EntertainmentPosted at: Jun 12 2026 4:15PM


Grammy winner Ricky Kej meets Bhutan King, hails happiness-first vision

Bengaluru, June 12 (UNI) Three-time Grammy Award-winning composer and Padma Shri awardee Ricky Kej has hailed Bhutan's unique development model centred on happiness and wellbeing after meeting Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck during a recent visit to the Himalayan kingdom.
Describing the interaction as a "huge honour", Kej said Bhutan offers a powerful reminder that the ultimate goal of development should be human and environmental wellbeing rather than economic growth alone.
Kej was in Bhutan to participate in the Bhutan Compassionate Leadership Forum alongside Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi.
During the visit, he also met Sonam Dechan Wangchuck and several leaders from government, civil society and academia.
"We often discuss economic growth and development, but Bhutan reminds us that the ultimate purpose is human and environmental wellbeing. Bhutan genuinely attempts to place wellbeing and happiness at the centre of its national vision," Kej said.
He welcomed the partnership between Bhutan and the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion, saying initiatives that promote compassion and social harmony are increasingly important in a divided world.
The musician said the visit brought together royalty, Nobel laureates, Supreme Court judges, bureaucrats, industry leaders, civil society representatives and students, all united by a shared commitment to building a more compassionate future.
Apart from participating in the forum, Kej explored Bhutan's rich cultural heritage. He visited the Royal Academy of Performing Arts, where he interacted with faculty members and students on traditional music, cultural preservation and opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration.
Kej also met Bhutanese musician and researcher Kheng Sonam Dorji at the Music of Bhutan Research Centre and praised efforts to preserve the country's ancient musical traditions and indigenous instruments.
Expressing gratitude to former Bhutan Labour Minister Dorji Wangdi for facilitating several cultural exchanges, Kej said the experience reaffirmed the importance of compassion, sustainability and cultural preservation in shaping a better future.
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