Raikot

Raikot is a city and municipal council in Ludhiana district in Indian state of Punjab.

History

Raikot, the walled city,[see Reference] was founded by Rai Ahmad in 1648.[see Reference]

One story about the leader of the city Rai Kalha III, the Muslim Rajput chief of Raikot, says that he once had the opportunity to offer his hospitality to Guru Gobind Singh, the founder of Sikhism, in 1705, at the risk of losing everything, including his life and that of his family. In appreciation and gratitude,Guru Gobind Singh gave him a Ganga Sagar^[1], a sword, and a wooden rehel (used for reading religious scriptures) as personal gifts for his brevity and courage.[see References- Kalha Rai]

During the era of the British Raj, the Kuka movement in August 1871 led to the hanging of three persons in the city for trying to get cow slaughter houses closed.

Demographics

As of the 2001 Indian census,^[2] Raikot had a population of 24,738. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. Raikot has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 62%. Population is a mixture of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Muslim.

Geography

Raikot is located at .^[3] It has an average elevation of 235 metres (770 feet).

References

See KALHA RAI Mahan Kosh p311, p550,p1037. Encyclopaedia Of Sikhism by Prof Harbans Singh-Punjabi University Patiala, vol II p416 Anand Sarowar, Bhag 4, p110-112. Anand Chamatkar, Bhag 10, p167-169. Chiefs Of Punjab 1890, 1909, 1940, Ludhiana Dist Gazette 1888,1904, 1935.