To mark the World Environment Day, Indian diplomat Abhay Kumar has come up with an anthem for the earth.
“While there are a number of international anthems, like the ‘Internationale’, there is no anthem for our home planet Earth that we could sing either on the Earth Day or the World Environment Day. To fill this gap, I have penned an anthem for the earth,” said Abhay, who is currently posted at the Indian High Commission in Kathmandu. Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal and Union Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor had on Monday released the anthem at a function organised by the Union Ministry of External Affair’s Indian Council for Cultural Affair.
Speaking at the occasion, Sibal said the earth anthem was the need of the hour. “We have forgotten that we share this planet with other species in pursuit of our greed. An earth anthem is the need of the hour to give our planet an identity,” he said.
Tharoor also commended Abhay’s work, which he said would inspire planetary consciousness and global citizenship among the people.
The earth anthem is written mainly in English, with parts in Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Nepali, Russian and Spanish. While Darjeeling-based Indian musician Sapan Ghimire composed the music, it was sung by Nepali singer Shreya Sotang.
“It took me four years to finalise the words of the anthem and to find someone to tune and sing it. I hope, there will be more earth anthems in the coming years,” Abhay said.