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Proud moments for these scouts From left: Manoj V, Aditya Srinidhi, Scout master Riyaz Pasha, D S Rohit Kumar. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi
Four students from Oxford Senior Secondary
School (CBSE), 1st Phase JP Nagar, were among the 240 to represent India at the International Scouts Jamboree at Rinkaby, Sweden. D S Rohit Kumar, Manoj V, Aditya Srinidhi and D Lingeshwar participated in the jamboree which went on from 27th July to 7th August. The event is held once in four years and this year, close to 48,000 scouts and guides from around the world participated in the jamboree. Scoutmaster of Oxford School, Riyaz Pasha, 38 was appointed the contingent leader for the state wing of Bharath Scouts and Guides. D S Rohit Kumar, 15, a tenth standard student, who has been studying in the school since first standard, says that the jamboree gave them an opportunity to experience different cultures, “It was an adventure as we got to meet new people from different cultures and interact with them and share our culture with them.” Aditya Srinidhi, 15, also a student of tenth standard, was also chosen to represent India as the Young Correspondent and got an opportunity to interview the Prime Minister of Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeldt. “We spoke about his views on scouting and also terror concerns in Norway,” says Aditya who eventually wants to get in to game testing.
At the jamboree we prepared our own food everyday. We were given food passes with which we could shop for ingredients and cook in our tents.”
Rastrapathi Award Manoj V, 11th standard student, was selected to receive Rashtrapathi Scouts award from the President of India, Pratibha Patil on 23rd August. He was among the ten students who represented Karnataka at the Rashtrapathi Award Rally held in Haryana earlier in the same week. When asked how he felt when he met the President, Manoj said, “I wasn’t nervous. It was a proud moment for my state and me.” ⊕
yogaraj mudalgi
Manoj V receiving the Rashtapathi Scouts Award from President Patibha Patil. Pic courtesy: Oxford School.
Many activities related to environment, team work and cultural diversity were organised at the event. Rohit, who wants to study Aeronautical Engineering, says that being a scout means being more aware about our surroundings and learning to be independent. “As scouts we learn about earthquakes and floods and what to do in emergencies. We also get to learn different skills. Vol-3 Issue-16 10-23 Sep 2011 CITIZEN MATTERS 13