Human Flower Project

Monday, August 06, 2007

Nepal Sings of ‘One Garland’

Out with the old king’s anthem, in with a new—and floral— national song.

Loose flowers for garland making

Kathmandu, Nepal

Photo: Dey Alexander

“From hundreds of flowers, we are one Nepali garland.

Sovereign, we reach from the Mechi to Mahakali….”

So begins the new national anthem of Nepal. It was adopted this past week and replaces 19th century verses that praised the monarchy (the old tune sounded oddly like a Methodist hymn.)

Nepal’s new floral song is the latest outgrowth of a major political uprising in spring 2006, opposing King Gyanendra. Nineteen people died in the revolt. Three months ago, the newly constituted House of Representatives in Nepal declared the old anthem “null and void” and announced a competition for another national song.

From among over 1200 entries, the “Task Team” chose 34 year old Byakul Maila’s lyrics. This poet, born in the small town of Hilepani, “actively participated in the April Movement.” News stories from around the world all point out that his poem is, in the words of one paper, “king-free.”

“The snub comes as the king’s future hangs in the balance after fiercely republican Maoists ended their ‘people’s war’ last year and entered government. ‘The old national anthem which praised feudalism has been killed,’ Prithvi Subba Gurung, Nepal’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, said at the launch of the national anthem.” (You know people mean business when they describe a song as being “killed.”)

For Nepal, where the people traditionally garland their beloved leaders (as well as guests, brides, and deities), the image of an immense strand of flowers is, we think, both beautiful and apt for a fresh democracy. Since the uprising last spring, the king has lost most of his authority. “His future will be decided after a crucial poll in November to elect a body that will rewrite the country’s constitution and determine the fate of Gyanendra and his 238-year-old Shah dynasty.”

Some say the new song echoes Nepalese folk music; another source calls it a “G-minor scale with undertones of jazz.” (Nobody has said anything about Methodist hymns.) You can listen to the new anthem here. Here are the lyrics in full: Everybody sing!