Ratodero

larkana
Coordinates: 27°48′N 68°17′E / 27.800°N 68.283°ECoordinates: 27°48′N 68°17′E / 27.800°N 68.283°E
Country  Pakistan
Province Sindh
Area
 • Total 138,002 km2 (53,283 sq mi)
Population (2001)
 • Total 224,666 (estimated)
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
Calling code 074
Number of towns 60
Number of Union councils 9
Ratodero Government Website

Ratodero (town) (Sindhi: رتوديرو ) is the capital of Ratodero Taluka a sub-division of Larkana District in the Sindh province of Pakistan; it is some 28 km from the district capital Larkana. Since independence of Pakistan, the city has a special reputation for its sweet products. The most special is known as Mawa and handmade caps known as Sindhi topi and footwear. At present the principal trade of the town is that of paddy and rice, and there are many rice mills.

History

Ratodero is considered about 350 years old. During British rule Ratodero became a Taluka of Larkana District and for a period part of the Bombay Presidency. The population according to the 1891 census of India was 61,268, which rose to 72,312 at the next census in 1901[1].Ratodero was Found by Rato Khan Jalbani, whose grave is situated about 3 KM away from the city.

The Imperial Gazetteer of India, compiled in the first decade of the twentieth century, described the Taluka of Ratodero as follows: "The tāluka contains one town, RATO-DERO (population, 4,281), the headquarters; and 80 villages. Excepting Larkana, this is the most thickly populated tāluka in the District, with a density of 222 persons per square mile. The land revenue and cesses in 1903-4 amounted to more than 2-9 lakhs. The great Sukkur Wah (the Canal leading from the Indus) once flown near the Saint Nadar Shah, was a main source of irrigation and trade port. Merchants used to trade with Sukkur and other adjacent towns through the boats via this canal. It contains about 104 square miles (270 km2) of `reserved' forest"

Dhaak Talaa was another source of beauty of Ratodero. Which was a main picnic point in the mid of the town. Now it is remained in the name only.

The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Larkana District.

Geography

Ratodero town is the headquarters of the Taluka of the same name. It is situated in 27-48∘ latitude in north and 68-20∘ longitude in east. It is located on the way from Larkana to Shikarpur. Besides, many roads, both main and link, lead from this town to surrounding towns and villages. There are roads leading to Gharrhi Khairo, Jacobabad, Shahdad Kot, Kamber, MiroKhan, Naudero and Larkana

Administration

Ratodero Taluka is administratively subdivided into 9 Union Councils these are:

Government departments

There are many government offices in the town including

In addition to that there are branches of following banks in the town

Notable people

The old land lords of Rato dero were Ghanghra,Bhutto,Jalbani,Buledi sunnani and Daya.Wadero Ghulam Kadir MBE recovered the biggest dacoity Ali Khan Wsail in 1909 and received Afrin Nama from commissioner in Sindh (Mr Arthur Delaval Younghusband,First member of Imperial council India Bombay and 1st class special Magistrate.The first Collector honouree chair May 1913 and collector Larrkano was JR Martin who served Wadero Ghulam Kadir Dayo with chair honoure through and official letter and note at political office camp at Rato dero,who later also became commissioner honouree chair 1913 and governor honoueree chair Leslie orme wilson in 1923.Wadero Ghulam Kadir supported education and Recritment for world war I in 1918 which was acknowledged by the collector Larrkano EG Bolus in 1918 and served his Afrin Nama to land lord.His younger brother Muhammad Ismaeel Kadri was the first deputy collector directly recruited from Ratodero in 1923.During the British reforms in sindh to empower sindhi locals in services wadero was given two seats in police services in 1912 by The Commissioner in Sindh Mr Arthur Delaval Younghusband (these were the last days the commissioner and was proceeding abroad.During his last farewell visit to Larrkana and Ratodero he personally aksed the land lord for empowering people in services and his younger brother Ali Gohar Khan and cousin Ghulam Hyder (Grand Father of former chief justice sindh high court and supreme court- Syed Didar Hussain shah Former MPA and Chief Justice Sindh High Courts and Supreme courts,he also had incumbation of Chairman NAB National Accountability Bureau) were commissioned as police officers in 1913 from Nasik Police School India. Wadero Ghualm Kadir had right to vote and later supported his friend Ayoob Khuhrro in Bombay legislation elections in 1923 and Ayoob khuhrro won the elections from Rato dero. Muhammad Ismael Kadri first Sindhi Muslim directly commissioned deputy collector 1923 in Indian civil services was nationalist friend of GM Syed ,GM Essani ,Shaikh Abdul Majeed sindhi and Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah who also contested the first elections of autonomous Sindh province in 1937 but later MA Kadri withdrew his nomination on requests of GM syed ,GM Essani,Ayoob Khuhrro and Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah to support shaikh Majeed sindhi against shahnawaz Bhutto and shaikh sindhi won the elections.Mr Muhammad Ismael Kadri on advise of his brother did best for separation of Sindh from Bombay presidency at the cost of his career.MA Kadri and GM Essani lost their career but Sindh was separated.

Leaders after Independence 1947

Sources

References