Trek to Amarnath Cave in Jammu & Kashmir, Indian Himalayas

Some young peoples were interested in trek  Jammu & Kashmir of Indian Himalayas. The team had a plan to trek from Sonamarg to Amarnath cave in 1970, it was not an open route, the special permission was needed. They approached Indian Mountaineering Foundation, New Delhi, the apex organisation for mountain adventure in India.

The project was approved by the Bharat Scouts & Guides of Eastern Railway, Sealdha Division. It was seven members team under the leadership of Amarnath Chakraborty of the Indian railway. The program was closely supervised by Late Robindra Nath Chatterjee, a true scouter of Indian Railway. Due to the constraint of time the team took normal route to Amarnath Cave from Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

The team had faced bad weather before the trek and also while coming down.. 

It was in 1993, I was contacted by Fr Dominic, of Don Bosco Kolkata in connection of organising their next Boxscore event which was held on December 1984. The program was held at Don Bosco School Liluha, Howrah, West Bengal. We had a long discussion and then decided that  arrangement for exhibition on Maps of India by

Mountaineering photos, equipment by Giri Doot, a civil society of Chandan Nagar, Hooghly, West Bengal. 

An amateur wireless station was established, the operators wer from Indian Institute of Kharagpur, 

West Bengal.

The building of Don Bosco Liluha

The antenna was erected on the rooftop, it was found fantastic communication during this Boscoree event. I got the assistance of Rajiv Seikh, a Rover from then Don Bosco  Bandel, Hooghly, West Bengal. Out of three operators from IIT Kharagpur, two of them left India for their study, research and lively hood. 

The Cub, Bul Bul, Scout, Guide, Rover, ranger & Scouters who came all over the country enjoyed the event. I still remember the New year's eve at the Boscoree site. 

I will look forward to any participant in this event to remember this event. Last year I was looking for Fr Dominic who is also out of our country then.

My memory of Bangladesh Scouts after 1987

I had an opportunity to visit a open Scout Group of Bangladesh in 1987., The Cub, Scout & Rover they were well informed about their country. Bengali being my mother tongue it was great opportunity for me to interact with them very closely. They were regular writing to me and my reply were important to them for getting their proficiency badges. When ever any Scout viist that time, they used to visit my place. I was up dated their personal and scouting activities.

In 1995 a team of five youths from Behrampore, Murshidabad, West \Bengal, they planned to visit Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India with three motor cycle. Due to political instability they team had left Bangladesh from their itinerary. 

We had strong desired to have joint venture from river Ganga  to Padma which was not materialised. How ever two expeditions wer took place on river \Ganga from Maharajpur, Jharkhand, India to Behrampore ( West Bengal), a total distance of 190 kms covered by 3 country boats by 14 persons . in 5 days. 

Route followed on river ganga in 1995 & 1996

Route followed in 1995 & 1996 in English

Another expedition was organised in 1996 from Behrampore (West Bengal) to Kolkata, a distance of 300 kms in 8 days by 18 persons by 2 rafts prepared by the members of the team.

In 1997, I went again to Bangladesh to attain Asia Pacific Rover Moot, an event organised by the Bangladesh Scout. . We all stayed under canvas at  Syleth. We went there by road from Dacca. There were about 2500 participants mainly from Bangladesh Scouts including Girls Guides. 

Bangladesh Amateur wireless operators had established station there at. a helicopter was in stand by mode near the camp location. I was attached with the Public Relation group of this event. I helped in publishing their special numbers during this event.

Bangladesh Radio, Syleth Station took an interview of my experience and scope of adventure in India. This was broadcasted during this event.

I had an experience to stay in a family of Bangladeshi, who is an senior amateur radio operator, his call sign is S21A, Mr. Sherif. Mr Anwar, call sign S21L who took me to places around Dacca including Bangladesh TV at Dacca.

My experience of visiting Bangladesh after a gap of ten years, in my mind that the general people were not getting food in 1987 which was not there in 1997.

