Boy Scout

From being a tender-foot Scout in 1960, I graduated to be a First Class Scout in 1962. I qualified for the President's Scout rank in 63. I had chance to attend Scout camps at Khajipet(near Cuddapah) and Brahmamgari Matam. 

The Khajipet camp was opp. the travellers' bungalow . I remember that there were some participants from Chennur who regaled all campers with their Balanagamma playlet during the campfire in the night. I can recollect a bird nest being used as a head gear in the play. It was my first time to see an intricately woven natural bird nest. 2 flint stones (chekumuki rallu) were used to light campfire. Tracking & Observation was practiced with a Treasure hunt in the forests around the camp. 

Brahmamgari Matam camp was bigger one with more campers. The camp was conducted a few kilometres away from the village itself in the forest region. We had to dig snake pit around each tent to prevent snakes entering the tents. Tests for various proficiency badges were conducted after due training in these camps. I remember C.Chandrasekhar (son of Sri C.Nagaraja Rao who was an asst. Public Prosecutor) singing Lava Kusa film songs during the campfire time. 

I also attended a State Rally in Kakinada. I remember competing in the fancy dress event. My partner in it was from Yerraguntla (I saw him as a porter in Yerraguntla railway station after a few years) He acted as blind begger singing and following me holding a stick. We won the prize as we walked through the visitors completely unrecognised during the closing ceremony function. He was superb in singing Ghantasala songs from the Telugu movie, Jayabheri. His 'Ragamayi Rave' song still rings in my ears. Our make-up was good enough to prevent us from recognition and when we reached the elevated stage erected for the closing ceremony, we were stopped from climbing up the steps mistaking us to be real street beggers and not as fancy dress competing team.

As for my participation in National Jambooree in Allahabad, I had the fortune of attending the same along with Gadiyaram Ramasubrahmanya Sarma. I leave it to him to write about it, save for mentioning that AP won the second prize in Woodman's Cooking event. I was part of the team in that event.