Akhilbandhu Ghosh

Akhilbandhu Ghosh
Born	(1920-10-20)20 October 1920 Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	20 March 1988(1988-03-20) (aged 67) SSKM Hospital, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Occupation	Singer

Akhilbandhu Ghosh (Bengali: অখিলবন্ধু ঘোষ; 20 October 1920 – 20 March 1988) was a Bengali male singer from Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He is considered as one of the greatest exponents of Bengali classical based vocal music.^[1]

Early years

Akhilbandhu Ghosh was born to Sri Bamandas Ghosh and Smt. Manimala Ghosh of Kolkata. In the early years he was a shy and introvert boy. He studied in Bhabanipur Nasiruddin Memorial School of Kolkata. Hemanta Mukherjee was one of his close friends since his childhood days. He received the first lessons in music from his maternal uncle Sri Kalidas Guha. Later he took lessons from Nirapada Mukhopadhyay, Tarapada Chakraborty and Chinmoy Lahiri.^[2]

Personal life

He married Dipali Ghosh in 1947 and led a very happy married life.^[3] Dipali was Akhilbandhu’s disciple and a noted singer too. The childless couple devoted their life in teaching classical based vocal music to hundreds of disciples in their house located at 25, Turf Road, Bhabanipur, Kolkata.^[2]

Career

Akhilbandhu published his first album in 1947 containing two songs in 78 RPM record; Ekti kusum jaabe and Amar kanone phutechhilo phul, though some of his unpublished songs were recorded much earlier.^[2] He was unparalleled in modern classical based Bengali songs and recorded many songs which became very popular. Some of these are: ‘আজি চাঁদিনি রাতি গো’ (Aji chadini rati go), ‘ওই যে আকাশের গায়ে, দূরের বলাকা ভেসে যায়’ (Oi je akasher gaye, durer balaka vese jay), ‘শিপ্রা নদীর বুকে সন্ধ্যা নামিল হায়’ (Shipra nadir buke sandhya namil hay), ‘তোমার ভুবনে ফুলের মেলা’ (Tomar bhubane fuler mela) etc.^[4]

For several years he was associated with the Bengal Music College, founded by Nanigopal Bhattacharya in 1940.^[5]

Discography

List of all songs sung or composed by Akhilbandhu Ghosh (in alphabetical order)