My experience on Bangladesh Scouts of 1987

It was in 1987, I  used to visit The Bharat Scouts & Guides (West Bengal) State HQ at Kolkata, One day I mate the Leader of Dacca College Scout Group of Bangladesh. They were on a visit to India. I took interest to know about youth of Bangladesh. They were staying at Sea Scout Headquarter on the river bank of Ganga. I keep looking why Bangladeshi youths are not adventure oriented ? though good numbers are working in ships.I got verbal request to visit Bangladesh from my new Scouts   friends. In December 1987, I took permission from my employer and obtained visa to visit Bangladesh. I had a official  work at the Indo Bangladesh Town and then entered Bangladesh border, I took a night bus service to reach Dacca, the cost of ordinary bus service was about INR 26.

I reached Bangladesh Scout National HQ, there was a single  accomodation was availed by me. It was an opportunity to meet more Scouters and Scouts who used to visit this HQ.

 The law and order was not favourable at that time, the political disturbance was there.

I was interviewed by Bangladesh Radio, Dacca for a monthly Scout programme 'Agradoot', it was in Bengali language.I invited our friends to join for Rock Climbing training

 at Sushunia Hill of Bankura District of West Bengal. They arrived Kolkata when our team left Kolkata. It was difficult to contact at that time.

A true Scouter of West Bengal, India

I mate Dr Robin Chatterjee who was Scouter and In charge of Disaster Training Institute of Indian Red Cross Society (West Bengal). This Institute was located at central Kolkata. Dr Robin Chatterjee at Face Book

I had planned to visit Amarnath Cave,in 1970,  Jammu & Kashmir, in Indian Himalayas.Trekking route to Amarnath cave

Dr Chatterjee took interest for making this venture a success, we had a plan to trek from Batal, it was not a normal trekking route.The special permission were required that time. We were seven members, but who will sponsor our venture ? Dr Chatterjee took initiative and The Bharat Scouts & Guides, Eastern Railway, Sealdha Division sponsored this venture. Indian Mountaineering Foundation of New Delhi approved this venture.We faced hardship due to bad weather, before our venture there were lots of casualties of human and animal lives.

It was in 1982 mountaineers and trekkers meet was planned at The  Bharat Scouts & Guides (West Bengal) Campsite for the mountaineers and trekkers of the state of West Bengal of India. Apart from Himalayan Club the oldest civil mountaineering club is located at Kolkata, India. The Bharat Scouts & Guides (West Bengal) a Rover Crew was active in mountain adventure activities. Even then the State Secretary was very much interested in mountain adventure activities.

Rock climbing, trekking, and mountaineering expeditions were organised by them. An effort of making a confederation was initiated since 1980 and a meet was called at The  Bharat Scouts & Guides (West Bengal) Campsite. The various representatives of mountaineering & trekking organisations and individuals joined this meet. It was decided to form a confederation for the state of West Bengal for the development of mountaineering and trekking activities.

The name of this organisation is West Bengal Mountaineers & Trekkers Confederation. 

World wide communication through ICT by the Scouts, Guides of the World community

The word Jamboree means physical assembling in a particular place. It is important event of scouting and guiding. Another way of Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) it is an annual event of World Scots & Guides. It starts from mid night of Friday and continue till Sunday midnight, a total of 48 hours event.

Scots & Guides of the world they contact each other through amatur wireless operator stations. They greet each other, exchange information,idea,sing song and play games on air.. 

The camp site of Bharat Scouts & Guides (West Bengal) is having a camp site at Ganga Nagar, next to Kolkata Air Port.

 The first time a JOTA station was established there by a team of young operators and leader of this team was Ananda gopal Mazumder,  vu2agj,he was then resident of this state. He was very expert amateur wireless operator.. The contributor was also in this team, he is an amateur wireless operator, call sign is VU3SKD, he got his amatur wireless licence received in 1991.

IN the state of West Bengal 'Durga Puja' is a big event for about 5 days. and JOTA was just after puja event. The voltage of the power supply was too low. It was difficult to opearte during day time. The voltage was reasonable to operate during the night. 

The Scout & Guides were visited this station from various parts of the state, even Eastern Railway Scots & Guides joined in this event. I do remember the Guides from Howrha Division were very expert to translate the meaning of Bengali songs into English.

The Yong Explorers' Institute for Social Service Scout Group was very new the scout activities, some cub members joined this event, they are now grown up persons.