Akram Yari
Encyclopedia
Akram Yari was a Maoist political organizer in Afghanistan
. He was the leader and founder of the Progressive Youth Organization
(PYO), a Maoist
organization which was formed on October 6, 1965.
, Afghanistan in 1940. He belonged to a family of aristocrats. He received his early education in his hometown. Later he moved to Kabul
where he received higher education. He was a teacher at Khushal Khan High School and later at Mehmood Tarzi High School.
(PYO), a Maoist
organization, founded on October 6, 1965. PYO published a magazine called Shola e Jawid (Eternal Flame) which was circulated among students and youth.
Akram Yari opposed the monarchy
of King Zahir Shah, the Islamic fundamentalists, and the pro-Soviet
People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
(PDPA). PYO adhered to Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tse-tung Thought
, and rallied for the overthrow of the then-current order by means of civil war
.
Akram Yari was a teacher and propagator of Marxism and introduced Marxism to a large number of intellectuals and political activists in Afghanistan, among them Dr. Faiz Ahmad
, founder of Afghanistan Liberation Organization
(ALO).
. The PDPA government began a crack-down on PYO cadres. Akram Yari was arrested at his home in Jaghori
, transferred to Kabul
and later killed by the PDPA government. The exact conditions surrounding his death is not known.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He was the leader and founder of the Progressive Youth Organization
Progressive Youth Organization
Progressive Youth Organization was a revolutionary organization in Afghanistan. The organization emerged out of the New Democratic Current , a leftist movement that had been established by Abdulrahim Mahmudi, Abdulhadi Mahmudi, Akram Yari and Seddiq Yari...
(PYO), a Maoist
Maoism
Maoism, also known as the Mao Zedong Thought , is claimed by Maoists as an anti-Revisionist form of Marxist communist theory, derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong . Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, it was widely applied as the political and military guiding...
organization which was formed on October 6, 1965.
Early years
Akram Yari was born in JaghoriJaghori District
Jaghori is a major business center and one of the main districts of Ghazni province in Afghanistan. It is situated in the highlands of the central region. The population was estimated at 192,216 in 2002, making it one of the most populous districts in Afghanistan. Sange-e-Masha is a small bazaar...
, Afghanistan in 1940. He belonged to a family of aristocrats. He received his early education in his hometown. Later he moved to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
where he received higher education. He was a teacher at Khushal Khan High School and later at Mehmood Tarzi High School.
Political Activism
Akram Yari was the founder and leader of Progressive Youth OrganizationProgressive Youth Organization
Progressive Youth Organization was a revolutionary organization in Afghanistan. The organization emerged out of the New Democratic Current , a leftist movement that had been established by Abdulrahim Mahmudi, Abdulhadi Mahmudi, Akram Yari and Seddiq Yari...
(PYO), a Maoist
Maoism
Maoism, also known as the Mao Zedong Thought , is claimed by Maoists as an anti-Revisionist form of Marxist communist theory, derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong . Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, it was widely applied as the political and military guiding...
organization, founded on October 6, 1965. PYO published a magazine called Shola e Jawid (Eternal Flame) which was circulated among students and youth.
Akram Yari opposed the monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
of King Zahir Shah, the Islamic fundamentalists, and the pro-Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan was a communist party established on the 1 January 1965. While a minority, the party helped former president of Afghanistan, Mohammed Daoud Khan, to overthrow his cousin, Mohammed Zahir Shah, and established Daoud's Republic of Afghanistan...
(PDPA). PYO adhered to Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tse-tung Thought
Maoism
Maoism, also known as the Mao Zedong Thought , is claimed by Maoists as an anti-Revisionist form of Marxist communist theory, derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong . Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, it was widely applied as the political and military guiding...
, and rallied for the overthrow of the then-current order by means of civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
.
Influence
Under Akram Yari's leadership, PYO had strong support among the masses of workers and students in the cities of Afghanistan. Among the people of Afghanistan, the movement that PYO led is famous by the name of Shola-e-Jawid and its members were commonly known as the Sholais (Flamists), after the name of their journal.Akram Yari was a teacher and propagator of Marxism and introduced Marxism to a large number of intellectuals and political activists in Afghanistan, among them Dr. Faiz Ahmad
Faiz Ahmad
Dr. Faiz Ahmad was the founding leader of the Afghanistan Liberation Organization , a Marxist-Leninist organization established in Kabul.Ahmad was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan...
, founder of Afghanistan Liberation Organization
Afghanistan Liberation Organization
Afghanistan Liberation Organization is a Maoist political group in Afghanistan. It was founded by Dr. Faiz Ahmad and some others in 1973. ALO is one of several organization that grew out of the Sholaye Javid movement...
(ALO).
Arrest and Assassination
In 1978 the pro-Soviet PDPA came into power through a military coupSaur Revolution
The Saur Revolution is the name given to the Communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan takeover of political power from the government of Afghanistan on 28 April 1978. The word 'Saur', i.e...
. The PDPA government began a crack-down on PYO cadres. Akram Yari was arrested at his home in Jaghori
Jaghori District
Jaghori is a major business center and one of the main districts of Ghazni province in Afghanistan. It is situated in the highlands of the central region. The population was estimated at 192,216 in 2002, making it one of the most populous districts in Afghanistan. Sange-e-Masha is a small bazaar...
, transferred to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
and later killed by the PDPA government. The exact conditions surrounding his death is not known.