Dear TOS brothers and sisters from around the world,

I wonder how many of those who live outside India have heard of our National Service Scheme for young people. 

I wonder if some of you have equivalent national schemes in the educational establishments in your own countries and if any of you have participated in them, either as students or as facilitators. 

I would like to tell you of my own experience as a programme officer in the National Service Scheme (NSS) in India and how it has enriched my life as a Theosophist committed to service.

The writer, Mr JagannathPatgiri

The NSS, which is run under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, was launched in Mahatma Gandhi's birth centenary year of 1969 with the idea of developing a social conscience in young people and giving them experience in community service.  Today, the NSS has well over three million student volunteers on its roll spread over hundreds of universities and secondary schools around the country. 

The motto or watchword of the NSS is “Not Me But You”.  The main objectives of the NSS are to help young people:

* understand the community in which they work

* understand themselves in relation to their community

* identify the needs and problems of the community and involve them in problem-solving

* develop a sense of social and civic responsibility

* utilise their knowledge in finding practical solutions to individual and community problems

* develop competence required for group-living and sharing of responsibilities

* gain skills in mobilising community participation

* acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitudes

* develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters and

* practise national integration and social harmony.

These objectives are splendid ones, aren’t they?  They could be objectives of the TOS itself!

From 1999 to 2012, I taught geography at the Pragjyotish College under Gauhati University in the state of Assam.  Side by side with this professional work, I had the pleasure of guiding a hundred boys and girls each year in their regular NSS duty.  The volunteer work engaged in was varied, to say the least: flood relief, help for people in hilly areas affected by erosion, lower primary school building repairs, medical advice for the needy including victims of AIDS, the donation of blood, the collection of clothing for free distribution, the tutoring of illiterate employees of our college.

In the NSS setting, I also taught short-term training courses for different state government offices and Non-Governmental Organisations to help young people develop the basic skills necessary for civic engagement.  This included training camps lasting two weeks or more.

The experience of leading these youngsters was a challenge for me.  I have come to know that to be a good group leader is very difficult!  "The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials," as the Roman statesman Seneca said.  Utter sincerity and commitment to altruistic action are required.

With fraternal good wishes to my fellow TOS members around the world,

JagannathPatgiri

On the occasion of the Annual General Meeting of the TOS in the Assam and Arunachal region, children’s footwear was presented to the person in charge of Shishugram Orphanage.  On the left we see Regional President, JatindraNathPatowary.  Second to left is Dr T.K. Nair, TOS National Secretary.  Brother Patgiri is seen assisting him.

At the same AGM, a tricycle was presented to a physically handicapped gentleman with Bro. Patgiri lending a helping hand.  He participates in almost all the programmes of the TOS in the region in addition to acting as Secretary of Pragjyotishpur Group which has a school for slum-dwelling children attached to it.