In a politically charged Grammy ceremony led by artists like Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, and Lady Gaga, where ‘ICE Out’ was the prominent refrain, the Dalai Lama, at 90, won his first Grammy for best audio book, narration and storytelling recording. The glittering 68th Grammy Awards were held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The Tibetan spiritual leader won the award for ‘Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness The Dalai Lama’.
Canadian-American singer Rufus Wainwright, who appears on the album alongwith American singers Maggie Rogers and Andra Day, accepted the award. Produced by multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning producer, author, and composer Kabir Sehgal, the album also features sarod exponent Ustad Amjad Ali Khan with his sons Amaan Ali Bangash And Ayaan Ali Bangash besides multi-Grammy Award-winning American saxophonist, flutist and composer Ted Nash; Grammy-nominated Costa Rican singer-songwriter Debi Nova and multi-Grammy Award-winning Peruvian-American percussionist, composer and producer Tony Succar.
“It was a privilege to participate in this project. It is an honour to accept this recognition on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whose wisdom is at the heart of this work,” said Wainright while accepting the golden gramophone.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Receives Grammy Recognition Highlighting Universal Responsibility and Compassion
Grammy Award Best Audiobook Narration – Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama, who is a first-time winner, beat US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and stand-up comedian and former Grammyhost Trevor Noah, actor Kathy Garver and French musician Fab Morvan to win the award. “I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility. I don’t see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility. I truly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of the oneness of humanity are essential for the collective well-being of all eight billion human beings. I’m grateful that this Grammy recognition can help spread these messages more widely,” said the Dalai Lama in a statement.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, in a statement, said, “As a family, we are deeply humbled to share our collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the special album Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness has been a guiding light for us for many years, and his message of peace, compassion, and hope continues to inspire not only our music, but our lives”.
Except this collaboration, no Indian nominations managed to land the golden gramophone India ended the evening without a single win, despite nominations that spanned genres and generations, including those for sitar player Anoushka Shankar, who was nominated along with Alam Khan and Sarathy for her recent album titled ‘Chapters III: We Return to Light’. Madurai pianist Charu Suri, Indo-jazz outfit Shakti and a surprise debut nomination of Siddhant Bhatia for Sounds of Kumbha could not make the cut either.
Shankar, who was nominated in two categories, including Best Global Music Performances as well as Best Global Music Album (her 11th and 12th nominations, respectively) and who is currently on her India tour, addressed not attending the ceremony this year.
“Sometimes the process of spending literally thousands of dollars on the privilege of flying, attending, marketing and getting sucked into the machine, hugely anxious about outfits and red carpets, starting to hope to win and then not winning (again and again!) can take a toll. There is always a bigger mainstream artist dropping into our global categories who has MORE money to spend on marketing; there is always an artist who chooses to spend months networking, attending nominee events and ensuring their music and name lands in front of voters. I don’t say this from bitterness, but just to acknowledge what the behind-the-scenes reality can be. If tonight, I happen to win for the first time, of course, it will be a joyful experience, but I truly, truly believe it doesn’t matter in a deeper context,” she wrote on Facebook.
Suanshu Khurana is an award-winning journalist and music critic currently serving as a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is best known for her nuanced writing on Indian culture, with a specific focus on classical music, cinema, and the arts.
Expertise & Focus Areas Khurana specializes in the intersection of culture and society. Her beat involves deep-dive reporting on:
Indian Classical Music: She is regarded as a definitive voice in documenting the lineages (Gharanas) and evolution of Hindustani classical music.
Cinema & Theatre: Her critiques extend beyond reviews to analyze the socio-political narratives within Indian cinema and theater.
Cultural Heritage: She frequently profiles legendary artists and unearths stories about India’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Professional Experience At The Indian Express, Khurana is responsible for curating and writing features for the Arts and Culture pages. Her work is characterized by long-form journalism that offers intimate portraits of artists and rigorous analysis of cultural trends. She has been instrumental in bringing the stories of both stalwarts and upcoming artistes to the forefront of mainstream media.
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68th Grammy Awards: The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama won the award for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.