one umbrella. A unified Scout Association called “Hindusthan Scout Association” with its National Headquarters at Allahabad came to existence in 1938.

Pandit Sriram Bajpai became the National Organising Commissioner. So, the Seva Samiti Scout Guide Association was also renamed to “The Hindusthan Scout Guide Association”.
The Orissa contingent of Scouts joined the National Jamboree at New Delhi from 1st to 7th January 1937.One Scout Wood Badge Training was organized at Puri from 10th Dec. to 20th Dec. 1940.

Maharajas were still patronizing boy scouting. Rai Bahadur Biswambar Mishra of Jajpur was a dedicated Scout organiser and teacher. The Maharaja of Mayurbhanj patronized the scouting and due to them one scout Sri Sarat Chandra Bindhani from Baripada could join the sixth world Jamboree of scouts at London. Raj Bahadur G.T.J. Thaddeus, Secretary General of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides association was the leader of the Indian contingent, consisting of 120 Scouts and 39 Scouters. The boy scouts association which was patronized by Maharajas of different princely states were active up to 1949. The Orissa contingent from Baripada joined this world Jamboree at London by sailing for a long 30 days journey in the ship “B.S. Alkanta” via Paris, Kairo and Southampton.

Prior to that Pandit Raghunath Mishra, Dr. J. Choudhury and Sri Bimal Mishra along with 14 Scouts from Hindusthan Scout association attended the Scout gathering at Karachi in the year1946. This gathering was called as Karachi Mela. This was the last major event of Hindusthan Scouts before partition of India.

By this time message of scouting had spread to nook & corner of Orissa. Scouts and Scout leaders who were also having active role in freedom struggle lost no opportunity to inculcate love for the country. Scouting was not considered only an activity of students or young mass but a necessity to create patriotism and national awakening among the youths of Orissa.

In 1946 July 20 when Mahatma came to Balasore and proceeded to Berhampur via Bhadrak and Cuttack Pandit Raghunath Mishra with local Scout Leaders also accompanied him.

Pandit Mishra was also invited to the emergency National Council meeting of Hindusthan Scout Association 1948 and the Merger Committee of all Scout organizations of India in 1949 March.

The merger came in to effect on 7th Nov. 1950.
Hindusthan Scout Association of Orissa was renamed as “The Bharat Scouts and Guides.”

Pandit Raghunath Mishra as Secretary and Dr. J. Choudhury as Chief Commissioner continued till 1954.

Under the Leadership of Pt. Raghunath Mishra, Scouting & Guiding with a dedication of service to others and National Integration, spreaded to all most all the districts for supporting the cause of Indian Independence and building a b young society.

After Independence of the country as Pt. Raghunath Mishra left politics and was busy with social reformation, patronizing and managing schools, colleges, “Utkal Sammelani”, “Orissa Gabesana Samiti”. “Bhudan Movement” “Nikhil Bharat Hindu Dharma Seva Sangh” etc. Sri Basant Kumar Das managed the scout movement as Jt. Secretary and then as Secretary from 1954 till October 1958.

Dr. J. Choudhury continued as Chief Commissioner till 1954 and Dr. Radhanath Rath took over the charge from 1954 and continued till 1984.

For about 10 years Bharat Scouts Guides Association of Orissa after shifting from Puri to Cuttack, had no formal Headquarters with officers and office bearers. It was being run in a local High School at Cuttack with the Headmaster (B.K. Das) as the State Secretary.

After demise of the Honorary Secretary Sri Basant Kumar Das in 1958, all records from Puri and Cuttack got misplaced. Sri Harihar Mishra Jt. DPI of Orissa managed as State Commissioner Scout upto 1959 and Sri S. Kanungo, Headmaster of R.C. School, Cuttack as Honourary Secretary.

The Executive Committee, thought it wise to appoint a paid organizing Commissioner. As no trained hand for that post was available in Orissa a request was made to Andhra Pradesh Association. Sri B.K. Rao, ADCC joined Orissa as SOC(S) with effect from dt.20.6.1960. The Orissa State Association took shape with a State Headquarters office, elected office bearers and qualified trainers.

District Associations were formed in a new manner with the District Collector as President & Non functioning troops were identified.

Movement got revived after 6 years of Non-functioning. The state started functioning with 7 scout district associations and 1100 registered scouts.

Under the patronization of His Excellency Governor Sri A.N. Khosala, Chief Minister Sri Bijayanand Pattanaik, Dy. Chief Minister Sri Biren Mitra President Sri Pabitra Mohan Pradhan, Education Minister and Chief Commissioner Sri Radhanath Rath former Development Minister tried to spread scouting in all educational districts.

Training camps, Service camps, Rallies, service in State emergency, meetings, sale of equipments were conducted properly and regularly.

The Government of Orissa decided to allot a land for State Headquarters at Bhubaneswar and Lady Baden Powel agreed to lay down the foundation stone in Dec. 1962. But on account of the National Emergency the programme was cancelled. In the year 1963 there was considerable progress in Scouts Gudies movement in the state.

In the year 1964, with a new vision the Executive Committee decided to enlarge the activities of the Scout movement in the state. The district associations which were formed mostly on the basis of Educational circle were dissolved and new district associations were formed on the basis of Education districts through out the state. All Inspectors of schools were made Asst. State Commissioners.

Mrs. Bina Chakrabarty Asst. Camp Chief of Guides India, conducted camps for Guide Captains at Bhubaneswar.

On resignation of Sri B.K. Rao , SOC(S), ASOC Sri P.C. Parida took over the charge of SOC(S).

In 1962 National Commissioner Mrs. Laxmi Mazumdar and Jt. National Organising Commissioner Sri V.P. Dhawan visited Orissa.

A contingent of 75 Scouts and Guides attended the 4th all India Jamboree at Allahabad. State rallies (Jamborettes) were conducted in the year 1964, 1967, 1970 & 1978.

Scouts and Guides of Orissa attended International events. Starting with a children camp at Artek (USSR) in 1967 one Scout and one Guide participated. Same year one guide represented the state at Diamond Jubilee camp in Australia, 4 girl guides at Diamond Jubilee Guides camp in Japan.

On the whole 11 Scouts and 13 Guides participated in International camps during 1967 to 1974 from the state of Orissa.

The year 1975 was observed as the “International Womens Year”. National Organising Commissioner Mrs. Bina Chakrabarty and National Commissioner Mrs. Laxmi Mazumdar visited all adopted villages of the project. Kalarahanga, Balkati, Sardeipur, Nuapalli village.

The year 1979 was observed as the “International Childrens Year”. 3 villages i.e. Kausalyapur, Khatuapada and Dhauli were adopted. Mrs. Bina Chakraborty visited and guided the project.

The year 1981 was celebrated as the international year of disabled by the National Headqrs. at Orissa. 6 Scout districts participated in this programme.