New national anthem by November-end

Kathmandu, September 12 :

A new national anthem, which will incorporate the feelings of the Jana Andolan and will also honour the country’s natural and ethnic diversity, will be prepared by November-end, Satya Mohan Joshi, the coordinator of the National Anthem Selection Task Force, told media persons today.

“We are working on a war-footing. We have already received over 700 songs, but are extending our working period so as to include more songs in the historic competition,” Joshi said.

Though many songs are good, they are either too long or too complicated or do not carry the sentiments of the people’s movement and represent the people’s mandate, he said, adding, “We want to select a song that represents people and the country they live in.”

Joshi is a member of the 14-member task force formed under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.