View source for Reshma

{{Short description|Pakistani folk singer (c.1947-2013)}}
{{other uses}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Reshma
| image        =
| image_size   =
| alt          =
| caption      =
| birth_name   =
| alias        = Reshman
| birth_date   = c.1947<ref name="Dawn"/>
| birth_place  = [[Rajasthan]], India
| death_date   = 3 November 2013 (aged 66)<ref name="Dawn"/>
| death_place  = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], Pakistan
| occupation   = [[Folk singer]]
| years_active = 1968– 2004
| awards       = [[Pride of Performance]] Award by the [[President of Pakistan]] in 1982<br/>[[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] (Star of Excellence) Award by the [[Government of Pakistan]] in 2008
}}
'''Reshma''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|ریشماں}}}}; c. 1947 &ndash; 3 November 2013), was a Pakistani [[folk singer]]. Awarded with [[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] (Star of Distinction), the third highest honour and civilian award in Pakistan among other honours, she is remembered for [[folk song]]s and her powerful singing voice.
Born in [[Rajasthan]], India in a nomadic [[Banjara]] household in 1947, her family relocated to [[Karachi]] after the [[Partition of India]]. Discovered by a local producer at the age of twelve while singing at the shrine of [[Lal Shahbaz Qalandar]] in [[Sehwan]], [[Sindh]], Reshma went on to record various folk songs for such labels as the [[Pakistan Radio]].<ref name="Dawn"/> Her first project with the company "[[Dama Dam Mast Qalandar|Laal Meri]]" was an instant hit and she was catapulted to fame with several television appearances in the 1960s.<ref name="menon">{{cite web|last1=Menon|first1=Meena|title=Legendary folk singer Reshma of Lambi Judai fame passes away|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/legendary-folk-singer-reshma-of-lambi-judai-fame-passes-away/article5309204.ece|website=[[The Hindu]] (newspaper)|access-date=14 July 2019|date=3 November 2013}}</ref>
Reshma went on to record songs for both the Pakistani and [[Indian film industry]]. Some of her most memorable songs include "Laal Meri", "Hai O Rabba Nahion Lagda Dil Mera", "Ankhiyan Nu Rehen De" and "Lambi Judai" among others.<ref name="ndtv">{{cite web|title=Pakistani folk singer Reshma of 'Lambi Judai' fame dies|url=http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pakistani-folk-singer-reshma-of-lambi-judai-fame-dies-539801|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=14 July 2019|date=13 November 2013}}</ref> She died on 3 November 2013 in [[Lahore]], Pakistan, after suffering from throat cancer for several years.<ref name="Dawn"/>
==Early life==
Reshma was born in the village of Loha, [[Ratangarh, Churu]] near [[Bikaner]], [[Rajasthan]] around 1947.<ref name="BBC">Srivastara, Sanjeev (2000) "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/941408.stm Festive celebrations in Rajasthan]" [[BBC News]], 25 September 2000. Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref><ref name="menon"/> Her father, Haji Muhammad Mushtaq, was a camel and horse trader from Malashi.<ref name="Siddiqui">Siddiqui, Rana (2004) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20040430183615/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/02/16/stories/2004021600480100.htm The singer, the song (Reshma's profile)]", ''[[The Hindu]]'' (newspaper), Published 16 February 2004, Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref> She belonged to a tribe which had converted to Islam. Her tribe migrated to [[Karachi]] shortly after the [[Partition of India]], when she was just one month old.<ref name="BBC" /><ref name="DNA">"[http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-pakistani-singer-reshma-is-dead-1913138 Legendary Pakistani singer Reshma passes away after long battle with throat cancer]" dnaindia.com website, 3 November 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref>
She did not receive any formal education and spent much of her childhood singing at the [[mazar (mausoleum)|mazar]]s (shrines) of the [[wali|mystic saints]] of [[Sindh]], Pakistan. She married Muhammad Khan who was from within her extended family.
