Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, June 3: The revered Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was formally presented with the Grammy Award won for the spoken-word album “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” during a special ceremony at his residence in Dharamshala on Wednesday.
The award was handed over by internationally acclaimed sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, accompanied by his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, who collaborated on the Grammy-winning audiobook.
The album received the award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording at the 68th Grammy Awards earlier this year. The audiobook album blends the Nobel Laureate’s spoken reflections with original compositions rooted in Indian classical music, exploring themes of compassion, peace, mindfulness, and the oneness of humanity.
In a press invitation, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama said the collaboration reflected a shared conviction that “music, wisdom and compassion can help promote inner peace and greater understanding among people across the world.”
Speaking to media representatives before the presentation ceremony, Amjad Ali Khan said, “This project brought together the sound of our sarods and the timeless message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is a privilege for us to present this Grammy Award to him. His words of compassion and peace have touched millions across the world.”
Ayaan Ali Bangash also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the project. “It’s such an honour to be here and we are just so blessed. We are so grateful that His Holiness blessed this project and allowed us to be a part of it. It’s all because of His Holiness’s blessings,” he said.
The nonagenarian Tibetan spiritual leader secured the Grammy award in a competitive category that included Kathy Carver’s Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, Trevor Noah’s Into the Uncut Grass, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Lovely One: A Memoir, and Fab Morvan’s You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.
