Scouting and Guiding in Burma: Difference between revisions

[[Image:Burmanewer.jpg|thumb|140px|Burmese national Scout emblem prior to disbandment. The red devices in the center are ''[[chinthe]]'', a Burmese [[Mythology|mythical]] creature similar to a [[griffin]]. The text on the scroll states "Scouts" (''kin-htauk'') in Burmese.]]

Today, [[Myanmar]] is one of only six of the world's independent countries that do not have [[Scouting]], however '''Scouting in Burma''' had a rich five decade history.

Scouting was founded in [[Burma]] as part of the British Indian branch of [[The Scout Association]] during colonial days, introduced in [[1910]] for British dependents. By [[1913]], [[Lone Scouts]] were found in Burma. Later, Scouting was opened to the [[Burmese]]. In [[1922]], Burmese Scouting became a separate branch of the British headquarters in London, but shared the same Chief Scout as India, the [[Viceroy]].  In the [[Burmese language]], the Burmese Scouts are known as [[Image:Bscript MyanmanainnganKinht.png]] ({{IPA2|myamà nàĩ ŋà̃ kí̃ tʰaʊʔ myá}} ''Myanma naing-ngan kin-htauk mya'').

{{cquote|In Burma, organized Scouting did not survive the advent of the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]]. Before and during the period of the invasion, Scouting was going on steadily, and in the large towns they were trained to help in air-raid precaution work," a Scouter from Burma wrote to the Chief Scout early in [[1940]]. "Should war come our way, we cannot hope for better than we will do our part as well as the best at home are doing theirs." When the time came, the Scouts had very little chance, though they did what they could before war dispersed them. They trained well and thoroughly in all [[Air Raid Precautions|A.R.P.]] work, each Scout being careful to know his own area intimately. So useful were they that, as the Burmese Scouts left school, they were absorbed into the Auxiliary Fire Service, where they were allowed to wear Scout badges and scarves in addition to their A.R.P. uniform.  

The last gathering of Scouts, most of whom were wearing it, took place on [[January 10]], [[1942]], at [[Lanmadaw Township|Lanmadaw]] in Rangoon. By then they had already proved their mettle in the two great raids made by the Japanese against the city during the previous month. Of all the Rangoon Troops who helped to mitigate their effect, the 51st [[Kandawgyi Lake|Kandawgalay]] took pride of place, not only for the number of Scouts belonging to it engaged in National Service, but also because of their great devotion to duty in time of danger. When the Auxiliary Fire Service left Rangoon with the retreating army, the Scouts went with them and moved successively to [[Mandalay]], [[Maymyo]] and [[Shwebo]]. Most of them went farther and under their officers tramped the long road through the [[Naga Hills]] to [[Imphal]] and on to [[Assam]] and [[India]]. There some of them joined the [[Burmese Navy]].}}  

[[J.S. Wilson]], Director of the [[World Scout Bureau|Boy Scouts International Bureau]], visited Burma in 1952. Wilson's sole journey outside Rangoon was to fly to [[Myaungmya]] in the Delta. Scouting in that district was due to the enthusiasm of a [[Gurkha]] Preventive Officer, who formed all the official and influential men in the town into a Local Association. Many of those auxiliary leaders were given preliminary Scout training, and Scouters and Guiders received more intensive training, while he apprenticed a successor as District Commissioner.  Wilson met Bluebirds and Guides, Cubs and Scouts at a refugee village rapidly becoming a cooperative settlement; Guides and Scouts in their own locale; as well as a little band of Scouts in the compound of a [[Vihara|Buddhist monastery]] across the river.

Burma sent a representative to the 1957 Far East Scouters' Regional Pow-Wow held at [[Sutton Park]], England. By [[1959]] the nation counted 13,889 members, and the [[Yangon University|University of Rangoon]] in [[1960]] hosted the Second Far East Regional Scout Conference, with the First Far East Professional Scouters Training Conference held at [[Inya Lake|Inyale]] Camp in Rangoon as an ancillary event. [[U Tin Tun]] represented UBBS in the five-man Far East Scout Advisory Committee (FESAC). Burma's [[U Ba Htay]] was elected one of the very earliest chairmen of FESAC, which would later become the [[Asia-Pacific Region]], and served from [[1958]] to [[1960]]. Boy and Girl Scouts in Burma merged in [[1962]] to form the coeducational '''Union of Burma Boy Scouts and Girl Guides''', which was active until [[1964]], reaching a membership high-point of 93,562.

The UBBS conducted a series of intensive training in the five regions of the country. In addition to the Cub Scout and Scout leaders' basic training courses, a [[Wood Badge]] course was conducted by [[John Thurman]], Camp Chief of [[Gilwell Park]] in [[1962]].

However, there are USA Girl Scouts Overseas in [[Yangon]], serviced by way of USAGSO headquarters in New York, and there are American Boy Scouts in Yangon, linked to the [[Direct Service]] branch of the [[Boy Scouts of America]], which supports units around the world.

*''Scouting 'Round the World'', [[J.S. Wilson|John S. Wilson]], first edition, Blandford Press 1959

[[Category:Scouting in Burma]]