Ghulam Ahmad Ashai

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Ghulam Ahmad Ashai 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. 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 India 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.

In the 1980’s the National Conference government, in recognition of Mr. Ashai’s contributions as founding Registrar designated the main road leading to the present university campus in Hazratbal 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.

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 nine children; four sons and five daughters. Ashai’s children founded a charitable memorial trust at Kashmir in memory of their father on Aug 26, 2005.

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