Grammy awards: Sandeep Das did India proud at the Grammy awards on Sunday night, but whether the tendency of his homeland to sideline traditional music did him proud is another matter. According to a report in PTI, the tabla player said, “It is not a complaint but merely a wish. I hope there is more awareness about traditional music. I was invited to Harvard University but my alma mater Banaras Hindu University is yet to see something of worth in me.” However, Das also added that he was very proud to represent the country at the awards show, saying, “ I am very proud of who I am and where I come from be it culturally or musically. I wish there were more acknowledgment from my own country for the music that is deep-rooted and in our blood over glitz and glamour.”
Of course, Sandeep isn’t the only person to face such a dilemma. Many have noted that even Irfan Khan gets more media attention when he is participating in a Hollywood film like Inferno or Life Of Pi than he would ever get for his domestic releases.
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Sandeep won in the World Music category for his collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma titled Sing Me Home. On his collaboration, he said, “Nothing grows in isolation and I realise that I have responsibility not just towards India, but also to the people around the world who appreciate it (traditional Indian music).” He had previously been nominated in 2005 and again in 2009. Sandeep beat Anoushka Shankar, who lost yet again at the awards show. The musician sitar player has been nominated six times previously, but can’t seem to catch a break. Her song Land Of Gold had received a nomination in the same category.