Written by: Mahnoor Fatima
Posted on: November 19, 2020 | 
| 中文
One of Reshma's final performances at PNCA, Islamabad
Folk music in Pakistan owes a great deal to the voice and work of Reshma. When she sang of loss and yearning with her deep, husky voice, her simple and honest voice moved the hearts of many enthusiasts. Reshma’s decades-long career involved constantly pushing the boundaries of folk music in the commercial music industry, and promoting the rich depths of Pakistan’s folk culture all over the world.
Reshma was born in Rajasthan, India during the year of Partition to a family of nomadic Banjara. Her family rehabilitated to Karachi when she was a month old, and she was inclined towards music from a very young age. Without formal education or classical training, Reshma spent most of her childhood singing dhamal at Sufi shrines, which requires a firm grasp on acoustics and vocal strength. She was discovered at the age of 12 by notable television and radio producer Saleem Gillani, while singing at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Reshma as a young woman
Left awestruck by her talent, Gillani asked her to come to the Pakistan Television (PTV) Studios to record her performance. Although she had never seen a sound studio or sang indoors at the time, she recorded her rendition of ‘Laal Meri Pat’ on Radio Pakistan. Since that faithful first single, Reshma has been seen as one of the most popular folk singers in Pakistan, whose voice became a staple for television and film. Some of her most famous singles are “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar”, “Ankhiyan Nu rehen de ankhyan de kol kol” (Let Us Remain Close), and finally “Lambi Judai (A Long Separation)” which became her most popular hit. She received the Pride of Performance Award in 1982, and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) for her contribution to the arts in 2008.
One of Reshma's earliest albums
During her live performances, she dressed modestly, with the traditional Sindhi shawl draped around her shoulders. She spoke and sang in multiple regional languages, and her haunting voice became instantly synonymous with Pakistani folk music. Reshma was affectionately referred to as “The Nightingale of the Desert” due to the pride with which she owned her nomadic heritage and culture.
According to her admirers, her voice had the vastness of the desert, the thick mystery of the forest, and the depth of the Indus River. Although she had talent and popularity that matched many of the classically trained Pakistani singers, her unassuming attitude allowed her to remain humble despite her many decades of fame. She remained rooted in her country and its people despite international acclaim.
Reshma
She also frequently performed on the other side of the border, visiting India on Indira Gandhi’s request, and lending her music to Bollywood during the 1980s. “Lambi Judaai” was used for the 1983 film “Hero”, while “Ankhiyan Nu Rehne De” was featured in the 1973 Raj Kapoor Film “Bobby”. In India, she would often speak to the crowds of her connection to her birth village Bikaner, and her joy of performing there. When the Lahore-Amristar Bus was launched in 2006, Reshma booked seven out of the 26 seats, so that she may take her family to visit India.
Reshma died in 2013 after a long battle with throat cancer. Despite her illness, she continued to sing on occasion, and released her last album in 2005. Before her passing, Reshma trained her children to carry on her legacy by performing her songs for the public in her signature style.
Reshma Performing
With a career that started in 1968, Reshma carved out a unique bridge between authentic folk music and commercial arts like film and television. Her soulful voice and her humility consolidated her reputation as a singer who only comes once in a generation. But apart from her creative endeavors, she also made serious efforts to bring peace, brotherhood and cooperation through her art. The Pakistani artistic community must celebrate her commitment to her craft and the pride with which she showcased Pakistan’s folk culture.
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