Reshma of Kashmir

Reshma was born in Srinagar. She had two sisters and six brothers.^[1] At age 11 she realised her talent and love for singing and dancing.^[4] As a child, she was bullied for her feminine clothing choices and style of speaking. She dropped out of school after fifth standard as a result, and began working as a tailor under the supervision of her uncle.^[1][4]

At the age of 22, Reshma was asked to sing by a tailoring client after she came by their home in Lal Bazar to drop off some clothes.^[1][4] The head of the client's family gave her a chit with the word "reshma" on it, which Reshma subsequently adopted as her name.^[1] Her mother reacted negatively when Reshma told her of the interaction, so she decided not to pursue singing.^[1][4]

She changed her mind in 2001, after she began caring for her brother's four children after he died in an accident. Working as a wedding singer became a viable option for income in order to support her family.^[1]

Reshma was at the forefront of transgender community's struggle for dignity in Kashmir.^[5] In 2011, Reshma, along with other transgender activists, approached the state's social welfare department to initiate an 'Intervention Plan', aimed at rehabilitating transgender persons in the Valley.^[6]