Oscar-winning
musician
AR
Rahman
has
been
conferred
with
his
first
American
Honorary
Doctorate
by
the
Miami
University.
AR
Rahman
was
honoured
with
a
degree
for
Doctor
of
Music
at
the
University’s
173rd
Annual
Commencement
Ceremony
held
at
the
Yager
Stadium
in
Oxford,
Ohio.
It
is
Rahman’s
fourth
doctorate
since
he
was
previously
honoured
by
Aligarh
Muslim
University,
Anna
University
and
Middlesex
University
in
the
UK.
The
music
composer
was
extremely
thankful
as
he
addressed
a
gathering
of
over
15,000
students.
He
said
it
was
great
to
share
his
love
and
music
with
Miami
University.
“I
wish
to
thank
a
few
people
who
have
made
a
significant
impact
in
my
life:
My
father
and
mother
have
anchored
me
with
good
values;
then
Mani
Ratnam
who
is
India’s
noted
filmmaker
gave
me
my
first
break
in
the
world
of
cinema
in
the
film
Roja,”
Rahman
said
in
his
address.
AR
Rahman
further
added,
"My
Sufi
teachers
opened
my
consciousness
and
helped
me
discover
myself.
People
from
all
around
India
have
embraced
me
and
my
music
without
any
discrimination
and
today,
I
find
the
same
spirit
of
acceptance
in
Hollywood."
Rahman
has
been
associated
with
the
university
for
past
10
years
and
he
had
also
assisted
them
in
the
making
of
KM
Music
Conservatory
in
Chennai.
“I
cannot
believe
that
it
is
over
ten
years
since
my
music
and
I
have
been
associated
with
Miami
University.
I
have
enjoyed
collaborating
with
your
students
and
faculty
and
above
all,
every
interaction
has
allowed
for
greater
understanding,
sensitivity
and
growth,”
he
said.
David
C
Hodge
conferred
the
Honorary
Degree
on
to
Rahman
and
thanked
him
for
his
unwavering
support
to
the
University.
Being
one
of
the
most
influential
names
in
Indian
music
today,
the
composer
is
credited
for
redefining
contemporary
music.
Rahman,
who
started
his
career
with
Mani
Ratnam’s
Roja,
went
on
to
win
two
Oscars,
two
Grammys,
a
Golden
Globe
and
the
BAFTA
for
his
music
in
Slumdog
Millionaire.
He
has
composed
music
for
hit
films
like
Bombay,
Dil
Se,
Taal,
Lagaan,
Vandemataram.
In
recent
times,
Rahman
gave
music
for
Jodhaa
Akbar,
Delhi
6
and
Rockstar.
Rahman
recently
collaborated
with
Rolling
Stones
legend
Mick
Jagger,
Joss
Stone,
Damian
Marley
and
Dave
Stewart
for
their
international
band
SuperHeavy.
PTI