Mahmud Bey Tarzi (1865-1933)

Mahmud Tarzi and his wife Asma Rasmiya (Resmiyeh Khanum.)
Mavi Boncuk |Mahmūd Bēg Tarzī (August 23, 1865 in Ghazni - November 22, 1933 in Istanbul) (Pashto: محمود طرزۍ, Persian: محمود بیگ طرزی) was one of Afghanistan's greatest intellectuals. He is known as the father of Afghan journalism. As a great modern thinker, he became a key figure in the history of Afghanistan, following the lead of Kemal Ataturk in Turkey by working for modernization and secularization, and strongly opposing religious extremism and obscurantism. Tarzi emulated the Young Turks coalition. Politically, he held important government positions during the reigns of Amir Habibullah Ghazi and King Amanullah. He reached the highest points of government as a chief adviser and Foreign Minister. Mahmud Tarzi is a good example of the reform-minded individuals that contributed to Afghan society at the beginning of the 20th century. He was a main force behind Habibullah Khan's social reforms, especially with regard to education.Many of Mahmud Tarzi's plans and projects were never started, as the royal house of Amanullah Khan came to an end by a coup in 1929. Tarzi and his family were put into exile in Turkey[1]. He died at the age of 68 in Istanbul, Turkey.

[1] His daughter in law Dr. Pakize (Izzet Saltik) Tarzi (1910 Halep, 2004 İstanbul) established a private clinic in 1957 as the first women Gyn. & Obstetrician in Turkey. She married Sardar ABDUL FETTAH Tarzii in 1935. Her daughter Princess Zeyneb Tarzi Hanim Efendi [16 Dec 1940 - ] will marry the grandson of Sultan Abdülhamit II, Ertuğrul Osman Osmanoğlu, (b. 18 Ağustos 1912, d. Nişantaşı , İstanbul- ö. 23 Eylül 2009, İstanbul) in New York City, New York, on 27 September 1991