The Dalai Lama has won a Grammy award. Predictably, Beijing will object. For decades, China has sought to control the narrative around Tibet’s spiritual leader, treating his every appearance on the global stage as a political affront. But a Grammy is not about geopolitics—it is about art, culture, and the universal language of music. And that is precisely why it is none of China’s business.
The Grammys honour artistic achievement, not sovereignty claims. If the Dalai Lama’s chants, teachings, or collaborations are recognized, it is for their cultural and spiritual resonance, not for Tibet’s political status. To suggest that Beijing has a say in who wins a Grammy is to confuse censorship with creativity. Art belongs to humanity, not to governments.
The Dalai Lama’s influence transcends Tibet. His voice—whether spoken, sung, or chanted—carries messages of compassion and peace that resonate across cultures. A Grammy acknowledges his contribution to the shared human spirit. China’s insistence on framing him solely as a “separatist” ignores the reality: he is a global teacher whose teachings inspire millions far beyond the Himalayas.
Beijing’s attempts to police the Dalai Lama’s presence in international forums reveal a deeper insecurity. But the Grammys are not a diplomatic summit. They are a celebration of creativity. If China were allowed to dictate who can or cannot be honoured, it would set a dangerous precedent—where authoritarian sensitivities override artistic freedom. That is not a world in which art can flourish.
The principle at stake is cultural independence. Institutions like the Recording Academy must remain free to honour voices that uplift humanity without bowing to political pressure. A Grammy for the Dalai Lama symbolizes the triumph of compassion over control, universality over nationalism, and art over authoritarianism.
The Grammys belong to the world of music, not the realm of geopolitics. The Dalai Lama’s recognition is a matter between him, the Recording Academy, and the millions who find solace in his voice. China’s government has no jurisdiction over compassion, no authority over art, and no business dictating who deserves a Grammy.
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Khedroob Thondup, a geopolitical analyst, is the nephew of the Dalai Lama.
