Indian-American musician Chandrika Tandon wins Grammy
New Delhi (PTI): Indian-American vocalist and entrepreneur Chandrika Tandon has won the Grammy award for the album 'Triveni' in the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album category.
The 67th edition of the biggest musical awards night, organised by the Recording Academy, was held on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Tandon, also a global business leader and the older sister of former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi, won the award along with her collaborators South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto.
"Music is love, music is light, and music is laughter and let's all be surrounded by love, light, and laughter. Thank you for the music, and thank you to everyone who makes music," she said in the award acceptance speech.
This was Tandon's second Grammy nomination after 2009's "Soul Call" and first win.
"It feels amazing," said the musician, who grew up in Chennai, in a backstage interview with the Recording Academy after winning the Grammy.
Other nominees in the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album category were: 'Break of Dawn' — Ricky Kej, 'Opus' — Ryuichi Sakamoto, 'Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn' — Anoushka Shankar, and 'Warriors Of Light' — Radhika Vekaria.
"We had such wonderful nominees in the category. The fact that we won this is really an extra special moment for us. There were fabulous musicians who were nominated with us," she added.
Just like its name, which means the confluence of three holy Indian rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, 'Triveni' is a collaboration of three artists Tandon, Kellerman, and Matsumoto who represent diverse cultures.
Released on August 30, 2024, each of the seven tracks on 'Triveni' tells its own story while contributing to its overarching theme of healing resonance. The songs are: "Pathway to Light", "Chant in A", "Journey Within", "Aether's Serenade", "Ancient Moon", "Open Sky", and "Seeking Shakti".
"This harmonious blend of Indian classical music, New Age ambiance, and global traditions appeals to a wide audience while staying deeply rooted in cultural authenticity."
Tandon, who has three more albums to her credit, has performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and the World Culture Festivals across Europe and India.
The 2025 Grammys are streaming live on Disney+ Hotstar in India.
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Al-Shifa Hospital director warns of emergence of ‘new virus’ in Gaza
Gaza City: The director of Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, has issued an urgent warning regarding the spread of what he described as a “new virus” within the enclave, further straining the territory’s already devastated health system.
Dr. Abu Salmiya stated that the virus is presenting with symptoms including high fever, joint pain, runny nose, persistent cough, and prolonged diarrhea lasting more than a week. “We do not have tests to determine the cause of the virus,” he explained, noting that the outbreak is directly linked to deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
According to him, widespread malnutrition has weakened immunity levels among the population, while the absence of clean water, basic sanitation supplies, and the overcrowding of families in temporary shelters have created an environment conducive to the rapid spread of infections.
“The new virus is exacerbating the pressure on the exhausted health system,” Dr. Abu Salmiya added, highlighting that hospitals and medical facilities are struggling to cope with the surge in cases due to shortages of medicine, equipment, and trained staff.
The warning comes as the war in Gaza, described by Palestinian health authorities as a genocide, enters its 693rd day. Local reports estimate that at least 62,996 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel’s assault. Among them, 317 people are said to have died from starvation, a consequence of Israel’s blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies.
Health experts have repeatedly cautioned that Gaza faces the risk of severe outbreaks of infectious diseases due to collapsed infrastructure, malnutrition, and the destruction of water and sanitation networks. International organizations have called for urgent medical assistance and unhindered humanitarian access to prevent further loss of life.
The emergence of this unidentified virus adds to the mounting health crisis in Gaza, where hospitals are already overwhelmed by war casualties and chronic shortages. Medical professionals warn that without immediate international intervention, the situation could spiral into a large-scale epidemic.
