Reshma is a popular folk singer of Pakistan and known as Nightingale of the Desert for her mesmerizing voice. Born in 1937, Reshman did not acquire the education but due to her amazing singing talent she owes a strong fan base of Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi and Hindi speaking communities all over the world.
Reshma was born in Loha village in Tehsil Ratangarh of Rajasthan, India in a big clan of gypsy family and moved to Pakistan after the partition of Indian in 1947. Perhaps the anguish reflecting in her sweet desert voice reflects the sufferings of vagrant life wandering for the comfort. In fact it is impossible to describe her voice but Reshma sings for humanity and the mother earth. Her voice is contemplation of embracing life and agitating for survival.
She elaborates by her singing that we are the off springs of our mother earth and our inner souls are dependent on earth’s joy and grieves. Her vocals utter all the charms and harshness of nomadic life in the desert.
Reshma was firstly introduced in the Pakistan radio and soon the spell of her splendorous voice was all around. She sung many outclass songs but the most famous of them are ‘Dama Dam Mast Qalandar’, ‘Hai o Rabba nahion lagda dil mera’, ‘Sun charkhe di mithi mithi cook mahiya meinu yaad aunda’, ‘Wey main chori chori’, ‘Ankhiyan no rehen de ankhyan de kol kol’. Her many popular numbers were sung by Indian singers like ‘Lambi Judai’ who was used in famous Bollywood movie Hero and ‘Ankhyon ko rehne de’, sung by Lata Mangashker the Indian iconic female singer.
Reshma has also played a significant role as an ambassador of peace and harmony and considering her services the Indian government offered her to stay in India permanently which she rejected with thanks. She was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Madel of Honor) by the government of Pakistan. Currently she is suffering from cancer disease and her health condition does not allow to sing her anymore. But her voice will remain alive in the hearts of the people of Pakistan and India as the motif of affection, altruism and humanity forever.