Legendary singer of Uttarakhand late Gopal Babu Goswami – Today is his 78th Birth Anniversary

Today is the 78th birth anniversary of the legendary singer of Uttarakhand late Gopal Babu Goswami whose mesmerizing melodious songs highlighting the traditions, culture, folks, scenic and serene beauty of Uttarakhand Himalayas and women has left a special mark in the minds and hearts of the Uttarakhandi people globally.

Born in a village under the jurisdiction of Chandikhet village Panchayat adjacent to the famous Chaukhutia market in 1942 his father’s name was Mohan Giri Goswami. According to the available information Gopal Babu Goswami had special interest and penchant for singing and writing songs since his childhood days.

The passion was so extreme that he gave up his studies after the fifth standard and dedicated his life scripting songs and singing them as well. In a short span of time he became so popular and a household name due to his popular mesmerizing songs that in 1972 he was appointed in the Songs and Drama Division of the Government of India. This served as a great platform to Gopal Babu Goswami who not only got full exposure here as a prominent songwriter but a melodious singer as well.

It was from here only that he enhanced his popularity as a renowned singer, singing myriad songs mesmerizing the Uttarakhandi song and music lovers thus creating a special status as an established traditional singer of the Himalayan state. His most popular and well-acclaimed song “Himala ko Unchaa Daana, Pyaro Mero Gaanv, Chabilo Garhwal Mero, Rangilo Kumaon” (Himalayayas high altitude mountain terrains, my adoring village, and beautiful and colorful Garhwal and Kumaon regions) has broken all records and is still extremely popular in and outside Uttarakhand. His another scripted song in his melodious voice praising the beauty of the women of the hills “Hai Teru Rumala, Gulaabi Mukhdi, Kan Bhali Dikhendi Naka ki Nathuli, and song describing the relationship of  “Jija Saali” Oh Bhina Kaske Jaanu Dorihaata, has also been quite popular apart from hundreds of other songs.  Legendary singer Gopal Babu Goswami’s songs are in great demand in Uttarakhand despite the fact that several other singers like Swar Samrat Narendra Singh Negi, Padam Shri Pritam Bhartwan and Gajendra Rana, etc have become quite popular these days.

His original name was Gopal Girl Goswami but was popularly known as Gopal Babu Goswami. Gopal Babu wrote about 550 songs during his short life span of 54 years and almost sung them all with his melodious voice and music entertaining millions of people in and outside Uttarakhand. Unfortunately at the age of merely 54, he breathed his last on 26th November 1996 leaving behind his millions of fans and well-wishers in utter grief and shock. His first-ever song, “Kele Baje Murali, Unchi Unchi Dandyon Maa”, ( “How the music of flute mesmerizes one and all on hilly terrains,” was broadcast from Alashwani Najibabad for the very first time making him extremely popular and recognized as an acclaimed Uttarakhandi singer. Today on his 78th birth anniversary the entire Uttarakhand pays him it’s riches tributes and remembers this towering singer in all earnestness.