LARKANA: Ratodero, which is a very important area of Larkana, is the birthplace of many historical personalities of the country who have contributed tremendously in political, social and literary fields.

Historical remains are also in abundance in various areas of Ratodero.

This was stated by the speakers who presented their papers at a seminar on the history of Ratodero held under the auspices of the Larkano District Historical Society (LDHS) in the auditorium of Ratodero Degree College the other day.

The seminar was presidedover by LDHS president Prof Mukhtiar Samo while former principal Prof Ghulam Hussain Katpar of Govt Degree College Larkana and Principal Prof Shamusdin Sario of Govt Degree College Ratodero were the chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

Researchers presented their papers and covered topics about ancient places, political personalities, social organisations, educational institutions, artists and painters of Ratodero. A large number of people hailing from different walks of life attended the event.

Inhispresidentialaddress, Prof Mukhtiar Samo said history was like a collective memory of any nation. The nations that did not work topreserve their history lost their introduction. Local and national writers and researchers should not only work to find out the hidden and lost pages of the past, but also record the present-day happenings honestly, which would become the precious chapters of history and a guiding force for the new generation.

He said the seminar would unearth many facts about that area of Larkano which were hitherto little known.

Presenting his paper on the `Political personalities of Ratodero`, Prof Ghulam Hussain Katpar said Ratodero was a place where the sun of politics had risen and still it continued to influence the political scenarioof the country. He said it had given birth to many political leaders who played their role at the national and international level. He said former prime ministers of Pakistan Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also belonged to that sub-division. They rose from that area which was also their last resting place, Garhi Khuda Balchsh Bhutto, part of Ratodero taluka.

Other political leaders who belonged to Ratodero were Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Bashir Khan Qureshi. Many other political and literary families, including the Jalbanis, Soomras, Ghanghras and Syeds, also existed in thattaluka and played a very active role in local and provincial politics as well as in literature.

Prof Shamusduin Sario in his paper on the `Social organisations and social work in Ratodero` said Ratodero had been socially active since the pre-partition era. Besides Muslim social workers, many Hindu philanthropists like M.N.A Rai Bahadur and Rato Mal were very active in social work there.

He said that so far about 368 civil society welfare organisations were registered in the taluka and 63 of them were actively working.

Prominent writer Malhar Sindhi in his paper on the `Educational institutions of Ratodero` said the oldestschool in Ratodero had completed its century. He said the trend of education in that taluka had given birth to many private schools side by side with a good number of government schools.

Abdul Samad Bhatti in his paper on the `Artists and painters of Ratodero` said it had given birth to many talented artists who through their brush and best use of colours had produced commendable artworks.

Others who also spoke on the occasion included Barkat Jeho, Syed Abid Ali Shah, Sami Sajid Junejo and Aijaz Sario.

Earlier, Prof Riazat Buriro in his address of welcome threw light on the past performance of the LDHS and welcomed the audience.