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Rerhi Jo Mukan, Thatta

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It is located 20 kilometers away from the town of Jati, in the eastern side, on the route bound to Jati-Khor Wah road on southern side. It is considered an important place. It was also a flourishing and prosperous site in the early times. In the period of Talpur, this place is said have been a commercial and business centre, accordingly government officers of Taipurs lived in the Rerhi and Shah Kapur. There have been many reasons to name this place, though those reasons are mostly insensible, albeit for sake information we can state these here. It is a native tradition that a disciple of saint Noor Shah, after the death of that saint, wept and wailed so hard that the city was named after its weeping. But the opinion of Shaikh Mohammad Soomar about this matter is more relevant. He claimed that, in this region there were many camels in earlier times, they always moaned and blubbered, as the result of this, this place borrowed that name. This city is extended in wide-ranging area. This time surroundings of survived ruins, bricks and mound of lime mortar (cheroli) are scattered in a vast area. Mirza Qaleech Beg has called it "ancient city" of Jati taluka. A British diplomat Doctor James Burnes came here while in Sindh for treatment of Prince Mir Karam Ali Khan in 1831 AD. When he reached at Rerhi city, the vice Governor Hyder Khan Leghari and a special envoy of Mirs, Behadar Khan Leghari wholeheartedly welcomed Dr. Burnes. Dr. James Burnes asserts that, it was beautiful in outlook than other cities. He praised the affluent position of the city, and states, "some times ago, this city was flourishing and prosperous." The horses of his fed on rice than grass. However, a mosque in the city was remarkable, which was believed to be one hundred and fifty years old. There was fresh water current near the city. He claims, the population of the city was then less five hundred souls. Mirza Qaleech Beg was also of the view that, Rehri was an affluent city in old times. The wealthy men of Rehri were celebrated. There was a paradigm about wealthiest persons of the city. Today, one who is spendthrift and flows the money like water, then it is said, "You are like the wealthy men of Rehri." In the near past, the area of the city was the property of a Jatt, and it was purchased by some one of Kehar tribe's man, names both of them could not be known. And this axiom gained currency that, since "Rehri was sold out on a very low-priced rate to others, so Jatts were driven out of the town, and became gypsies." Sindh Gazetteer informed us that, the last alienated of Rehri was Sardar Mehrab Khan Jat. He sold out some of his area of land to wealthiest businessmen, who belonged to Khawaja community." Dr. Ghulam Ali Allana corroborates this saying. It is believed the main reason for the ruining of this city was the shortage of fresh water. Now, some signs of several ruined tombs are out in the open, one of which is the celebrated tomb of a Pir Noor Shah, which was a Pir of Ismaili sect; the second tomb is that of Dolha Bai; and third one tomb is said to be that of Jinai Tomb. There is a mound, western side of those tombs, which is supposedly said to be grave of Mai Rerhi. Dr. James Burnes visited Ruree. He described that, it was twenty miles away from Mughrbhin. the country was then desert and low flat. In his opinion there was no pond from which one could sprinkle water on eyes and relax them. He had seen many fresh water currents dubba at Rerhee. He thought, they would get fresh water from the Sunkrai, Sangro and meeta meera of river Indus, but native people did not call them as they call them. He furthers states that, the town of Rehree was beautifully established than others. There were many indications, from which one could assume that, really some time ago; it was a flourishing and prosperous city. The town was much away from the fresh water of Indus. And all getting fresh water dependent upon seasonal rain. Like Cutch this town also has caused great devastation and defeat because of shortage of fresh water. The population of town had been less than five hundred souls. It was said that on western side, there were populated areas but the other side was deserted and ruined. There was only one place observable, which was the mosque of Pir Noor Shah, which could be seen from distance. It was one hundred and fifty years old and was constructed by the stone of Thatta. There was a reservoir for fresh water. After reaching at Rerhee, two men came there for welcome of James Burnes. One of them was Hyder Khan Leghari, Nazim of Jati, and a nephew of Prime Minster Nawab Wali Mohammad, the second was Behadur Khan. They were both government's official. They received him wholeheartedly and handed over him all gifts from Sindh Darbar.

[Source: Text and Photographs: Thatta A Historical Reflection by District Government Thatta | Coordinates: EFT]