==Career==
Reshma was spotted, at the age of 12, singing at the [[Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar]] by then [[Pakistani]] television and radio producer, Saleem Gilani. Gilani arranged for her to make a recording of "Lal Meri Pat Rakhio" on [[Radio Pakistan]] in 1968.<ref name="menon"/><ref name="Siddiqui" /> She became an instant hit and since that day, Reshma has been one of the most popular folk singers of Pakistan, and garnered international renown.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Abbas|first1=Shemeem Burney|title=The Female Voice in Sufi Ritual: Devotional Practices of Pakistan and India|date=2010|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292784505|page=26}}</ref> Reshma had been appearing on television since 1968, recording songs for both the Pakistani and Indian film industries, and performing in live concerts at home and abroad.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uebtl6WYW5c Reshma's TV interview on YouTube] Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref>
Some of her famous songs are "Dama Dam Mast Kalandar", "Hai O' Rabba nahion lagda dil mera",<ref name="Dawn"/> "Sun charkhe di mithi mithi khook mahiya meinu yaad aunda", "Wey main chori chori teray naal laayyan akhhian" (song lyrics by renowned [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] poet [[Manzoor Jhalla|Manzoor Hussain Jhalla]] ), "[[Kithay Nain|Kithay Nain Na Jori]]", "Lambi Judai" and "Ankhiyan nu rehen de ankhyan de kol kol".<ref name="Dawn"/>
The above song was used by [[Raj Kapoor]] in his film ''[[Bobby (1973 film)|Bobby]]'', "Ankhyon ko rehne de ankhyon ke aas pass", sung by [[Lata Mangeshkar]]. Her fame had crossed the border, thanks to pirated tapes. She was able to perform live in India much later, during the 1980s when India and Pakistan allowed exchange of artists. [[Subhash Ghai]] used her voice in the film ''[[Hero (1983 film)|Hero]]'', which featured one of her most famous songs, "Lambi Judai".<ref name="Chopra">Chopra, Dinesh (2004) "[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lambi-judai-Reshma-asks-whos-Tendulkar/articleshow/614861.cms Lambi judai? Reshma asks who's Tendulkar]" ''[[Times of India]]'', 14 April 2004. Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref>
During her career she was invited to meet Indian Prime Minister, [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref name="Puniyani">Puniyani, Ram (2003) ''Communal Politics: Facts versus Myths'', Sage, {{ISBN|978-0761996675}}, p. 101</ref>
In 2004, she recorded "Ashkan Di Gali Vich Mukaam De Gaya", which was used in the [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Woh Tera Naam Tha]]'', and was also a hit record in India.<ref name="Siddiqui" /><ref name="TOI1">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20121024005919/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-01-20/india/28331534_1_reshma-bollywood-movie-song Reshma sings for Bollywood]" ''[[Times of India]]'', 20 January 2004. Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref>
In January 2006, she was one of the passengers on the inaugural Lahore-Amritsar bus, the first such service linking both parts of the [[Punjab]] since 1947. The bus had 26 passengers in total of whom 15 were Pakistani officials, and Reshma had booked seven seats for herself and her family. Reshma planned to give many performances in India on this tour.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4630726.stm India-Pakistan bus links Punjab]", [[BBC News]], 20 January 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref>
Her last residence was in the area of [[Ichhra]] in [[Lahore]], Pakistan.<ref name="Siddiqui" />
Her younger sister, Kaneez Reshma is also a professional singer.<ref>"[https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/kaneez-reshma-crosses-border-to-embrace-bollywood/381199 Kaneez Reshma crosses border to embrace Bollywood]" ''Outlook India'' (magazine), 28 April 2006, Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref>
== Health issues and death ==
Reshma was diagnosed with throat cancer in the 1980s.<ref name="Dawn"/><ref name="menon"/> In later years, her health deteriorated, leading President [[Pervez Musharraf]] to come to her aid, giving her one million Rupees to help pay off a bank loan, as well as putting her on a secured assistance of 10,000 rupees per month. He also helped her secure a plot of land for herself, but that did not go through due to the change in government.<ref>Pahwa, Kiran (2007) "[http://www.topnews.in/famed-pak-singer-reshma-seeks-musharraf-s-help-get-land-21740 Famed Pak singer Reshma seeks Musharraf’s help to get land]", topnews.in website, published 14 September 2007. Retrieved 28 Jan 2016</ref>
Her health deteriorated to such an extent that she was hospitalised in [[Lahore]], Pakistan in 'Doctors Hospital' on 6 April 2013. The [[Punjab, Pakistan]] caretaker government elected to pay all her medical expenses. Tell her that she has lost weight and she promptly replies, "''To kyā? Maiṅ is se slim, smart bhī to ho gaī.''" (So what? I have grown slim and smart because of this), but then explains, "Doctors have advised me to curtail oily and spicy food." She readily used to admit, "I have no training in classical music, I do not know even the 'r' of any raga. So when I sing and miss any technical aspect, please forgive me," is what this humble soul used to say to the audience. "For me, there is no difference between India and Pakistan, they are like my two eyes."<ref name="Siddiqui"/>
Reshma fell into a coma in October 2013 and died on 3 November 2013 in a [[Lahore]] hospital.<ref name="menon"/><ref name="Dawn">"[http://dawn.com/news/1053832/legendary-folk-singer-reshma-dies Legendary folk singer Reshma dies]", ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]'' (newspaper), 3 November 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2019</ref>
==Awards and tributes==
* [[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] (Star of Excellence) awarded by the [[President of Pakistan]] in 2008, for her services to the nation.<ref>[https://www.dawn.com/news/261311 Reshma's award info on Dawn (newspaper)] Published 15 August 2007, Retrieved 13 July 2019</ref><ref name="menon"/>
* [[Pride of Performance]] Award in 1982 by the [[Government of Pakistan]]
* In 2000 at ''[[PTV Awards|PTV Award]]'' Reshma received Best Singer award<ref>{{Citation |title=PTV World Awards|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKLsMNsLpYk|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/aKLsMNsLpYk|archive-date=2022-01-18 |url-status=live|website=PTV (News)|access-date=22 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
A journalist from [[Karachi]], Pakistan, [[Murtaza Solangi]] who also used to work for [[Radio Pakistan]], had arranged for Reshma's performances at different radio stations in the 1970s, said," How could I forget Reshma? In my youthful years, her voice always enriched me and she connected [[Rajasthan]], [[Cholistan]] and [[Sindh]]. She was a flower of the desert, symbol of love, music and peace".<ref name="menon"/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|2143141}}
{{Pride of Performance for Arts}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reshma}}
[[Category:1940s births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Pakistani singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Pakistani women singers]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Deaths from throat cancer]]
[[Category:PTV Award winners]]
[[Category:Pakistani folk singers]]
[[Category:Pakistani people of Rajasthani descent]]
[[Category:Pakistani radio personalities]]
[[Category:People from Churu district]]
[[Category:Performers of Sufi music]]
[[Category:Punjabi singers]]
[[Category:Punjabi-language singers]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from Lahore]]
[[Category:Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]