What is the distance of Komal Ni on the wire of Veena according to Pt. Bhatkhande?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
The correct option is **20**. This value corresponds to the distance of *Komal Ni* on the Veena wire according to a specific interpretation of the *Shuddha* scale within Pandit Bhatkhande's foundational work on Hindustani music theory. In his system, the total length of the playing wire (from the bridge to the upper octave fret) is standardized, often at 36 inches or 24 inches for simplified study. The distance of 20 inches from the lower bridge is established for one of the key notes that define the *Shuddha* scale. In this context, 20 inches is the correct fret position for the *Komal Nishad* (the lower or flat variety of Nishad, equivalent to the pitch of *Shuddha Gandhar* in a different *Shuddha* scale system). Bhatkhande's numerical positions were designed to systematically place the twelve *swarasthanas* (pitch positions), and 20 is the definitive measure for the *Komal Ni* among the choices.

The incorrect option is 2:
The value $21\frac{1}{3}$ is incorrect because, in the Veena wire calculations based on the ratios derived by Bhatkhande and later theorists, $21\frac{1}{3}$ inches (which is mathematically $64/3$ or $8/9$ of a 24-inch wire) specifically represents the position of **Shuddha Rishabh (Re)**. This is the second note in the *Shuddha* scale he adopted and is not the *Nishad* note. *Shuddha Re* occupies a distinct position in the lower tetrachord (*Poorvanga*), which is quite separate from the *Nishad* of the upper tetrachord (*Uttarang*). Therefore, mistaking this measure for *Komal Ni* demonstrates a misunderstanding of the intervallic placement of the notes on the string.

The incorrect option is 3:
The value $22\frac{2}{9}$ is incorrect for *Komal Ni*. This distance, $22\frac{2}{9}$ inches (approximately $9/10$ of a 25-unit length), accurately denotes the position of **Komal Rishabh (Re)** in Bhatkhande's numerical system for the Veena fretboard. This *Komal Re* is the flatted second note of the scale. As *Komal Ni* is located much closer to the octave string (around the 12-inch mark), the distance $22\frac{2}{9}$ is clearly for a note in the early part of the octave. Therefore, $22\frac{2}{9}$ cannot be the correct distance for the *Komal Ni* pitch.

The incorrect option is 4:
The value 24 is incorrect because it signifies the full, open length of the Veena wire, which is the position of the **Shadaj (Sa)** of the *Mandra Saptak* (lower octave) or the tonic note. In all Veena systems, 24 units is the starting point for all calculations, corresponding to the lowest pitch of the scale. *Komal Ni* is the second-highest note before the octave tonic (*Sã*) and is physically located far from the 24-inch mark. Selecting 24 as the distance for *Komal Ni* indicates a confusion between the reference point of the entire string and the specific fret placement of a high-pitched note.