Feature

Rambling 2010: 100 Miles Away From Home

Md. Saimum Reza Talukder

IF someone asks what the best part of the Scout movement is, I would say it is the opportunity to discover nature and meet new people. 75% activities of scouting are done outdoors. I got ready for the most exciting and thrilling adventure of my scouting life that is 'Rambling'!

Generally, Rambling means preferring to move from one place to another rather than settling down in one. But in Scouting, it alludes to expedition and exploration. A Rover Scout must ramble and aggregate 100 miles outside towns (or 100 miles on boat or 400 miles on bicycle) within 5 days and must keep a log of his journeys. The object of this programme is to excite curiosity and awareness towards our surroundings. It fosters many hobbies and finds room for wonder and enthusiasm, the spirit of adventure and a spontaneous delight in discovery.

Four Rover Scouts from BNS Haji Mohshin Sea Rover Scout Group, Illias, Zeeshan and Kamrul and I, started our 100 mile walk on the morning of July 14 from the BNS Haji Mohshin Naval Base, Dhaka Cantonment. The destination was the Regional Scout Training Center, Muktagacha, Mymensingh. Captain (BN) S. Aslam Pravez inaugurated the programme and saw us off, wishing us success.

We walked through Gazipur, Tangail and Mymensingh districts. On our way, we paid visits to various institutions such as National University, National Scout Training Center, Safipur Ansar Academy, Mirzapur Cadet College, Bharateswari Homes, Tangail Kumudini Hospital, different schools, UNO offices, police stations etc. We had the opportunity to visit different historical places on our way such as the 400-year-old Pakulla Jami Mosque, Ichhapur Zamindar Bari, the place where our villagers began the Liberation War in 1971, and the rest house where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first wrote the draft of our constitution. On July 18, we crossed the Madhupur Reserve forest and reached Muktagacha in the afternoon.

The next day, we came back to Dhaka by bus. To keep a log of our experiences in Rambling, we had to count our steps, determine degree by compass, and draw route maps. We took part in social awareness programmes among the villagers with themes such as 'Say no to drugs', 'Scouting for Peace', 'Small Family is Happy Family' and 'Stop Gender Discrimination'. We received warm support wherever we went on our journey. Throughout our expedition we felt completely at home.

We would not have successfully completed Rambling without the support of a few individuals. Our Rover Scout Leader, SZM Shova helped us with the official proceedings. We are grateful to Tangail district Scout Commissioner Principal, Enamul Karim Shaheed, who took care of us all along. Most important of all, we have had the love and support of the root-level people of our country. We were determined to do something for them in future.

The Rambling was a part of preparing ourselves for the “President's Rover Scout Award” according to the Rover Scout syllabus. It has been the most invaluable experience.

(Student of Law, University of Chittagong.)

Friendship Re-defined

Trina Mutsuddy

THE month of August is always special to me because of the World Friendship Day. This special day gives me the chance to look back at the journey I made with my friends. It may have been a bumpy roller-coaster ride but it is always worth remembering.

I believe school and college lives are the best times of pure and uncomplicated friendship. Friendship was all about sharing tiffin during breaks or playing games in the field under the scorching summer heat. Friendship is hardly tested during this time. Fighting used to lead to 'aari' and a new phase of friendship started with the gesture of 'bhaab'.

As we grow older, we get the opportunity of meeting new people and face a constant dilemma of choosing the right ones as friends. However, the nature of friendship has changed a lot in our generation, thanks to globalization. People's lives are getting complicated, and so are the bonds of friendships. It is increasingly becoming a trend to choose friends according to who can serve our best interests. Some people use the name of friendship with a fake smile just to get their purposes served. But I still believe true friendship needs to be nurtured with proper care so that it blossoms at the right time with the right person.

I have had the opportunity to consider many people as my friends. Sometimes I felt blessed and sometimes I have cursed when certain people let me down. At times, I wondered where I went wrong. But I was also quick to realise that maybe I had set my expectations too high. Throughout the years, I have had so many different forms and levels of friendship that it is hard for me to describe friendship in one general definition. Some friends stayed with me for a long time but are yet to have found a permanent place in my heart. On the other hand, some stayed for a very short time, yet I would say some of these people have made me who I am today. Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to show my appreciation to all my friends, from past and present, because you help me to be a better person every day. So, thank you my dear friends!

(BBA student, Department of Management Studies, Dhaka University)