Correct Option (D)
Lahore:
Vishnu Digambar Paluskar (1872–1931), a prominent figure in Hindustani classical music reform, established the first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Lahore on 5 May 1901. This institution marked a significant shift in the dissemination of Indian classical music. It was the pioneering formal school dedicated to teaching classical music to the general public, moving beyond the traditional, often exclusive, hereditary guru-shishya system. Paluskar introduced a structured curriculum, a system of musical notation, and provided performance platforms for students, thereby democratizing music education and integrating it into the broader nationalist cultural awakening of early 20th-century India.
Incorrect Options
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Delhi: While a significant centre for Hindustani classical music, the Delhi branch of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya was established in 1939, long after the initial founding in Lahore and after Paluskar's demise. It was an expansion of his original mission.
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Gwalior: Gwalior is historically renowned as a major centre for Hindustani classical music and is the origin of the Gwalior Gharana. However, it was not the location where Vishnu Digambar Paluskar founded the first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.
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Ujjain: Ujjain possesses considerable cultural and historical significance, particularly in ancient Indian history and literature. Nevertheless, it does not hold any direct association with the establishment of the first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar.