Ghulam Ahmad Ashai

Khwaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai (Arabic: غولم أحمد أشي) was one of the pioneer leaders of Kashmir’s political resistance to the monarchy of Maharaja Hari Singh, and also one of the founding fathers of the University of Kashmir. Ashai was born in a renowned aristocratic family of Kashmir. The family descends from Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, Kashmir's most popular and revered King and the famous Persian poet, Urfi, who has to his credit the famous Persian couplet - "Agar firdous bar rul-e-zameen ast, hamin ast-o-hamin ast-o-hamin ast. Translation: If there is a paradise in the world, it is here, it is here, it is here."

The 'Ashai Bagh Bridge' over Nigeen Lake and Dal Lake is named after Ashai's ancestors. Before moving to suburban Srinagar, the Ashai's lived at the 'Ashai Kocha' in Fateh Kadal, Srinagar. The historic Ashai mansion now hosts a Girl's high school. Ashai's lavish mansion in Raj Bagh has been converted into a hotel. Popularly known as "Ashai Sahib" by his colleagues, political contemporaries and subordinates, Ghulam Ahmad Ashai has the singular distinction of being the first Kashmiri Muslim to attain a formal Bachelors Degree. Ashai was also one of the founding leaders of the All Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Conference along with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah, Chaudhri Ghulam Abbas amongst various other noted political luminaries. It was the dynamic "Ashai Sahib" who read out the inaugural address of the Muslim Conference.

Ghulam Ahmad Ashai was chosen to be the first Registrar of the University and functioned as the chief executive officer of the University, both for academic and administrative matters, from 1948 to 1953. He led the first convocation of the University of Kashmir at Sher-e-Kashmir Park and was followed by a distinguished panel including the first Prime Minister of India, Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru and the Pro-Indian Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

as Ghulam Ahmad Ashai Road. A commemorative plaque was installed at the entrance of the University Campus gate. The plaque has since been mysteriously removed. The family blames that illegal orders were passed to get the plaque removed and the road christening to be annulled. However, according to official papers, the road is still legally named as "Ghulam Ahmad Ashai Road". All roadside declarations and name bearings have, however, been removed.

Education

Ashai secured first class in the B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) examination of the Punjab University with the distinction of topping the list of candidates in 1915. He went on to do his M.A. (Master of Arts) in Persian from Calcutta University. He obtained first division and was awarded His Excellency the Chancellor’s Gold Medal and the highest cash prize of Rs.200 for his extraordinary merit.

He did his B.T. (Bachelor of Teaching) from the Punjab University. He also passed the Munshi Fazil Examination from the same university which earned him an additional degree of M.O.L. (Master of Oriental Languages). He successfully competed for the Senior Forest Service of the State of Jammu and Kashmir with distinction but opted out of it.

Family

Ghulam Ahmad Ashai was married to Jana Begum, the only daughter of Khwaja Amir Shah of Varmul, a wealthy Kashmiri nobleman. Ahmad and Jana had ten children; four sons and six daughters. They lost their second daughter to a viral disease at age 7. Ashai’s children founded a charitable memorial trust at Kashmir in memory of their father on Aug 26, 2005.

Ashai's eldest son, Ghulam Qadir Ashai, a Civil Engineer, went on to become the Chief Executive Officer of WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan). Qadir and his brother Yasin were exiled to Pakistan from Kashmir after the Hindu Maharaja and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah gave consent for Kashmir's controversial accession to India.

External links

* [http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?116968 "Memorial trust formed in memory of Ghulam Ahmad Ashai", Pakistan Tribune, Aug 26, 2005]
* [http://kashmirmedia.wordpress.com/category/history/ "History - Kashmir Media; Wordpress", Wordpress]
* [http://www.vitasta.org/2000/3.12.html "Vitasta - A Kashmir Sabha", Kolkata Publication]
* [http://203.129.216.164/html/about_us.html "University of Kashmir - About Us page"]