Indian diplomat writes anthem for SAARC

KATHMANDU: After the European Union and the ASEAN, eight-member SAARC could soon have an anthem after an Indian diplomat here penned a song for the grouping to foster deeper regional consciousness.

Abhay Kumar, first secretary, Press, Information and Communication, Indian Embassy, has taken the initiative to write the first ever South Asian Anthem.

Till now, SAARC does not have any anthem. Kumar earlier wrote the Earth Anthem which has been translated into major international languages.

"The SAARC Anthem is the song that all South Asians could sing together and I have written it in my own initiative," said Kumar.

"If SAARC adopts it the anthem could also be played in special occasions by the regional organisation," he told PTI.

In the history of South Asia, after the establishment of the South Asian University, a South Asian Anthem, a song that all South Asians could sing together, if adopted by it would be a major catalyst in fostering deeper South Asian consciousness, he said.

Regional organisations such as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), European Union and African Union have their own regional anthems.

'ASEAN Way' is ASEAN's anthem while the European Union use 'Beethoven's Symphony No 9 (Ode to Joy)' and 'Let's All Unite and Celebrate Together' is the anthem of the African Union.

SAARC Anthem by Kumar has been translated in Hindi, English, Nepali, Bengali, Pashto, Urdu, Sinhala, Dzongkha and Dhivehi, languages spoken in the South Asian region.