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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MAY 10, 2024 | The Indian Eye 38

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

ANOUSHKA SHANKAR DILJIT DOSANJH

Artists to receive Honorary Singer shines at the ‘largest ever

Degree from Oxford University Punjabi show outside India’

iljit Dosanjh, the versatile Punjabi artist known for hits like “5 Taara,”
“Black & White,” and “GOAT,” has etched his name in history. During
Dthe North American leg of his ‘Dil-Luminati Tour’, he achieved a re-
elebrated sitarist Anoushka Shankar will be conferred with an honorary markable feat by selling out the largest-ever Punjabi show outside India. The
degree on June 19 from the university of Oxford. The honor ceremony venue for this momentous event was BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada,
Cwill be organized at the renowned university’s annual Encaenia aca- where over 50,000 enthusiastic concertgoers gathered to witness his electrify-
demic ceremony. Besides the renowned sitarist, Warren East, Sir Demis Hass- ing performance.
abis, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sir Michael Palin and Professor Salim Yusuf Dosanjh’s playlist resonated with the crowd, featuring popular tracks
will also be a part of a total 2024 cohort of six honorary degrees. The Never such as “Lover,” “Kinni Kinni,” and “Ishq Mitaye” from his recent film re-
Forget Tibet composer expressed gratitude to the University of Oxford and lease, “Amar Singh Chamkila”. The energy was palpable as fans celebrated
her past teachers for this success. this historic occasion. Dosanjh shared the excitement on Instagram, posting
Anoushka Shankar is a British-Indian-American musician, sitarist, com- pictures and writing, “History has been written…BC Place Stadium…Sold
poser and producer. Anoushka began studying the sitar as a child under her out”. The general manager of BC Place even presented him with a congratu-
father, Ravi Shankar, and made her performing debut aged 13. Since releas- latory plaque, acknowledging the significance of this achievement.
ing her first solo album at 17, she has made ten studio albums, three live Diljit Dosanjh will continue to captivate audiences and eventually con-
albums and numerous collaborative recordings. clude the North American leg in Toronto as part of his tour. His journey from
Among her accolades are nine Grammy nominations, an Ivor Novello Punjab to international stardom is legendary, and fans worldwide celebrate
Award nomination, a number of Eastern Eye ACTA awards and a Songlines his remarkable talent and achievements.
Best Artist Award. Anoushka frequently works with organizations such as
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Choose Love, to NEIL GAIMAN & SHARAD DEVARAJAN
raise funds and awareness for the refugee crisis. She has also been outspoken
about her own experiences, supporting campaigns such as One Billion Rising. Graphic India to create
Anoushka is an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music and was
one of the first female composers to be added to the A-Level music syllabus animation film on ‘Cinnamon’
by one of Britain’s biggest exam boards.
Anushka was the first Indian woman ever nominated and the young-
est-ever nominee in the World Music Category for her album Live At Carne- ecently, Neil Gaiman, an English author and NYT best-selling author
gie Hall in 2002. She also became the first Indian musician to perform at the announced that his widely-loved short story “Cinnamon” has been
ceremony in 2005, serve as a presenter in 2016 and perform for the second Rturned into an animated film.
time in 2021. In addition to her fresh 8th and 9th nominations, the 42-year- The upcoming English-language movie, which delves into the magical
old composer’s previous works have also been nominated for Grammy. These world of an Indian Princess and a talking tiger, is a collaboration between
include Live At Carnegie Hall, Rise, Traveller, Traces Of You, Home, Land Gaiman and Sharad Devarajan of Graphic India—a company known for its
Of Gold and Love Letters. expertise in original Indian-themed character entertainment.
Anoushka Shankar’s impressive repertoire stems from her extensive Gaiman, celebrated for works like “Coraline,” “The Sandman,” “Amer-
training under the guidance of her father, renowned sitarist Ravi Shankar. Continued on next page... >>

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