Akhilbandhu Ghosh discography

Year	Song	Singer	Type	Lyrics	Music	Record No./Other	Record Speed
1984	Aaj noy kaal	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Sayd Abul Hasan	Prabir Majumder	2226-1164	EP
1962	Aaji chNadini raati go	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6134	78 RPM
1947	Aamar kanone phutechhilo phul	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Byomkesh Lahiri	Santosh Mukhopadhyay	JNG 5840	78 RPM
1950	Aamar somadhi pore	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pabitra Mitra	Sudhirlal Chakraborty	H 1488	78 RPM
1977	Aami keno rohilam (Darbari Kanada)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Ratu Mukhopadhyay	Ratu Mukhopadhyay	JNLX 1021	LP
1963	Aami kotha dile kotha rakhi	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6163	78 RPM
1960	Aami je piyasi	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Biswanath Bardhan	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6061	78 RPM
-	Aar toh chole na Radha	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Madhusudan Gupta	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	TN 507	78 RPM
1965	Avimani cheye bdekho	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Santosh Mukhopadhyay	JNG 6198	78 RPM
1977	Barosar megh bhese jay (Surdasi Malhar)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Gauriprasanna Mazumder	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNLX 1021	LP
1960	Bnashoriya bNashi bajaiyo na	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Shanti Bhattacharya	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6061	78 RPM
1949	Bol kemone jagai	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Gauriprasanna Mazumder	Anupan Ghatak	H 1440	78 RPM
1949	Chaiti godhuli jay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Gauriprasanna Mazumder	Anupan Ghatak	H 1440	78 RPM
1977	Dekona taare (Shankara)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Gauriprasanna Mazumder	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNLX 1021	LP
1947	Ekti Kusum Jobe	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Santosh Mukhopadhyay	JNG 5840	78 RPM
1961	Emon dine Ma je amar	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Madhu Gupta	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6117	78 RPM
1984	Er naam ki bhalobasa	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Sayd Abul Hasan	Prabir Majumder	2226-1164	EP
-	Gokul chhariya Kala	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Shib Krishna Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	TN 507	78 RPM
1985	Guru mohe de gaye	Sandhya Mukhopadhyay	Bhajan	Kabir Das	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	ECSD 41567	-
1984	Heso na jhore jaabe	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Sayd Abul Hasan	Prabir Majumder	2226-1164	EP
1977	Jaago jaago priyo (Vatiar)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Madhu Gupta	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNLX 1021	LP
1980	Jalete sundori koinya	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Sunilbaran	Rotu Bandyopadhyay	JNGS 6354	SP
-	Jamuna kinare	Sandhya Mukhopadhyay	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	GE 25490	45
1964	Je tomay sadhu sajay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6181	78 RPM
1977	Jete jete churi kore chay (Vairabi)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Ratu Mukhopadhyay	Ratu Mukhopadhyay	JNLX 1021	LP
1973	Jeno kichhu mone korona	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Dipali Ghosh	JNGS 6324	SP
1961	Kaar milon chao birohi	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Rabindranath Tagore	Rabindranath Tagore	Matrix No. OJE 17532 (unpublished)	Megaphone (republished 2003)
1959	Kabe achhi kabe nei	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6046	78 RPM
1977	Kemone janabo (Tilak Kamod)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Gauriprasanna Mazumder	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNLX 1021	LP
1953	Keno prohor na jete	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Gauriprasanna Mazumder	Dilip Sarkar	N 82547	78 RPM
1971	Keno tumi bodle gechho	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNGS 6295	SP
1965	Koyelia jaane	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Santosh Mukhopadhyay	JNG 6198	78 RPM
1952	Madol baja ore baja	Akhilbandhu Ghosh, Utpala Sen, Bani Sengupta	Film: Meghmukti	Tarit Kumar Ghosh	Umapati Sil	-	-
-	Mane nei mon	Sandhya Mukhopadhyay	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	GE 25490	45
1977	Marome mori go (Deshi Todi)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNLX 1021	LP
1950	Maromia baNshi	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pabitra Mitra	Sudhirlal Chakraborty	H 1488	78 RPM
1953	Mayamrigo samo	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Gauriprasanna Mazumder	Durga Sen	N 82547	78 RPM
1977	Milano nishithe gele phire (Maj Khamaj)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Indrani Bhattacharya	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNLX 1021	LP
1962	Nahoy mon dite tumi parona	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6134	78 RPM
1948	Nutan Jiban Dekhao amare	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Dilip Sarkar	Dilip Sarkar	H 1301	78 RPM
1961	O dayal bichar karo	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6117	78 RPM
-	O Rai ki byadhi hoilo	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Suren Chakraborty	Pankaj Mallick	GE 25007	78 RPM
1977	O go Shyam bihone brindabone (Pilu)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Suren Chakraborty	Pankaj Mallick	JNLX 1021	LP
1977	Aami keno rohilam (Darbari Kanada)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Ratu Mukhopadhyay	Ratu Mukhopadhyay	JNLX 1021	LP
1971	Oi jah aami bolte bhule gechhi	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNGS 6295	SP
1959	Oi je akasher gay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Shanti Bhattacharya	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6046	78 RPM
1948	Phaguner chaNd dube gelo	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	H 1301	78 RPM
1954	Piyal shakhar phNake othe	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Gauriprasanna Mazumder	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	N 82606	78 RPM
1973	Sarati jibon ki je pelam	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Dipali Ghosh	JNGS 6324	SP
1980	Se kemon nupur ogo	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Rotu Bandyopadhyay	JNGS 6354	SP
1977	Se kuhu yamini (Jayjayanti)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Madhu Gupta	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNLX 1021	LP
1964	Sedin chNader alo	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6181	78 RPM
1984	Sesh hoye elo na	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Sayd Abul Hasan	Prabir Majumder	2226-1164	EP
1954	Shipra nodir teere	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Shanti Bhattacharya	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	N 82606	78 RPM
1977	Shono shono (Nag Ranjani)	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Madhu Gupta	Arup Bhattacharya	JNLX 1021	LP
1949	Shrabano rajani sheshe	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Kamal Ghosh	Anupan Ghatak	H 1401	78 RPM
1949	Swapan parabarer teere	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Kamal Ghosh	Anupan Ghatak	H 1401	78 RPM
-	Swapane pohabe rajani	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Classical based	Tapan Bhattacharya	Dipali Ghosh	31008 Sagarika	Cassette
1963	Tomar bhubane phuler mela	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Pulak Bandyopadhyay	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	JNG 6163	78 RPM
1961	Tumi mor paonai porichoy	Akhilbandhu Ghosh	Bengali Modern	Rabindranath Tagore	Rabindranath Tagore	Matrix No. OJE 17532	Unpublished

Legacy

Akhilbandhu Ghosh's songs had become synonymous with the romantic ode in Bengali. Kabir Suman, an artist who initiated New wave in Bengali modern songs, mentioned Akhilbandhu Ghosh in one of his compositions of 1970, বয়স আমার মুখের রেখায় (Bayas amar mukher rekhay), where it was said,^[6]

একলা লাগার সময় মানে   নিজের সঙ্গে কথা বলা     তারই ফাঁকে কোথায় যেন         অখিলবন্ধু ঘোষের গলা

When lonely moments get lonelier, And we sink into ourselves talking to our inner self, 'Tis not hard to find, assuring and comforting as ever The resonating voice of Akhilbandhu Ghosh

Death

On March 20, 1988, Akhilbandhu came back from Andal attending a musical soiree, feeling unwell. He was admitted to P G Hospital first, and shifted to Sambhunath Pandit Hospital. He breathed his last in the afternoon, survived by his wife.

References

1. Sengupta, Subodh Chandra, ed. (2010). সংসদ বাঙালি চরিতাভিধান. Sahitya Sangsad.
2. Mukhopadhyay, Sandip. "অখিলবন্ধু ঘোষ - মার্জিত শোভন সুরসৃষ্টি" (PDF). Retrieved 24 November 2010.
3. 100th year birth anniversary of Akhil Bandhu Ghosh (in Bengali) Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
4. Mukhopadhyay, Anirban (20 October 2017). "মৃত্যুর পরে ক্রমশ বেঁচে উঠেছেন এই ৫ বাঙালি". Retrieved 24 November 2010.
5. Bandyopadhyay, Sankarshan. "লোকসঙ্গীতকে বি‌কৃত করছেন কিছু মানুষ". Retrieved 24 November 2010.
6. Viewable on YouTube: বয়স আমার মুখের রেখায় on YouTube