View source for Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal

{{Short description|Institution on Indian classical music and dance}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2018}}
'''Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal |url=https://abgmvm.org/}}</ref> ('''अखिल भारतीय गान्धर्व महाविद्यालय मंडल''', "All India Music University Board") is an institution for the promotion and propagation of Indian classical music and dance. The administrative offices of ABGMVM are in [[Miraj]], while its main music school or ''Sangeet Vidyalaya'' is in [[Vashi]], [[Navi Mumbai]].<ref name="Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal home page">{{cite web |url=http://abgmvm.org/|title=Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref> The institution provides training and certification in vocal music; instrumental music, including melody instruments such as [[sitar]] as well as percussion instruments such as [[tabla]]; and various classical dance forms such as [[Odissi]], [[Bharata Natyam]], and [[Kathak]].

ABGMVM has laid out courses of study in these performing arts for levels ranging from ''Prarambhik'' (beginner) to ''Sangeetacharya'' (literally "teacher of music"; equivalent to a doctorate). Around 1,200 affiliated institutions throughout India and elsewhere in the world follow the ABGMVM syllabi. The ABGMVM conducts examinations based on these syllabi twice a year, in April/May and November/December, at 800 centers around the world.

== History ==
ABGMVM is built on the foundations laid by [[Vishnu Digambar Paluskar]], who along with [[Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande]] was responsible for the democratization and spread of musical education among the Indian middle class in the early twentieth century.<ref name="Two Men and Music">{{cite book |last=Bakhle |first=Janaki |date=2005 |title=Two Men and Music |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn= 978-0195166118}}</ref> On 5 May 1901, Paluskar set up a music school called Gandharva Vidyalaya in [[Lahore]]. Eventually, he moved the school to [[Bombay]], and in 1915, inaugurated a new building for the school. However, financial and operational difficulties led to the school's closure in 1924.

After Paluskar's death in 1931, his students decided to carry on his educational work. Shortly after his death, [[Shankarrao Vyas]] and [[N.M. Khare]] convened a meeting in [[Ahmedabad]]. At this meeting, a decision was made to set up a board (''mandal'') that would coordinate and guide these educational activities. Thus, the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal was established.<ref name="ABGMVM About Us page">{{cite web |url=http://abgmvm.org/about-us/|title=About Us|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref>

Paluskar's students set up music schools throughout India. For example, [[Vinay Chandra Maudgalya]] set up a [[Gandharva Mahavidyalaya]] in [[Delhi]] in 1939. These schools followed the syllabi prescribed by ABGMVM, and students appeared for examinations conducted by that board. Over the years, the number of affiliated schools has continued to grow. Today, about 100,000 students appear for examinations conducted by ABGMVM every year.

== Examinations and Qualifications ==
ABGMVM offers the following examinations.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Name
! Transliteration
! Literal Translation
! Meaning
! Equivalent Qualification
|-
| 1
| प्रारम्भिक
| praarambhik
| Of the beginning
| Preliminary
|
|-
| 2
| प्रवेशिका प्रथम
| praveshikaa pratham
| The first entry-level
| Elementary, Part I
|
|-
| 3
| प्रवेशिका पूर्ण
| praveshikaa puurna
| The entire entry-level
| Elementary, Part II
| [[Matriculation]] or [[O-level]]
|-
| 4
| मध्यमा प्रथम
| madhyamaa pratham
| The first of the middle
| Intermediate, Part I
| 
|-
| 5
| मध्यमा पूर्ण
| madhyamaa puurna
| The entire middle
| Intermediate, Part II
| [[Diploma]] or [[A-level]]
|-
| 6
| विशारद प्रथम
| vishaarad pratham
| The first of the expert
| Advanced, Part I
|
|-
| 7
| विशारद पूर्ण
| vishaarad puurna
| The complete expert
| Advanced, Part II
| [[Bachelor's Degree]] (''see note'')
|-
| 8
| अलंकार प्रथम
| alankar pratham
| The first ornament
| Master's, Part I
| 
|-
| 9
| अलंकार पूर्ण
| alankar puurna
| The entire ornament
| Master's, Part II
| [[Master's Degree]]
|-
| -
| संगीताचार्य
| sangiitaachaarya
| Teacher of music
| Ph.D.
| [[Doctoral degree]]
|}

''Note:'' An individual with a ''Visharad'' qualification is considered to have equivalent musical knowledge to someone with a bachelor's degree in music. However, the ''Visharad'' by itself is not the equivalent of a bachelor's per se, as the course of study is entirely music-based and does not include the general  requirements typical of bachelor's degrees. As a result, universities such as the [[University of Mumbai]] or [[SNDT Women's University]] require that individuals with a ''Visharad'' who are seeking admission to master's of music programs also have some bachelor's degree, irrespective of field, alongside the ''Visharad''.<ref name="University of Mumbai Department of Music">{{cite web |url=http://mu.ac.in/portal/department-of-music/|title=Department of Music - Courses|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="SNDT University MA in Music">{{cite web|url=https://musicmumbai.sndt.ac.in/ma-in-music.htm|title=M.A. in Music|access-date=23 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015807/https://musicmumbai.sndt.ac.in/ma-in-music.htm|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
* [[Veena Sahasrabuddhe]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:Music schools in India]]
[[Category:Hindustani music organisations]]
[[Category:Dance schools in India]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1901]]
[[Category:1901 establishments in India]]