Sethna’s scouting legacy

In a world of many distractions, the biggest challenge before Sethna’s 18th West Bombay Scout Group is in maintaining the number of boys. Yet, this oldest continuously running Scout Group in India has the unique privilege of being able to welcome a fourth generation from the same family, a testament to the troop’s values and endurability. In the century since its founding, thousands of boys have passed through the Group’s portals and benefited from Scouter Rustomji Sethna’s vision. Many have achieved great professional success, not only in India but all over the world.
The fact that four of its rovers had flown in from all over the world — New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Muscat — just to attend the centenary function on November 8, 2014 testifies to the importance the troop holds for its scouts, reminded scouter Noshir Mistry, chairman of the managing committee of Sethna’s Scouting Society. "The quest to excel in the everyday world is eternal and is the strongest legacy left behind by the founding father,” added Mistry. The troop’s name became synonymous with excellence as it set the standard and remained amongst the best over decades, shining at the district, state, national or international level, observed chief guest, scouter Dr Cyrus Wadia. Guest of honor, scouter Pervez Irani, who is also the district chief commissioner of the West Bombay Bharat Scouts and Guides District Association expressed his pride to have India’s oldest scout troop as part of the district and presented them a commemorative plaque of honor.

Among the 450+ cubs, scouts, sea scouts, rovers, scoutmasters, old scouters, parents and friends of the troop gathered for an evening of felicitation and entertainment were scouters with 70, 60 and 50 years of service who were presented with 50 g pure silver coins designed by rover Arzan Wadia and executed by his father scouter Sam in collaboration with Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri jewelers. Mistry also remembered the scouters of yore, especially cub master Dali Mistry and scout master Minoo Shroff who had dedicated their lives to the troop. Those with over 25 years of service were felicitated with a commemorative plaque designed by scouter Kannaiya Vakharia. Additionally a special commemorative cloth patch badge, designed and made by Arzan for the centenary celebrations, was proudly worn by everyone in uniform that day. A commemorative flag of the Bharat Scouts and Guides was signed upon by all those present, with the intent to preserve and unfurl it 50 years hence in 2064.
The chief guest also launched a special commemorative monograph on the occasion of the 100th anniversary, compiled and edited in-house by scouter Yazdi Patel with a cover design by Vakharia. The monograph contains the history and activities of the troop, besides snippets of past brochures celebrating the silver, golden and platinum jubilees.
The celebrations on November 8 started with a jashan led by Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji, whose association with the troop started the day his sons Marespand and Hormuzd joined it as cubs in the early 1980s. He was ably assisted by 10 ervads who are cubs, scouts and rovers of the troop. The singing of the troop song, a short skit on the theme of Jungle Book by the cubs of the troop and a slapstick natak by the rovers of the troop were enjoyed by those present. A massive 25 kg chocolate cake made by rover Jamshed Chinoy was cut jointly by the oldest scouter and the youngest cub and finally the guests had their fill of the sumptuous dinner spread catered by Tanaz Godiwalla.
An event of this magnitude takes a large number of volunteers to conform to the high standards one expects from the troop. However there are a few names that stand out, in the leadership and services they offered. Scouter Patel for coordinating all aspects of the day’s events and rover Homyar Mistry who professionally photographed and videotaped the day’s proceedings require special mention.

Senior scouts and sea scout masters and rovers of Sethna’s 18^th West Bombay

Start of scouting
The story of Sethna’s 18th West Bombay Scout Group starts with Rustomji Edulji Sethna who was intrigued by Scouting for Boys by Lord Robert Baden Powell when he was at the Taraporewala and Sons Bookshop in Fort. Convinced that scouting could pave the road to good citizenship for young boys at an early age, 22-year-old Sethna laid the nucleus of the scouting movement in India that started as a mere idea, an experiment, a century ago on August 14, 1914.
Born into a priestly family in Bombay on February 28, 1892, at the age of 17 Sethna joined the St John Ambulance Brigade (Parsi Division) as a private and rose to be the first officer. When he discovered boy scouting, he invited some of the participants in the Ambulance Brigade’s first aid classes to band together and learn about scouting. Soon thereafter, Sethna founded a scout troop which came to be known as 18th/19th Bombay Boy Scout Group under the auspices of the Parsee Scouting Society.
Undoubtedly the Grand Old Man of Scouting in Bombay, his humility, discipline and above all ability to communicate with young boys endeared him to all. Sethna was ably assisted at all times by his wife, Najamai, who was considered the "mother” of the troop. When first founded, 18th West was open only to Parsi youth. Soon after Indian Independence, membership was opened to all boys, truly embracing the underlying ideal of the fourth part of the Scout Law that states: "A scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout.” Nonetheless, 80% of its members are Parsis. The Group’s official badge is a logo depicting the rising sun with the words "Humata, Hukhta and Huvarasta.”
"Sethna Sir,” as he was fondly called, passed away on November 21, 1954, leaving behind a legacy that still lives on through the lives of the scouts who pass through the troop. After his death, the Troop was renamed Sethna’s Scouting Society and the Group became Sethna’s 18th West Bombay Scout Group ("18th West”). All meetings end with prayers with the troop’s yell being "S-E-T-H-N-A /Sethna’s 18th West Bombay /Motto of 18th is in three/purity of thoughts, words and deeds /Ahura, Ahura, Ahura Mazda.”

