90-year-old DU to get its own anthem
“I want it to have the spirit of Karenge… ya marenge, the message that came across in Gandhi’s speech during the Dandi Salt march,” says Dinesh Singh, VC Delhi University as he breaks the news about plans for a new anthem for the 90-year-old university of Delhi.
Talking about the theme of the anthem, he further adds, “The anthem should give a sense of belonging to the students. I want people to understand that the future of this university and the country are interconnected. The university has it all — from rich history to successful achievers to scientific and ecological discoverers and sacrifices made by the students during the British Raj. The anthem should have appropriate lyrics that reflect that charm of the university.”
The university anthem, which is to be worded in Hindi, will be selected through a competition. The competition will begin from January end or mid-February, and is open to all students and people of Delhi, who are or were somehow connected to the university. A music committee will select the winning anthem. There will be one main anthem on the university and two more songs based on the campus life. The winners will either be awarded scholarships or an education trip. Once the anthem is decided, the university is planning to hold a small competition to put it to the right music.
Although students will be given creative freedom to express their views in the anthem, it shouldn’t defame the dignity of the university in any way, says the VC. “It should be catchy, peppy and should reflect the aesthetic beauty and essence of the university. It should be written in a poetry format, which brings music to your mind automatically as you listen to it. Words should be simple and not have anything that mars the reputation of the organisation.”
Students are very excited about penning a DU anthem. Sugandha, M.Sc student from Institute of Informatics and communication, South Campus says, “I would love to write an anthem which will be based on my experiences in the university. The anthem gives you a sense of belonging with the campus. It reflects your identity. I would like to write it in Hinglish.”
Seconds Nikita Bhatia, who feels that the anthem should be based on how DU evolved the education system for girls in India. “Many new girls’ colleges were set up to change the education system for girls in the country. That would be the focus of my anthem. This is the first time that a proposal for a university anthem has been mooted. I think it should reflect the energy and the spark that the university has kept intact for years.”
And for Utkarsh, a student from Ram Lal Anand College, who also writes Hindi romantic poems, “Along with the history of university, I would like to focus on the ‘culture shock’ faced by out-station students coming to DU. I would like to write it in pure Hindi to maintain the ethos of our university culture.”
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