By Ganesh Upadhyay, Mumbai
In a world often divided by borders and beliefs, a groundbreaking musical collaboration is weaving a tapestry of unity, peace, and compassion. Three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej, Grammy and BRIT Award-nominated cellist Tina Guo, Grammy Award-winning musician Masa Takumi, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kailash Satyarthi have joined hands to create Gandhi – Mantras of Compassion, a transformative album that breathes new life into Mahatma Gandhi’s timeless ideals. Set for release on July 14, 2025, this project is more than music—it’s a global movement set to melody, a call to action rooted in non-violence, tolerance, and environmental consciousness.

A Global Ode to Gandhi
Gandhi – Mantras of Compassion is a sonic pilgrimage, blending ancient Indian mantras with contemporary global sounds. Over 230 musicians from 40 countries, recorded across 31 studios with 32 audio engineers, have poured their artistry into this nine-track masterpiece. From meditative chants to sweeping orchestral arrangements, the album invites listeners to reflect, heal, and embrace empathy in a fractured world.
“Mahatma Gandhi inspired generations of changemakers, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Nelson Mandela,” says Ricky Kej, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and Padma Shri recipient. “This album is our humble offering to keep that flame alive. Music transcends boundaries, just as Gandhi’s message did.”

The album’s heart lies in its universal appeal. Tracks like Ekam, with its choral refrain of “Om” sung by 40 voices from across the globe, and a Sanskrit rendition of The Lord’s Prayer blessed by Pope Francis, embody interfaith harmony and collective spirituality. Another standout, Be The Change, features the Grammy -winning New York Youth Symphony, a 75-member orchestra of young virtuosos aged 12–22, alongside Stewart Copeland, legendary drummer of The Police.

A Shared Vision Born in India
The seeds of this project were sown in 2024 during a four-city concert tour across India, where Kej and Satyarthi raised funds for the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion. The tour, supporting Satyarthi’s mission for justice, equality, and sustainability, deepened their bond. At Satyarthi’s Bal Ashram, a sanctuary for rescued children, Kej witnessed the Nobel Laureate’s work firsthand. “Kailash’s dedication to children’s rights and peace is profoundly Gandhian,” Kej shares.

Their conversations revealed a shared reverence for Gandhi, sparking the idea for an album that would honour his legacy through music.
Satyarthi, marking a decade since his 2014 Nobel Peace Prize win, brings a profound perspective to the project. Having freed over 100,000 children from slavery and marched across 103 countries for child rights, he sees Gandhi’s principles as a guiding light. “Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, but the assassin did not know that some people never die,” Satyarthi says. “Gandhi’s life lessons are universal and timeless, guiding us beyond geography and through the ages.”

A Tapestry of Talent
Kej’s collaborators are luminaries in their own right. Tina Guo, a Chinese-American cellist whose work graces blockbusters like Dune and Top Gun: Maverick, infuses the album with emotive depth. Masa Takumi, a Japanese shamisen maestro and Grammy winner for his album Sakura, adds a vibrant cross-cultural layer. Together, they’ve crafted a sound that is both introspective and universal, merging Gandhi’s beloved melodies with original compositions.

The album also carries personal significance for Kej. His grandfather, Jankidas Mehra, a world champion cyclist, was given an Indian flag by Gandhi himself in 1946, now displayed at the Gandhi National Museum in New Delhi. This family legacy underscores Kej’s lifelong connection to the Mahatma’s ideals, a thread woven through his earlier Grammy -winning albums Winds of Samsara and Divine Tides.

A poignant highlight is Where Are My Rainbows, co-written and recorded by the late Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, who passed away in January 2025. Inspired by Gandhi’s quote, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed,” the song ties the album to the civil rights movement, which Yarrow and his trio championed alongside Martin Luther King Jr.

A Movement in Music
Gandhi – Mantras of Compassion is not just an album—it’s a clarion call. Its creation, spanning a year of meticulous recording, reflects the same dedication Gandhi brought to his fight for justice. From the rhythmic pulse of Stewart Copeland’s drums to the sacred chants of 100 Indian priests and nuns, every note resonates with purpose.

As the world grapples with division and despair, this album stands as a reminder that compassion can bridge divides. “Gandhi’s message is as urgent today as ever,” Kej says. “Through music, we hope to inspire people to act with empathy and create a more peaceful world.”
For Satyarthi, the project is a continuation of Gandhi’s legacy. “Peace is possible when compassion leads the way,” he says. With Gandhi – Mantras of Compassion, these visionaries have crafted a timeless tribute—one that echoes Gandhi’s call to “be the change” and invites us all to listen, reflect, and act.

Ganesh Upadhyay is a Mumbai-based journalist covering culture and social impact.