According to the secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Moda Raj Dotel, the ministry has already begun works to translate the national anthem in three languages -- English, Newari and Maithili -- in the first phase. [break]
He said that the ministry plans to translate the national anthem in all major languages spoken in the country.
Officials said the ministry has assigned Professor Padma Devkota to translate the national anthem into English and Satya Mohan Joshi into Newari language. Likewise, Ram Bharos Kapadi ´Bhramar´ has been assigned to translate the anthem in Maithili language.
Officials said the primary consideration behind translating various languages is to respect constitutional provision that guarantees the fundamental rights of the individual to receive primary education in their mother tongue. “Our effort aims at respecting the rights of people from various linguistic backgrounds,” said Secretary Dotel.
He said people from various indigenous and linguistic groups will get to sing national anthem in their own mother tongue once the ministry completes the task.
This is the first time in Nepal the national anthem is being formally translated by the government in languages other than Nepali.
The present national anthem titled ´Sayaun Thunga Phoolka Hami´ was officially declared as the national anthem of Nepal on August 3, 2007 following the success of Janaandolan II in April 2006. The lyrics of the national anthem was written by poet Pradeep Kumar Rai also known as Byakul Maila and the music was composed by Amber Gurung.
Indigenous rights activists have lauded the government move to translate the national anthem into indigenous languages.
Former Chief of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (Nefin) Om Gurung welcomed the move. “This is a positive step on the part of the government,” he said. “This will send good message among indigenous communities living in various parts of the country.”
koshraj@myrepublica.com
Related story
Gurung and Magar languages to be made official languages
