User:Rahat Abrar/sandbox

Anwar Rataul

I would like to shed light on the actual history of Anwar Rataul to educate young generation having direct or indirect association with Rataul and thus not carried away by any controversy. An article published by Obed Pasha in the Express Tribune on June 29, 2014 is factually incorrect. Anwar Rataul has no connection with Sheikh Mohammad Afaq Faridi’s family. Anwarul Haq was not a Syed as mentioned by Mr. Pasha. Anwar Rataul was cultivated by Anwarul Haq Siddiqui, my grandfather in his own orchard in village Rataul of Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh, which is very close (about 50 kilometers) to Delhi, the capital city of India. The first Rataul tree is over a hundred years old. My father Israrul Haque Siddiqui was interested to migrate to Pakistan and sell their ancestral orchard to his cousin Razaul Haq Siddiqui. After the sad demise of Razaul Haq, his elder son Khalid Bin Raza became the owner of this garden. After the death of Khalid Bhai, his son Adil Raza gifted the original tree to Mr. Junaid Faridi and now this tree is in possession of Mr. Junaid Faridi. A controversy has been created by Mr. Faridi’s family and he has attempted to get the tree patented in the name of his family production. He however failed to do so due to the lack of evidences. More than two thousand pages on Anwar Rataul are available on the net. The Pakistan government has issued a postal stamp worth Rs. 4 in the name of ‘Anwar Rataul’ as recognition of it as a “Fruit of Pakistan”. It is contrary to the fact that in the year 1935, Nawab Ahmad Saeed Khan of Chhatari (born in Baghpat) represented India in a mango exhibition in London where he represented Rataul mango and won first prize. It was declared “the best mango in the world”. My father’s elder brother Abrarul Haq Siddiqui migrated to Pakistan after partition with a sapling plant of Rataul mango and cultivated in Multan and named it “Anwar Rataul”, to the memory of his late father, Anwarul Haq. Now Multan is famous in the world for this mango and this mango is supplied globally. The credit goes to my Taya, Abrarul Haq Sahab for naming this mango after my grandfather. Anwar Rataul is considered the King of Mango. I was born in Rataul on December 23, 1955. On the request of my father’s elder brother, Abrarul Haq, my father gave me the name Rahat Abrar to perpetuate the memory of his brother. I do not want to hurt feelings and sentiments of my younger generation, but it is my duty to highlight the facts regarding Anwar Rataul and help the forthcoming generations to avoid any controversy on this issue.

Dr. Rahat Abrar