The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has agreed to consider making the "Earth Anthem" written by Indian diplomat-poet Abhay K. a global initiative.
The "Earth Anthem" has been composed and sung by Nepalese citizens Sapan Ghimere and Shreya Sotang and highlights people to people cooperation between India and Nepal.
Speaking on the occasion, UNESCO representative to Nepal Alex Plathe said: "I am happy that you (Abhay K.) have used six languages of the United Nations as well as Nepali and Hindi (in your Earth Anthem). This is an excellent sign of using global languages (for an Earth Anthem). I hope that your wish (of an official Earth Anthem) is realized. It is a complicated process and my office will communicate it to UNESCO. I hope that the United Nations and my organization take up this idea further and this becomes a global initiative."
UNESCO in its draft medium term strategy 2014-2021 has put forward a limited set of 9 well-articulated strategic objectives- empowering people to be creative and responsible global citizens is one of them. An official Earth Anthem, a song that people across the world can sing together, can certainly help in achieving this strategic objective of UNESCO in the 21st century.
Abhay K, who heads the Press, Information, Culture and Education Wing of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, said: "I hope that this Earth Anthem inspires UNESCO or the United Nations to come up with a Global Earth Anthem Challenge and and official Earth Anthem for our home planet Earth."
Veteran Nepali actor Rajesh Hamal emphasized the need for greater and intensive cultural diplomacy between the countries including India and Nepal to advance the interests of the countries as well as the people.
The key personalities present on the occasion included Ram Sharan Mahat, Surendra Pandey, both former finance ministers, actors Rajesh Hamal, Mithila Sharma, Indian Member of Parliament Kunwar Akhilesh Singh among others.
