PAKISTAN’S folk singer par excellence Reshma has departed this mortal world for her eternal abode, leaving thousands of her ardent admirers, particularly across the subcontinent, in utter grief. She had a long-drawn bout with throat cancer and eventually breathed her last at a Lahore Hospital on Nov 3. Ace folk singer Reshma, who belonged to a Banjara tribe in Bikaner, Rajhastan, migrated to Karachi with her folks shortly after partition.
She came to limelight at the of 12, after her first song ‘Lal Meri’, recorded and aired by Radio Pakistan, became an instant hit. Since that day onwards there was no looking back for Reshma.
One hit after the other made her the heartthrob of hundreds of thousands of fans across the world, particularly the subcontinent. She got an opportunity to unleash her singing prowess not only in Pakistan but also abroad.
Through her scintillating performances she earned laurels for herself as well as for her country. Her singing skills were given due recognition both at home and abroad. She received a number of meritorious awards.
The government of Pakistan bestowed upon her prestigious national awards of Sitar-i-Imtiaz and President’s Pride of Performance award. ‘Legends of Pakistan’ award was also conferred upon her by the President of Pakistan. In recognition of her unparalleled contribution to folk singing in Pakistan, the Rotary Club of Islamabad Cosmopolitan (RCIC) also awarded her a gold medal in 2012.
Reshma’s contribution to folk singing has no parallel. A singer of her calibre is born in centuries. The vacuum created by her death will indeed be very difficult to fill.
M. FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad
