Food for thought on world thinking day 

Today is the birthday of Lord Baden Powell, the leader and the founder of the great scouting movement which started in 1908 in England in a simple way and currently has its units in 216 countries all over the world.
Food for thought on world thinking day 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Today is the birthday of Lord Baden Powell, the leader and the founder of the great scouting movement which started in 1908 in England in a simple way and currently has its units in 216 countries all over the world.


Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden Powell was born on 22 February 1857 in England, studied at charter house school and served the British army from 1876-1910. 

Lord Baden Powell
Lord Baden Powell


In 1907, Baden Powell organized a true scouting camp to be made up of twenty boys from diverse backgrounds. Within a few years, it became a national institution. In 1910, a parallel organization for the girl guides was formed and later run by his sister. 


The birthday of Lord Baden Powell is observed as ‘Thinking Day’ by scouts and guides. The day is celebrated to appreciate the help and guidance of brothers and sisters around the world.

On a larger perspective it is a day to think about fellow brothers and sisters around the world, address their concerns and to understand the true meaning of Scouting and guiding.


The day was first celebrated in 1926. Until 1999, the day was simply called thinking day restricted to United states.

In 1999, during the 30th Girl Scout conference in Belgium, the name was changed to World Thinking Day to signify its global impact.


Over the past few years, on this day, scouts and guides focus on global issues like thinking about food, saving our planet, adolescent health issue, putting an end to poverty, empowering girls and so on. The theme for World Thinking Day, 2017 is ‘grow’ - looking for the ‘seeds of change’ and planting trees to make a difference.


World Thinking Day is not only a great opportunity to rally the global sisterhood around a particular theme, but it’s also a chance to support girls as they travel internationally and connect with girl guides. Every year, the theme of the event encourages members to think about the bigger issues affecting them and global communities.


This World Thinking Day, girl scouts and girl guides will explore, stretch, and take on new challenges, and celebrate what it means to be part of the global sisterhood.


Baden Powell retired from Scouting movement in 1917. In his last letter to scouts while retiring he wrote, “I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have a happy life too. I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life.

Happiness does not come from being rich, or merely being successful in your career nor by self-indulgence. True happiness lies in making others happy.”


So, let us synchronise our thoughts and actions, join our hands and pledge to make this world a much better place.

- (Primary teacher at K V Payyanur)

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