Pooja Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt express need for common SAARC anthem

Bollywood actress turned director Pooja Bhatt and veteran film director Mahesh Bhatt on Tuesday expressed the need for a common anthem for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The duo said, "SAARC needs a common anthem, a song that anybody, anywhere in South Asia can sing to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the region. A SAARC Anthem, a song that all South Asians could sing together, can act as a catalyst in fostering deeper South Asian consciousness and fraternity."

They also praised a SAARC Anthem penned by Indian poet and diplomat Abhay K., saying, "SAARC Anthem written by poet-diplomat Abhay K. in eight languages spoken in the countries of South Asia captures the spirit of South Asia, its rich cultural diversity and civilisational unity."

They hope that the forthcoming SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal will begin with playing a common SAARC Anthem.

The regional and International Anthems have been in use since quite some time now.

Some of the other prominent regional organisations have their own international anthems; the European Union uses 'Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy part)' as its anthem while the African Union has adopted its own anthem titled 'Let's All Unite and Celebrate Together'.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has adopted an official anthem titled 'ASEAN Way' in 2008. As per ASEAN, its anthem is an expression of ASEAN unity and strengthens the sense of ASEAN identity and belonging among the peoples of the region.

SAARC Anthem penned by Abhay K is in a mix of languages spoken in the SAARC member countries.

"Himalaya theke Hinda Sagor,Naga Hills theke Hindukush (Bangla)

Mahaweli inn Ganga, Sindhu inn Brahmputra (Dhivehi)

Lakshadweep, Andaman, Everest, Adam's Peak (English)

Kabul Lay Thimphu Tsuen, Male Lay Kathmandu (Dzongkha)

Dilli sita Dhaka, Colombin, Islamabad (Sinhala)

Harek paila saath-saath,Harek paila saath-saath (Nepali)

Dzongkha, Hindi, Nepali,Bangla, Pashto, Sinhala (Pashto)

Urdu, English, Dhivehi,Har kadam saath-saath,

Har kadam saath-saath

Apni-apni pehchan, apne-apne arman (Urdu)

Shanti ki baat-baat, Har kadam saath-saath (Hindi)

Har kadam SAARC saath, Har kadam saath-SAARC

Har kadam SAARC saath,Har kadam saath-SAARC.