Reshma Rodrigues takes out time to strum the guitar in Jamshedpur. Picture by Srinivas

Music runs in her veins. The moment one hears the scintillating voice, one can be sure of that.

A teacher in Carmel Junior College, Jamshedpur, Reshma Rodrigues breathes music so much so that it is essential for her to have a regular dose of it.

?It?s difficult for me to stay away from music. So no matter what, I must have my dose of music,? says Reshma.

Reshma started singing when she was about six years old and released her first cassette when she was in Class X. It was followed by her second album in 1992.

?I was trained by my mother and then the rest was practice,? says the singer.

No professional training in spite of such a beautiful voice?

?No, not really. Whatever I learnt was at home or being a part of the school choir,? said Reshma. In her childhood days, she performed in school choirs and also took part in various inter-school and college functions.

Originally from Mangalore, Reshma arrived in the steel city after her marriage, about seven years ago. Reshma has a job and family to look after but music is something she cannot stay away for long.

The story about her musical journey reveals how much she misses her hometown.

?I really miss Mangalore when it comes to music. Out here, I have it all but as far as music is concerned, there is not much scope, especially in western classical,? says Reshma.

But why did she choose western classical?

?May be it was my church upbringing. Moreover, for Konkani songs one needs to have a western base,? says Reshma, who sings English, Hindi and Konkani numbers with equal perfection.

Her nascent musical journey had achieved a milestone when Reshma along with her friends at college formed an all-girls band named ?White Doves? in Mangalore.

?Those were perhaps the best days. We were completely new to the professional world of singing and it was exciting,? says Reshma.

But unfortunately, Reshma had to discontinue her association with the group after she moved to Jamshedpur.

So does miss the group? ?Yes, a lot. Today, ?White Doves? is one of the most popular bands in Mangalore. They have also performed abroad,? says Reshma.

Apart from this, Reshma has also performed in several beat groups at her native place.

?Just like the band, the beat group experience was good as we got to travel a lot,? says Reshma.

But it was not only choir groups or bands that she lent her enchanting voice to. Reshma has taken part in various radio campaigns as well.

?I have done several social campaign for the radio during my college days. These were generally social awareness campaigns on topics such as health and literacy,? says Reshma.

These days, Reshma is preoccupied with her job as a school teacher, but given a chance she never misses an opportunity to don the singer?s hat. She is a prominent figure in school or convent functions.

Her musical preferences?

?No jazz stuff for me. I am a total classical person, so my kind of music has to be cool and calm. In Indian music, it?s definitely Lata Mangeshkar. My favourites are too limited when it comes to western music,? Reshma says.

Reshma also loves to play the guitar and she does more than strum. She learned the guitar from a priest when she was in school.

Unlike music, she practices playing her guitar almost everyday.

?Be it at home with my kids or during any school function, I never fail to rehearse my guitar lessons,? says Reshma.

Though music has taken a backseat, but Reshma willingly helps out during any school function by teaching music to the students.

With such enormous talents, didn?t she ever feel like taking music seriously and giving it a thought for a career?

?There has been several offers but somehow I am too reluctant to make a move,? smiles Reshma.

?I am happy being a teacher and moreover, I do not want to earn a living by using my talent. A career in music? No, that?s not my cup of tea,? she signs off.