In a transcendent blend of sonic artistry and a collective call for compassion, Padma Shri Awardee and 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 come together to release “GANDHI – Mantras Of Compassion.”
The album described as a “soul-stirring musical tribute” to the life and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s father of the nation, will be released on July 14, 2025.
This powerful album brings together the voices and talents of over 200 artists from across the globe, crafting an expansive musical journey rooted in Gandhi’s core values of non-violence, peace, tolerance, and environmental awareness. At a time when global divisions are deepening, “GANDHI – Mantras of Compassion” stands as a timely reminder of Gandhi’s enduring relevance, according to an official statement.
“Blending ancient Indian mantras with global musical traditions and contemporary instrumentation,” the album offers both a meditative soundscape and an urgent call for compassion. From spiritual chants to evocative orchestral compositions, each track encourages listeners to “reflect, heal, and act with empathy.”
“Mahatma Gandhi inspired generations of changemakers, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Nelson Mandela. This album is our humble offering to keep that flame alive,” said Kej in the statement. “Music has the power to transcend boundaries, just as Gandhi’s message did.”
Kej noted that Gandhi has long been a personal inspiration.
About his motivations behind this album, Kej told South Asian Herald, “Gandhi has been a life-long hero of mine,” adding that his previous two albums each included a track dedicated to Gandhi.
“Now through Gandhi – Mantras Of Compassion, I finally had the opportunity to create an entire album based on his enduring ideals, which are more relevant today than ever,” he added. “It was an absolute honor to collaborate with Kailash Satyarthi on this album.”
According to Kej, Nobel Laureate Satyarthi, whose life’s work has focused on children’s rights and peacebuilding, brings his voice and vision to the project. His involvement amplifies the album’s mission to awaken global consciousness through the power of art.
Satyarthi told South Asian Herald, “Not only the thoughts and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, but his life inspired me immensely. I realized that Gandhi was the only person who can build a mass movement on universal values of truth and non-violence. I have learnt how he can mobilize masses around the world on the universal value of compassion.”
He described Gandhi as the “tallest leader of compassion,” emphasizing that Gandhi deeply empathized with the suffering of people and the planet. “Let us learn this from Gandhi’s life,” he urged.
Reflecting on Gandhi’s legacy, Satyarthi in the statement noted, “Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948. But the assassin did not know that some people never die. Gandhi is indeed one of them. His life lessons are universal and timeless. Gandhi will continue to guide us beyond geography, and through the ages.”
“GANDHI – Mantras of Compassion” is not just a musical release – it is a global movement set to music, added the statement. This collaboration between a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and a GRAMMY® Award-winning artist underscores a shared belief: peace is possible when compassion leads the way.
GANDHI – Mantras of Compassion Track List
- Compassion (Karuna)
- Kailash Satyarthi Speaks – Gandhi is Immortal
- Mahatma
- Coexist (Ekam)
- Kailash Satyarthi Speaks – Religion
- We Are One (Raghupati Raghava)
- Samsara
- Kailash Satyarthi Speaks – Oneness
- Empathy (Vaishnava Janato)
- Devotion (Payoji)
- The Lord’s Prayer (Sarvesa)
- Where Are My Rainbows
- Be The Change
- Kailash Satyarthi Speaks – Gandhi’s Life
- Abide With Me
In 2024, Kej embarked on a meaningful collaboration with Satyarthi through a four-city concert tour across India. The tour raised funds for the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion, a worldwide initiative that promotes compassion as a catalyst for justice, equality, peace, and sustainability.
“This partnership was a natural fit,” Kej said in the statement, citing his long-standing commitment to creating music that drives social change. The success of the tour also allowed him to spend time with Satyarthi at his Bal Ashram, a sanctuary that Kej described as “a place that provides love, care, and protection to children, empowering them to grow and advocate for the rights of those who suffer in silence.”
During these engagements, the two discovered a deep mutual reverence for the Mahatma. With Satyarthi’s lifelong dedication to Gandhi’s principles, and Kej’s passion for purposeful music, the idea for “GANDHI – Mantras of Compassion” was born. Their vision was to blend traditional melodies beloved by Gandhi with original compositions inspired by his universal ideals.
To realize this vision, according to the statement, Kej assembled a global cohort of over 200 musicians from more than 40 countries, including close collaborators Tina Guo and Masa Takumi. The result is a transcendent, borderless tribute to one of humanity’s greatest moral leaders.
About Primary Artists:
Ricky Kej
Three-time GRAMMY® Award winner and US Billboard #1 artist, Kej is an acclaimed Indian music composer and environmentalist. A Padma Shri awardee and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Kej has performed in over 40 countries, produced 24 studio albums, and composed music for more than 3,500 commercials. His numerous honors include the UN’s Global Humanitarian Artist Award, GQ Man of the Year, and recognition from the Parliament of Canada. His life story is included in Indian school curricula, reflecting his legacy as a changemaker through music.
Kailash Satyarthi
Marking a decade since receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Satyarthi is globally recognized for rescuing over 100,000 children from slavery. He has marched across 103 countries, influencing child-rights legislation worldwide. Among his accolades are the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, the Albert Schweitzer International Prize, and Harvard’s Humanitarian Award. TIME Magazine has named him one of the world’s most influential people.
Tina Guo
GRAMMY® and BRIT Award-nominated Guo is one of the most recorded solo cellists in film and television. Known for her collaborations with Hans Zimmer and performances on scores for Dune, Top Gun: Maverick, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, she co-composed the Wonder Woman theme and has worked with icons including Carrie Underwood, Carlos Santana, and the Foo Fighters. Guo’s genre-defying artistry continues to captivate global audiences.
Masa Takumi
GRAMMY® Award-winning Japanese composer, songwriter, and producer Takumi is renowned for his influence on the Asian music scene, with credits on top-selling records by EXILE, DA PUMP, and AAA. A visionary artist with multiple GRAMMY® nominations, he collaborated with reggae legends Sly & Robbie and won the 65th GRAMMY® for Best Global Music Album for Sakura.
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