Nisar Muhammad (Nisor Avalovich Magomedov)

Nisar Muhammad Yusafzai (Russian: Нисор Мухаммад; born 1897, died October 8, 1937) was an ethnic Pashtun revolutionary and politician who played a significant role in the creation of Tajikistan. Renowned for his bravery and dedication to the cause of Afghan and Tajik independence, Muhammad became a prominent figure in the struggle for autonomy and social justice. He was Tajikistan's first Minister of Education.

Nisar Muhammad
Нисор Мухаммад
People's Commissariat for Education
In office 1926–1937
Preceded by	Position established
Personal details
Born	1897 Swabi, North-West Frontier Province
Died	(1937-10-08)8 October 1937 (aged 39–40) Moscow, Soviet Union
Political party	Communist Party of the Soviet Union Communist Party of Tajikistan
Awards	Order of Gallantry (Afghanistan) Hero of Tajikistan
Military service
Allegiance	Emirate of Afghanistan (1919) Soviet Union (1919–1937)
Branch/service	Royal Afghan Army
Battles/wars	Third Anglo-Afghan War Jungle Movement of Gilan

In 1919 the Third Anglo-Afghan War broke out between the Emirate of Afghanistan and the British Empire. Nisar Muhammad being an ethnic Afghan enlisted in the Afghan Army to fight the British, earning recognition for his valor and receiving the Afghan Order of Courage medal. Following the war, as Swabi came under British occupation, Muhammad found himself sentenced to death. However, he managed to escape captivity and sought refuge in Tashkent, where he assumed the name Nisor Avalovich Magomedov.[1]

In Tashkent, Nisar Muhammad became an active member of the Communist Party and advocated for the establishment of a separate Tajik state outside the larger Turkestan SSR. Alongside his like-minded friends, Muhammad published newspapers and campaigned for Tajik autonomy. Their efforts eventually bore fruit when, in 1924, the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed as part of the Uzbek SSR. This achievement marked a significant milestone toward the later formation of the Tajik SSR.[2] Nisar Muhammad's involvement in political affairs extended beyond Central Asia. In 1920, he joined a Soviet team tasked with reporting on the events unfolding in Persia (now Iran). During this mission, Muhammad provided support to the revolutionary leader Mirza Kuchak Khan, leaving an indelible mark on the struggle for independence in the region.[2][1]

In 1926, Nisar Muhammad was appointed as the People's Commissar of Education of Tajikistan, where he played a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape of the region. Additionally, he served as a Pashto language instructor at Moscow University, showcasing his linguistic prowess in Persian, Pashto, Russian, Uzbek, and Urdu.[2] On October 8, 1937, Nisar Muhammad was arrested on false charges by the NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs). During his interrogation, a guard struck Muhammad, triggering an altercation in which the interrogator sustained severe head injuries. In response, guards stormed the room and shot Nisar Muhammad, resulting in his untimely death.[2]