People at an august gathering at Azad Bhawan, New Delhi early this month were in for a surprise when a Kathmandu-based diplomat Abhay Kumar revealed a different side of his persona. In the presence of Indian union ministers Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor and host of other diplomats, professors, scholars and media personalities, Abhay present his creation – Earth Anthem.

“I first scribbled the Earth Anthem in 2009 when I was posted in St. Petersburg, Russia as Consul at the Consulate General of India,” says Abhay, whose anthem has now been sung by Shreya Sotang and composed by Sapan Ghimire of Darjeeling.