Mohammed Yahya

Mohammed Yahya (Mohammad Yahya) (Mohammed Yahya Jan) Early Life and Education Mohammed Yahya was born in Peshawar City, NWFP in 1901. After matriculation and a Bachelors Degree from Edwardes College Peshawar, Mohammed Yahya went to Aligarh University, where he completed his MPil in Philosophy specializing in the works of Neitche. Professional Life and Politics In 1934 he returned to Peshawar to become the headmaster of the Islamia high school in Peshawar city. In the 1946 Elections he contested as a Congress Candidate against Sardar Abdul Rab Nishtar and defeated him with a heavy margin of approx 8,000 votes. He became The Minister of education of the North West Frontier Province in Dr. Khan Sahibs 2nd Ministry. During his short stint as Education Minister (Partition of the Sub Continent in 1947 led to the dissolution of the Assembly)he put forward the proposal for the Peshawar University.

Mohammed Yahya was the second son of the sixth wife son of Hajji Ghulam Samdani, the largest contractor in the NWFP. H.G.Samdani belonged to Barra Mulla in Kashmir( Who at one time owned the Kissa Khwani Bazaar, the part of Cherat Hill Tract that is now a government owned area, and a large land holding in the Khyber and Bugnay Area. Built the Qasim Ali Mosque (where he is buried) in law of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the Freedom fighter and non violent leader of the Pathans in the NWFP.

His Notable Siblings were Abdul Rehman (An associate of Mustafa Kemal Attaturk and Turkeys Ambassador to Afghanistan in the 1930's) Mohammed Younas ( A member of the Indian Foreign Service, the founder of the "Pragati Maidan" in New Delhi. He was a close friend and advisor to the Gandhi family)