Ngawang Tashi Bapu

Ngawang Tashi Bapu (born 1968), also known as Lama Tashi, is a former Principal Chant Master of the Dalai Lama's Drepung Loseling Monastery. A Monpa, Tashi was born in the Thembang village of West Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh, India and commenced formal study in 1983, at age 15. He is a multi-phonic chanter and has performed twice at the Carnegie Hall in New York City. Tashi has also performed with popular recording artists such as Natalie Merchant, Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), Patti Smith, Ben Harper, Philip Glass, Kitaro and Sheryl Crow. Currently, he lives in Bomdila and is the Principal of the Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Study, at Dahung in Bomdila.

Affectionately known as the Singing Monk, Tashi was one of the nominees for the Best Traditional World Music category at the 2006 Grammy Awards. On his nomination, Tashi said, "I do not have much knowledge of Western music although I love listening to Indian Hindi music and folk songs".

External links

• ChantMaster.Org
• 'I didn't see cars until I was 13'
• Grammy nomination for Buddhist monk
• Grammy nominee Geshe Ngawang speaks
• Lama Tashi becomes the first person from the North-East region to be nominated for the Grammy Award.