Akhil Bharatiya Ghandharva Mahavidyala Visharad Exams

Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal works for the promotion and propagation of Indian Classical Music and Dances, is Affiliated with the University Grants Commission and offers Visharad (graduation), and Acharya (Ph.D.) programs. These exams were created for students who aspire to receive Ph.D’s or Bachelors in the Indian Classical Arts. The student has to successfully complete 6 levels of Visharad Purna to get a graduation certificate. These exams increase in difficulty as the levels progress, and each exam is designed to test the student’s ability to learn and perform their chosen art.

My guru, Dr. Parimal Phadke, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Performing Arts, Pune University, was impressed by my passion for Bharatnatyam when he saw me dancing during my Arangetram in 2018. He encouraged me to enroll in ABGMV and pursue dance at a professional level. Bharatnatyam is a massive part of my life, so I decided to pursue graduation under him to expand on this passion. I have been doing these exams since 2018 and I have completed Praveshika Pratham and Praveshika Purna with first class. I have completed my Madhyma Pratham and Madhyma Purna with the second class. I have also completed Vishard Pratham and will appear for Visharad Purna after my 12th-grade exams. I am preparing to get my Visharad or graduation certificate by 2024.

Students have to write, recite and perform in front of a panel of teachers to pass these exams. As I can’t read or write any Indian langauges including Hindi I found these exams very challenging. Yet despite my language barrier, I could successfully pass written and oral exams due to my passion for Bharatnatyam dance. Years of practice and sacrifices, driving to dance class several times a week after attending school, and after-class activities have been challenging but very rewarding. Each level of exam has taught me a new set of skills and proven my ability to excel regardless of the level of difficulty or challenges. I am forever grateful to my guru Dr. Parimal Phadke; this would have been possible without his guidance and encouragement.