In its heyday, 18th West was over 60 boys strong. Since each troop could not have more than 32 boys, the 19th West Bombay was added as another troop. For decades the Sethna boys were known as the 18th-19th troop. Today at 18th West, young boys are welcomed to the cub pack at age six, moving to the scout troop or the sea scout troop when they are 11, and graduate as rovers seven years later. The rover crew provides yeoman service to 18th West and to Sethna’s Scouting Society. Many rovers continue to become cub masters, scout masters and rover leaders. Today the cub pack, scout and sea scout troop and the rover crew number over 100. A core team of a dozen cub masters, scout masters and rover leaders are responsible for the daily affairs of 18th West.
The Sea Scout Troop within 18th West was started in 1962 under the scout mastership of scouter Soli Daroona who had received special sea scout training at a course held in Khadakvasla by Commander Kaiki Godrej and scouter Keki Gilder, both alumni of 18th West. This is the only active Sea Scout troop in Bombay which celebrated its golden jubilee last year.
Cubs and scouts of 18th West work hard to learn scoutcraft. Rovers, with their experience, provide the support needed by the scouters; all with the intent of molding the boys to be better citizens of a fast changing world. Captain Lavji Mistry, group leader (scouts), appreciates the commitment of parents who ensure their boys attend troop activities every Saturday and Sunday adding that "The troop has always had a belief that a good scout master must always be a master scout, that he should have a thorough knowledge of scouting, he must be a good leader as also a good member of the team.”
Cubs and scouts are taken on training camps, annual camps, hikes and outings, to instill in them a love for the outdoors, team spirit and an awareness of self. Scouter Yazdi Randelia led a troop excursion to Hyderabad at the end of last year, ably assisted by Rover Hoshadar Parakh. Costs for these events are kept to an absolute minimum, and financial aid is provided to those in need. The Sethna’s Scouting Society raises funds through donations and special events to cover the Group’s operating costs. The managing committee of Sethna’s Scouting Society is responsible for its finance, long term planning and major decision making. The vice presidents of Sethna’s Scouting Society are Hoshang Malesra and Percy Chhapgar.

Founder Rustomji Sethna with wife Najamai and sons Eddie (left) and Patarusp

Scouters and leaders have imparted training and experience to the scouting movement at the state and national level and, as a testament, the troop counts amongst its own a few Silver Elephant awardees, the highest scouting award in India. Scouts are encouraged to achieve the Rashtrapati Scout Award, the highest award for a boy scout in India currently. Participation at national and world jamborees is encouraged and facilitated. The troop was represented by three of its rovers at the last World Scout Jamboree in 2011. The Society offers educational scholarships at all levels of education, encouraging its members to get a fully-rounded education. One goes to school and university to get an studies and attain skills. And for whatever one does not learn at school or university there is scouting where one learns first aid, cooking, pathfinding, signaling, stargazing, etc.
Life-long friendships have been forged at hikes and camps and jamborees. The troop is proud of its multi-generational family ties and cites the case of Kyros Mistry who joined the cub pack in 2013. His father Kaizad and uncle Zubin continue to serve the troop as rovers. Kyros’ grandfather Kersy Mistry continues to be involved with the troop and was a member of its managing committee. And Kyros’ great-grandfather was the legendary Godrej Sir, who joined the troop as a little boy on the first day more than a century ago and rose to be one of the great cub pack masters the movement has known.
Additionally, many of the Group’s rovers have branched out and formed their own scout troops some of which are still functioning. Some of the most famous Parsi troops were started by alumni of the 18th West, including the 16th East Bombay Zoroastrian Scout Troop and the 8th East Bombay Talati’s Group founded by Ardeshir Jilla and Rustom Talati respectively.
How 18th West will succeed in the next century is going to be the big challenge facing the troop and the managing committee. "To be more relevant and useful in its mission of making better men out of boys!” is the aspiration scout master Randelia has for 18th West Bombay.
As the troop takes fresh guard for the next century, the troop and its managing committee need to reinvigorate themselves. In a new era it is paramount to embrace the technology of the times in helping to impart training to cubs and scouts, maintaining communications with the worldwide brotherhood of scouting and still keeping the high standards of scoutcraft. The young leadership of the troop should be encouraged to step up and take leadership and decision making positions. This would be similar to what the current generation of elder scouters did when Sethna’s Scouting Society was formed after the passing away of Sethna. The senior scouters can, as always, continue guiding, mentoring and advising the youth as they bring in new ideas and initiatives.

Clockwise from top: Land and sea scout members; a section of the audience; rover and photographer Homyar Mistry

(Top) Cubs enacting a scene from Jungle Book and natak actors (right)

Former sea scout master Daroona sums it up best when he says: "To be better citizens, to become leaders of tomorrow’s nation, to understand and appreciate the idea of the world as a global village, that is the mission of Sethna’s 18th West Bombay.”