SCHOOLS

a) The first municipal vernacular Sindhi primary school was started in the year 1894 in Old Sukkur and this was later named as Mukhi Dewandas Dembla Municipal Vernacular School.

b) The Mules A.V.School was established in the year 1903. Both these schools were established due to the untiring efforts of Master Khanchand Balani who was also the First Head Master of Mules A.V.School. Master Khanchand was not only a great educationist, but also a dedicated social and religious reformer who spent his entire life in the service of others.

c) The National School in Old Sukkur was started in the bungalow of Seth Tharumal Tahilram. Shri. Moolchand Tolaram Balani and Dr.Narsinghlal Tolani joined the National University in Gandhi Ashram.

d) The Modern High School of Old Sukkur was established by Dewan Hotchand Tolaram, Advocate, and fulfilled a long standing need of the people. Shri. Chandiram Hotchand Tekchandani acted as its Honorary Manager and Shri.Khubchand Hotchand Tekchandani was its Principal until India's Partition.

e) The Tirathbai Girls School was established in the year 1903 by Seth. Wadhoomal Adoomal, Seth Dharamdas Adoomal, Shri. Fatehchand and his son Master Khanchand.

FREEDOM MOVEMENT : Many Old Sukkurites took active part in the National Freedom Movement. Shri Pahumal Issardas of Old Sukkur won prizes at the All India Charkha Competition held under the auspices of All India Congress at Ahmedabad in the year 1921.

SOCIAL WORK

a) Krishna Mandal was started in 1921 with the efforts and blessings of Sadhu T.L.Vaswani. He resided in Old Sukkur for about eight years and dedicated himself to the service of the people. With the efforts of the people he was given a plot of land by the Municipality where he started many activities for the youth like Akharaa, Wrestling , civil and self defence. Shri. Thakurdas Gulomal and others helped in raising funds for the mandal.

b) Public Library was established in 1910 in Old Sukkur and was later named as Satramdas Chellaram Library due to the efforts of Shri. Thakurdas Gulomal.

c) Narishala for destitute widows was started in the year 1933 in the premises offered by Shri Pessumal Chandwani, wherein the inmates were taught skills like embroidery, tailoring, manufacture of snacks, soap etc . Within the Narishala, a child welfare centre known as Balkan-ji-bari was also started.

Shri. Pessumal Chandwani, after retiring from a high post in the service of the Railways, devoted his full time to the upliftment of women and children. He donated a large sum for the establishment of the Narishala.

d) Shri. Thakurdas Gulomal and Dr. Mangharam Kalani were two dedicated social workers and freedom fighters who dedicated their lives for eradication of social evils like dowry system and illiteracy, and attempted to bring about an improvement in the status of women in society.

e) Two Dramatic Societies were formed in Old Sukkur since Old Sukkurites were very fond of Dramas. One was Shanker Dramatic Society and the other was Ganesh Dramatic Society. They enacted several plays in other towns apart from Old Sukkur. Many melas were held in Old Sukkur and the most celebrated Mela was Kartaki Ekadasi Mela held every year in Tirathbai Girls School in which all the Old Sukkurites participated with great enthusiasm.

f) Shri. Shewakram Karamchand dedicated himself to the service of Harijans and was the secretary of the Harijan Sewa Sangh for several years.

FESTIVALS

Popular festivals celebrated by Old Sukkurites were : Holi, Dhurio, Diaree, Basant Panchmi, Lala Loee, Thadri, Gogro, Cheti Chand, Lal Jo Chaliho, Mahalaxmi ja Sagra, Kalka jo Melo ( Vadi Gyaras ), Chand every month and Sat Narain Ji Katha. etc.

FOOD

Sukkurites favourite dishes were : Kadhi chawara, Teevan (meat), Pulao, Tahri, Koki, Doli, Lolo, Bito Lolo etc.

BUSINESS

a) Seth Tahilmal Manghomal was the first Old Sukkurite who travelled to other parts of India on business and especially to North India and Delhi. He secured large government contracts. His illustrious son, Seth Fatehchand Tahilmal alongwith his brother Seth. Tharumal obtained the contract of making all arrangements for the Coronation of George the Vth at the Delhi Darbar in 1911. Seth. Fatehchand was honoured with the title of ‘Rai Bahadur’ after the coronation ceremony by the British.Rai Bahadur Fatehchand Motihars Company also built the Old Secretariat Building  in Delhi.

b) Fire Works industry was started in Old Sukkur by Shri.Naraindas Deepchand Milwani and Seth Tarachand Kimatram.

c) Two Confectionary factories were established in Old Sukkur by Seth Vareomal Tirathdas Gurnam and Seth Kanayalal and Seth Nanikram sons of Seth Tharumal.

d) The first Cigarette factory named ‘Upper Sindh Cigarette Mfg. Co' was started by Seth Navalmal Kundanmal in partnership with Rai Bahadur Seth Lachmandas Santdas and his cousins in Sukkur. The product marketed as ‘Lucky Fire’ was popular in every corner of India.

e) The Famous Sukkur Biscuit Factory was in Old Sukkur and was owned by Rai Sahib Daulatrm Tilokchand and Seth Virumal Darynomal.

f) Cinema Theatres were established in New Sukkur by Rai Bahadur Tulsidas Chuhardas, Seth Ramchand Narsomal , Seth Virumal Daryanokal and Seth Choithram Mulchand ( Mandewaro ). The surname Mulwani originated from Mulchand.

g) A tile factory , the first of its kind was established in Old Sukkur by the three brothers, Seth Pamandas Mithumal, Seth Thakurdas Mithumal and Girdharilal Mithumal.

h) Seth Lurindaram Choohardas Dembla of Old Sukkur with other partners established one of the Largest Oil Mills in India, namely the Ganesh Khopra Mills in Karachi. Later on the management passed on to other Old Sukkurites Seth Ghanshamdas Lurindaram Gurnani,with working partners Seth Gobindram Sobhrajmal Balani, Seth Gordhandas Sobhrajmal Balani and others. The Ganesh Khopra Mills did yeoman services at the time of  India's Partition in providing food and shelter and other necessary facilities to refugees who wanted to migrate to India at the time of Partition.

h) The first flour mills were established in Old Sukkur, by Shri. Kishindas Kotumal, Shri. Vishindas Kotumal, Mukhi Hiranand Dembla and others under the name of Krishna and Dembla Flour Mills.

i) Rai Bahadur Seth Lachmandas Santdas of Old Sukkur travelled to Delhi and brought name and fame to Old Sukkur by successfully securing the Contract to build the present Central Hall of Parliament House in Delhi as also The Commander-in-Chief's Bungalow ( in 1932) which was later occupied by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964.

Old Sukkurites were essentially  businessmen and they used their natural talent and energy in the establishment and expansion of numerous business enterprises. Old Sukkur was known as the ‘Japan of Sindh’ due to the beauty, natural surroundings and prosperity in trade and commerce.

Old Sukkurites were a brave people and were never intimidated by the Muslim majority who would consider Hindu Sindhis to be a timid race. Old Sukkurites were known for their tendencey to retaliate whenever attacked whether during invasions or communal riots..

Old Sukkurites were by nature happy-go-lucky, hardworking, enterprising and practical minded religious people who believed in living well, eating well , enjoying life and doing welfare work for the needy. ..................