Talati’s 8th East Bombay Bharat Scouts Group celebrated their 100th anniversary twice on two consecutive days, July 10 and 11, 2021, one with a small in-person gathering and another virtually. Their Guides Group, 68th East Bombay completed 35 years, noted group leader Rohinton Patel in conversation with Parsiana on July 20. On July 10, a few scouters and guiders celebrated the day with homage to the founder, Rustam Talati, "followed by the traditional ceremony of flag break and renewal of scout and guide promise and cutting a cake at the Scout Hut” at Azad Maidan, noted Patel.
Clockwise from above: Celebrations at Talati’s 8th East Bombay Bharat Scouts Group;
Shernaz Acharia, Rohinton Patel; Rustam Talati, troop founder
Online celebrations were attended by "over 200” well-wishers who included parents and many past members of the Group. "It began with a speech by Patel, followed by clips of greetings sent by past members,” stated a note from the Group. Past members shared their experiences and memories of their scouting days and how they felt they have benefitted "from the movement,” stated the write-up. A speech by Guides group leader Shernaz Acharia and an online entertainment program put up by the members followed, as did awards to individuals and patrols for their achievements in the online activities conducted during the lockdown. "We met every Sunday for two hours online after the lockdown started,” Patel informed us.
The group leader bemoaned that in his "over half-a-century” association with the Group, he has seen the numbers of members, including the Parsi representation, shrink. "Scouting has lost its charm” as other activities such as social media, computer games, etc draw the young away from many outdoor pursuits. Their 100 or so members include "not even two” Parsis. When he started his association with the Group, "most were Parsis with a smattering of other communities.” But Patel soldiers on. "Scouting to me is teaching young boys not only ‘scouty’ topics like first aid, cooking, signaling, knotting and camping but also how to sharpen their leadership skills, time management, teamwork… Our motto ‘Go Ahead’ will always stand them in good stead,” he stated.
Author H. D. Darukhanawala noted in the 1935 edition of Parsis and Sports that Talati’s "untimely death” at 21 in 1924 was a loss "difficult to replace.” A troop leader at 17, Darukhanawala stated that Talati started the 8th Bombay Troop at age 19 and it was the first to be registered as a Baden-Powell Troop, named after the founder of the scouting movement. Talati was presented to King George V, the Prince of Wales and the "Chief Scout” while attending imperial and international jamborees at Wembley and Copenhagen.