Gholam Serwar Nasher

Gholam Serwar Nasher (also: Ghulam Sarwar Nashir) (1922–1984) was the last ruling Khan of the (Kharoti/Ghilzai tribe) and President of Spinzar Cotton Company in Kunduz, one of the largest companies in pre-war Afghanistan.

Life

Nashir was born in Quarabagh, Afghanistan to Mohammad Alam Khan Nashir, brother to Sher Khan Nashir, to an ethnic Pashtun Ghilzai family.

Nashir developed Spinzar Cotton Company in Kunduz, exporting cotton overseas, producing cotton seed oil, soap and porcelain. Built hotels under Spinzar brand in Kunduz, Kabul and other northern cities, employing over 20,000 people including woman working in the porcelain factory.[1] He opened factories in the north, providing free housing for the employees, hospital, the only girls school in the city of Kunduz, sport clubs. Nashir founded the Nashir Library and Museum. During his khanat, Kunduz become one of the richest provinces of the pre-war country. The Oxford-professor Peter Levi referred to his rule as "enlightened despotism".

He was imprisoned by the communist government of President Daoud in 1973 for six years because he was anti-communist and a friend of Zahir Shah. He died in exile in Germany in 1984 at the age of 62, due to a heart disease developed in prison. He was survived by two wives and nine children.

Discovery of Alexandria on the Oxus

On a hunting trip, Nashir discovered ancient artefacts of Ai Khanom and invited Princeton-archaeologist Daniel Schlumberger with his team to examine Ai-Khanoum.[2] It was soon found to be the historical Alexandria on the Oxus, also possibly later named اروکرتیه or Eucratidia), one of the primary cities of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom. Some of those artefects were displayed in Europe and USA museums in 2004.

Nashir was awarded "The Order of the Sacred Treasure" by the Emperor of Japan, in 1971, among other awards.

References

  1. ↑ Reuter, Christoph: Power Plays in Afghanistan: Laying the Groundwork for Civil War, 49/2011 (Dec. 5, 2011) of DER SPIEGEL http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/power-plays-in-afghanistan-laying-the-groundwork-for-civil-war-a-801820-2.html
  2. ↑ Bernard, Paul: Aï Khanoum en Afghanistan hier (1964-1978) et aujourd'hui (2001), p. 971 www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/crai_0065-0536_2001_num_145_2_16315?_Prescripts_Search_tabs1=standard&

Further reading

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