Dr Sandhya Bhat, an accomplished Hindustani Vocalist

Dr Sandhya Bhat made headlines recently when she stood first at the national level Hindustani classical vocal music Visharada Poorna examinations held by the Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal in Mumbai. Dr Ami Upadhyay, Professor and Director, Vice Chancellor; School of Humanities and Social Science presented the prestigious award to her.

Laurels all along the way: In fact, accolades to Dr Sandhya Bhat are nothing new as she has been bagging prizes, medals and honours throughout her musical journey so far. She has always excelled in her vocal studies and had topped in her junior and senior exams held at the state level. She has also completed her Visharada training held by the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi. She holds a Master of Arts (M.A) in Hindustani classical vocal, from Dr. Gangubhai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University, Mysore, Karnataka. She secured 3 Gold Medals for her stupendous academic performance.

Doctorate in Hindustani Music: Presently she is continuing her vocal riyaz under the tutelage of the renowned artist, Vidhushi Gauri Pathare of Mumbai. Currently, she is working as a teaching faculty in the Dr Gangubhai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University, Mysore. She decided to continue her musical study and holds a Doctorate (PhD) in Hindustani Music from Kannada University, Hampi.

Native of Heggarsimane: Dr Sandhya Satyanarayan Bhat is a native of Heggarsimane, a small village near Sirsi in Uttara Kannada (North Canara) district. She is the last among three daughters of Vedamurthy Satyanarayan Bhat, a priest by profession and Areca nut planter and Dakshayani Bhat, a homemaker. Thanks to her upbringing in a musical family with an immense interest in the musical field, her musical career kicked off at the tender age of eight years. She received her initial grooming at a young age under the guidance of Vidushi Bhakula Hegde and Vidwan Shripad Hegde.

No shortage for growth: Interestingly and although Vedmurthy Satyanarayan Bhat and Dakshayani Bhat couple gave birth to all three daughters, that was no consideration for paucity of anything for the overall growth of them. Their first Vanishree Bhat is a senior Engineer at SAP Labs India while her hubby Prasanna Hegde is a senior Engineer at Juniper Networks Company. Vanishri Bhat is also an acknowledged writer in Kannada, apart from maintaining her own blog. Prasanna Hegde is from Bitgod village coming from a traditional family background well-known for assisting needy students with their educational needs.

Youngest among the three daughters: Dr Veenashree Satyanarayan Bhat is the second daughter. She is a Neonatologist, right now pursuing a doctorate of Medicine, DM Neonatology course at the reputed Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. She is also another proud daughter of Vedmurthy Satyanarayan and Dakshayani Bhat couple. Dr Veenashree Satyanarayan Bhat came with flying colours at the All India National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examinations in September 2022 by clinching the 11th rank! She is married to Dr Shrisha Manjunath Hegde of Adnalli village Salekoppa near Ekkambi of Sirsi Taluk. Dr Shrisha...

... Manjunath Hegde is in the final year of the three-year full-time postgraduate course DM in Nephrology at the Apollo group of hospitals on Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru. Dr Sandhya Bhat is the youngest and third daughter of the family but chose a roadmap different from her elder sisters. If Vanishree thought of becoming a software professional, Dr Veenashree chose to become a Neonatologist to serve the ailing infants, unable to speak, neither expressing nor hinting at the problems they are facing. However, Dr Sandhya opted for arts in general and classical Hindustani vocal music in particular as a career to pursue as a passion and more than merely another profession.

Concerts across the state: Dr Sandhya Bhat has performed at many noted concerts across Karnataka and is applauded by many music lovers. Kadamba Utsava Banavasi, Sri Rama Navami Music Festival Dharwad, National Pallava Utsava at Jaganmohana Palace, Mysuru, Dasara Utsava-Mysuru, Annual music festival at Sri Marikamba Temple Sirsi, Sharavati Utsava Honnavar are a few of the stages where she performed.

Spicmacay Gurukul Anubhav Scholarship: Ms Sandhya Bhat was selected for the prestigious “SPICMACAY- GURUKUL ANUBHAV SCHOLARSHIP” which was conducted at Dr Gangubhai Hangal Gurukul Hubli and had the blessed opportunity to develop and continue her practice under the guidance of renowned Artist Pt. Ganapati Bhat Hasanagi.

Awards galore: Dr Sandhya Bhat has won many awards like Nada Kishori-in Nada Kishorothsava organised by the famous “Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha, Mysore. The Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy has also granted a scholarship to her for her achievement in Hindustani classical vocal music.

Musical album: Dr Sandhya Bhat has the credit of lending her vocals in a musical album released by “Sanskriti foundation trust” and has also given an interview alongside Pt. Kaivalya Kumar Gurav to DD Chandana TV channel for ‘BELAGU”, a series pertaining to Hindustani classical music. She also indulges in the art of composing music and has composed musical scores for various songs. She is the founder of Swara Sadhana Academy in Mysore which strives to provide Hindustani Classical music education to many students of junior, senior and Vidwat level.

Set to create a footprint: She continues to promote Hindustani Classical music and has also conducted many workshops for kids in schools to create awareness of Hindustani music. Having an immense interest in the musical field and doing rigorous work to promote and practice Hindustani classical music, Dr Sandhya is working tirelessly to excel further in the same field. She is all set to create a footprint in the history of Hindustani classical vocal music.

The delight of music is vast as an ocean: Dr Sandhya Bhat explains-“Music is vast as an ocean with every drop engrossed with a delightful experience. The more you try to know, you feel there is much at large still to know. Perhaps that is the beauty of trying to know, learn and enjoy music. In a way, the urge to know is unlimited, never-ending and infinite.

Encouragement during childhood: She also recalls-“Probably, the all-around encouragement extended to me during my childhood is the net result to all the accomplishments today. Likewise, the musical background of our family further boosted my musical prospects. All the credit for my achievements so far goes to our father who is just not a patron but a strong motivating factor in my musical journey”.

Aiming to achieve further: Dr Sandhya Bhat is optimistic about her musical road map ahead-“As of now music is my breath and I intend to strive vigorously to achieve further in this field. I am desirous to serve the society in my own way.

Need of research: “Music has a great role in enabling a healthy society. It is also being told that music is the ultimate solution for some of the mental ailments. Perhaps, there is a great need for research in this field”, signs off Dr Sandhya Bhat.


-Manohar Yadavatti