Ralioke

Geography

A road passes through the village and links it to Daska, Sambrial (home of the Sialkot International Airport), and larger cities such as Sialkot and Gujranwala via Bhilo Mahar and Motra Thana (a police station).

Nala Aiek stream

Ralioke is inhabited on the bank of an ancient natural stream known as "Nala Aiek" (Nala stands for stream in the local Punjabi language). This stream causes floods in the monsoon season. This stream was the source of water for the villages of this area from the ancient era along with water wells. Today, though, this historic stream is polluted with drain waters.

History

In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Sialkot District. The Muslims faced severe restrictions during the Sikh rule. During the period of British rule, Sialkot District increased in population and importance.

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 Muslims refugees from India settled down in the Sialkot District.

Religion

The town is predominantly Muslim with small Christian and Ahmadi minority.

Language

Punjabi and Urdu are the basic languages of the people. The new generation also speaks English.

Calendar

Three calendars are often used by the villagers. Old age people are well conversant with the Islamic calendar and the Bikrami calendar. Nowadays, though, the most commonly used calendar is the Christian calendar, which is also known as the Gregorian calendar. Almost all the festivals, falling in these calendars, are observed with enthusiasm.

Economy and basic professions

Ralioke is an agriculture based village. Professions in it include:

Crops

Wheat, rice, sunflower, sugarcane, potato, tobacco, Oilseeds, tomatoes, carrots, spinach, leaf vegetables, stem vegetables, onion, garlic and vegetables are major crops harvested by farmers of the village. Crops are divided into two major groups (Rabi crop and Kharif crop). Besides these, farmers keep buffalos and cows for dairy products (e.g. milk, butter, cheese) and goat, sheep and hens/ducks for meat and eggs.

Educational institutions

Only one Government Primary (up to 5th class) School, which does not have a proper building, exists in the village. Children get education under the trees. For further or proper education students go to the nearby villages Baddoke Cheema and Jamke where middle (up to 8th class) and high schools (up to 10th class) are situated. After matriculation (10th class) students go to Daska, Sialkot or Gujranwala for College education.

Prominent places