Which statement is true?
Bharat and Bhatkhande both are equally:

Question

Which statement is true? 
Bharat and Bhatkhande both are equally:

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The theoretical basis for both ancient and modern Indian classical music lies in the concept of the **22 *Shrutis*** (microtones) that constitute the octave. Acharya Bharat Muni, the author of the *Natyashastra*, was the first to establish this framework by defining the positions of the **7 *Shuddh Swaras*** (Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni) across the 22 *Shrutis* in his *Gram* system. Centuries later, while Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande modernized the classification of *Ragas* with his *Thaat* system, he explicitly retained and acknowledged the fundamental concept of the **7 *Shuddh Swaras*** within the theoretical space of **22 *Shrutis***. Although their specific applications differed (Bharat used *Grams*, Bhatkhande used *Thaats*), the universal acceptance of the 22-shruti octave containing the 7 *Shuddh Swaras* is the primary theoretical element they share equally.

The incorrect option is 1:
The assertion that "7-Shuddh and 5-Vikrit swara are mentioned" does not equally apply to both scholars. Bharat Muni's system detailed 7 *Shuddh Swaras* and several *Vikrit Swaras* (altered notes) that resulted in a total of 13 to 15 distinct notes in the octave, not just 12. Bhatkhande, to simplify classification, standardized the modern scale into a fixed set of 12 notes (7 *Shuddh* + 5 *Komal*/*Teevra*). Therefore, they are not equal in their definition or count of the *Vikrit* (*altered*) notes.

The incorrect option is 2:
The "10-Thaat system" is a revolutionary contribution made solely by Pandit Bhatkhande in the early 20th century to categorize the thousands of *Ragas* used in Hindustani music. This system did not exist during the time of Bharat Muni. Bharat's classification was based on the archaic concepts of *Grams* and *Murchhanas*. Consequently, to state that Bharat and Bhatkhande are equally concerned with the *10-Thaat system* is chronologically incorrect, as Bhatkhande developed this system entirely on his own.

The incorrect option is 3:
This statement is factually inaccurate regarding Bharat's work. Bharat Muni's *Natyashastra* discussed the seven *Murchhanas* of **two *Grams***: *Shadaj Gram* and *Madhyam Gram*. The third ancient *Gram*, *Gandhar Gram*, was not used for the practical calculation of the 7-7 *Murchhanas*. Furthermore, Bhatkhande's goal was to create a modern, simplified system, so he completely discarded the complex and ambiguous *Gram* and *Murchhana* concepts. Therefore, both scholars do not equally treat the *Murchhanas* of three *Grams*.