Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash win a Grammy

Acclaimed sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, along with his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, have been recognised at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards as composers on the award-winning album Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, making them among the only Indians to receive the honour this year.

The album marks a historic moment as Tibetan spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama received his first Grammy Award at the age of 90. Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama won in the category of Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording.

Reflecting on the honour, His Holiness the Dalai Lama shared, “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.”


Ustad Amjad Ali Khan added, “As a family, we are deeply humbled to share our collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

Amaan Ali Bangash shared that “To hear the reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama interwoven with music has been a profoundly moving experience—one that reminds us of the immense power of art to uplift the human spirit. Creating this project alongside our dear collaborator Kabir Sehgal has been both a joy and a privilege.”

Other nominees in the category included Kathy Garver (Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story), Trevor Noah (Into the Uncut Grass), Ketanji Brown Jackson (Lovely One: A Memoir), and Fab Morvan (You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli). The award was accepted on behalf of His Holiness by musician Rufus Wainwright during the ceremony.

Labour of love

Produced by multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning producer, author, and composer Kabir Sehgal, Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a deeply contemplative spoken-word album exploring themes of compassion, inner peace, human unity and global responsibility through a powerful blend of spiritual reflection and music.

The album features an exceptional ensemble of global artists, including Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter-actress Andra Day; multi-Grammy Award-winning American saxophonist, flutist and composer Ted Nash; Grammy-nominated Costa Rican singer-songwriter Debi Nova among others.