# Akhilbandhu Ghosh

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.

## 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.

## Personal life

He married Dipali Ghosh in 1947 and led a very happy married life. 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.

## 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in 1947 containing two songs in 78 RPM record; Ekti kusum jaabe and Amar kanone phutechhilo phul, though some of his unpublished songs were recorded much earlier. 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.
For several years he was associated with the Bengal Music College, founded by Nanigopal Bhattacharya in 1940.

## 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,
| 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.