Ghulam Ahmad Ashai
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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 comes from a reputed and renowned Kashmiri family with a royal lineage. The family traces direct roots to Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, Kashmir's most popular and revered King and the famous Persian poet, Urfi, who has to his credit the most talked about couplet ever written about Kashmir - "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.
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. 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.
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).
