Scouts and Guides welcome SAF founder at Srinagar airport

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News Srinagar, India - 22nd May 2008



On 20 October 2007, while attending the 22nd Asia-Pacific Region (APR) Scout Conference, held from 18-23 October 2007, in Tokyo, Japan, I met with Dr. N.A. Khan, Vice-Chairman Scouts Profile Committee, Asia Pacific Region World Scout Bureau and State Chief Commissioner J & K Scouts & Guides. During the conference, South Asia Foundation was awarded a plaque of recognition for its support to the young scouts of South Asia in promotion of regional cooperation. I mentioned to Dr. Khan that our next project was to be held in Srinagar (Kashmir), where the Foundation was going to set up an Institute for Kashmiri studies and we would very much like to invite the scouts and guides from the region to participate.

A pleasant surprise, therefore, awaited us on stepping out of the airport building on 22 May 2008. Instead of security men, we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by a band of effusive young scouts and guides, displaying welcome banners and playing music, as they escorted us to the waiting vehicles. True to his word, Dr. Khan (second row from right to left) was present, offering assistance throughout the four days of inaugural celebrations, working in close collaboration with the police and security departments, the Kashmir University and the SAF staff on the ground.

Attended by H.E. Shrimati Praibha Patil, President of India; Lt Gen (Retd) H.E. Sri S.K. Sinh, Chancellor, University of Kashmir and Governor of Jammu & Kashmir; Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir; UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Madanjeet Singh Founder SAF.

Foreign and local dignitaries present included: Mme. Chandrika Bandanaraike Kumaratunga, former President of Sri Lanka; Mme. Ghazanfar, Minister for Women’s Affairs, Afghanistan; Mme. Afsali, Advisor to the President of Afghanistan for Children’s Rights; Hon. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Chairman SAF India Chapter.