Ricky Kej gets praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi after second Grammy win: ‘Congratulations for remarkable feat’

Indian musician Ricky Kej’s triumph at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night has earned praise and applause from Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Ricky won his second Grammy on Sunday as he and co-collaborator Stewart Copeland won in the Best New Age album category at the prestigious music awards show. PM Modi took to Twitter on Monday evening to congratulate the musician and wish him well for the future. Also read: Ricky Kej: Winning second Grammy beautiful recognition of my life choices

Ricky and Stewart won the award for their album Divine Tides. It is his second Grammy Award, with the first one being in the same category for his album Winds of Samsara in 2015. Ricky had posted a picture of himself and Stewart on his Twitter after their win. He had written alongside, “Won the Grammy Award today for our album Divine Tides. Filled with gratitude and love this living-legend standing with me – @copelandmusic. My 2nd Grammy and Stewart’s 6th. Thank you to everyone who ever collaborated, hired, or listened to my music. I exist because of you.”

Quote tweeting it, PM Modi wrote, “Congratulations for this remarkable feat and best wishes for your future endeavours!” This isn’t the first time Ricky has received applause from PM Modi. After his first Grammy win in 2015, Ricky had met the Prime Minister at his office in Delhi. The PM’s official Facebook page had even shared a picture of the meeting between the two with the caption: ‘Met Grammy Award Winner Ricky Kej’.

Talking about the 2015 meeting back then, Ricky had commented on the PM’s post, “It was an ABSOLUTE pleasure and honor to meet you Sir, you were so generous and kind with your time and words. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and humility. You are one of the greatest leaders of the largest democracy on earth. India is in great hands. I will treasure the time I spent with you, and I hope to stay in touch.”

Later that year, his album Shanti Samsara – World Music for Environmental Consciousness was launched by PM Modi and French President Francois Hollande at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Speaking with Hindustan Times on Monday, Ricky had called his second Grammy win “a beautiful recognition of my life choices”. The musician said, “I feel strongly about making this world a better place, that’s the only kind of music that I make. And these awards are a very good encouragement to continue doing what I’m doing.”