Legendary composer, singer and lyricist Amber Gurung returned to Kathmandu on Wednesday after a prolonged treatment at Medanta Hospital in India.

Gurung, 78, who composed Nepal’s new national anthem “Sayaun Thunga Phoolka Hami”, was receiving treatment at the hospital in Gurgaon, India, for the past two months after suffering from serious problems of digestive system and vascular disease. He has also been suffering from Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.

Gurung, after his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, said his health condition has improved but he was yet to fully recover. “His health has improved, but he still has to control sugar level,” said the veteran musician’s son Kishor Gurung. Talking to the Post over phone, Kishor expressed his gratitude for the financial assistance extended by the government for his father’s treatment. “Though the assistance arrived late, we have to admire the step taken by the government,” he said.

Earlier, the government had said it would provide Rs 2million for the treatment of the veteran music composer.

Though family members were said to have struggled for his treatment, they had turned down a plan by the music composer’s well-wishers and fans to launch a donation drive.

Recipient of many awards, including Chinnalata Puraskar, (1983) and Gorkha Dakshin Bahu (1971), Gurung was honoured with the Kantipur FM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. The legendary music director was conferred with honorary title of colonel by the Nepali Army in 2011 for composing “Rato Ra Chandra Surya”.

Known as the father of modern Nepali music for introducing and integrating Western musical methodology and styles into the Nepali music scene, Amber wrote, composed and sang a song which goes by his name: “Ma Amber Hoon”.

He was discharged on February 29. He was taken care by daughter Alka Gurung and the relatives.