Renowned Indian music composer, environmentalist, and Grammy Award-winner Shri Ricky Kej has been conferred with the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honors in India, for his remarkable contributions to Art, particularly in music and global climate advocacy.
A proud son of Karnataka, Shri Kej has emerged as a global ambassador of Indian music, blending classical Indian instruments with international sounds to create powerful compositions that promote peace, sustainability, and cultural unity.
Ricky Kej has produced multiple critically acclaimed albums, including Shanti Samsara and Divine Tides (in collaboration with Stewart Copeland of The Police), which earned him multiple Grammy Awards. His music has been performed at the United Nations headquarters, G20 summits, and major environmental platforms around the world.
Known for his deep environmental consciousness, Kej often uses his concerts and compositions to raise awareness about climate change, wildlife protection, and sustainability.
“Music transcends borders, and so must our responsibility to this planet,” Kej said during one of his global concerts.
Beyond his success as a composer and performer, Kej is also a UNESCO ‘Global Ambassador for Kindness’, a UNCCD Land Ambassador, and a passionate educator, regularly working with schools and governments to integrate climate action into curricula and public discourse.
The Padma Shri celebrates not just his musical genius, but his role as a global changemaker using art to inspire ecological consciousness.
In an era of environmental urgency, Shri Ricky Kej’s music serves as a powerful force for awareness, compassion, and change. His Padma Shri is a recognition of how Indian artists can influence global narratives while staying rooted in their culture.
