Pakistani folk singer Reshma passes away

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Pakistani folk singer Reshma passes away

Islamabad, Nov 3: Legendary Pakistani folk singer Reshma, who mesmerised music lovers beyond borders with her soulful rendition of songs like Dama Dam Mast Kalandar and Lambi Judai in her trademark rustic voice, passed away in Lahore today after suffering from throat cancer.
Born around 1947 in Bikaner, Rajasthan, in a Banjara family, Reshma was under treatment after being diagnosed with the disease years ago and had been in coma for a month. She is survived by son Umair and daughter Khadija.
Reshma’s tribe had migrated to Karachi shortly after partition.
Having received no formal education in music, she was only 12 when she was spotted singing at Shahbaz Qalander’s shrine by a television and radio producer, who arranged for her to record the iconic song Laal Meri on state-run Pakistan radio.
The song was an instant hit, and Reshma went on to become one of the most popular folk singers of Pakistan, appearing on television in the 1960s, as well as recording songs for both the Pakistani and Indian film industry.
“Singers of that level and magnitude are an institution in themselves and her passing away means a complete era has passed away. It is a huge loss,” Shahram Azhar, lead singer of Pakistani band Laal, told PTI.
Some of her famous numbers include Hai O Rabba nahion lagda dil mera and Ankhiyan no rehen de ankhyan de kol kol.
Reshma, who has a massive and loyal fan following, was awarded several national awards, including prestigious awards Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Legends Of Pakistan given by the President of Pakistan. She was unaffected by fame, sticking to her traditional dress.
She was able to perform live in India much later, during the 1980s when India and Pakistan allowed exchange of artistes.
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai used her voice in the film Hero, which featured one of her most famous songs Lambi Judai.
During her career, she was invited to meet Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, a music lover, had come to her aid and gave her Rs 0.1 crore to help pay off a bank loan. He also put her on a secured assistance of Rs 10,000 per month.
When she was hospitalised in Doctors Hospital at Lahore on April 6, 2013, the caretaker government led by Najam Sethi decided to pay all her medical expenses.

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Farewell to the Desert Nightingale

After battling with throat cancer for years, legendary folk singer Reshma passed away in Lahore on Sunday morning. The enchanting nightingale from the desert, as she was lovingly described by her admirers, remained in a coma for the last month of her life. Her funeral prayers were offered in Imamia Colony in Shahdara. Without any prior training in music or relatives in the music industry, Reshma serenaded Pakistan with her melodious voice and mesmerized listeners with soulful renditions of unforgettable hits like Dama Dam Mast Qalandar and Lambi Judai. Her contribution to Radio Pakistan as a musician remains unparalleled, while many mainstream contemporary singers from Pakistan as well as India sought inspiration in her talent.

Daughter to a horse and camel trader father, from the Malashi tribe of Loha village in Rajhastan, Reshma migrated to Karachi shortly after the partition in 1947 with her family. She gained popularity and praise for singing at the local mazaar during her teenage years. During one of those performances for the devotees at Shahbaz Qalander’s shrine, Reshma was approached by a television and radio producer, and as they say, everything else is history. With her hauntingly beautiful voice, she held audiences spellbound. Her simplicity of spirit and unselfconsciously genuine connection with her audience can never be forgotten, nor imitated by any others to come after here. A true Pakistani treasure, she received prestigious awards, including the civil honour, the Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

After her diagnosis, Reshma received financial support from several politicians as well as various private organizations in order to cover her expenses and medical treatment. A household name, Reshma lived a spartan life, and her remarkable talent, although widely recognised, was never a source of financial comfort. She is survived by a son, Umair, and daughter Shazia. Reshma’s death left a void in the music industry where classical singers and folk music continue to remain neglected by large. The Nightingale of the Desert can not, and will never be forgotten by her fans in the Indian subcontinent. Her talent will continue to inspire and enchant, though she may be no longer among us. A rare and irreplacable woman, and a life lived with grace and dignity: may Reshma's soul rest forever in peace.

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