Kirtankar Katrak

A felicitation committee formed by his Parsi admirers organized a function at Bombay’s Sethna Agiary Hall on May 14, 2006 to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to the 82-year-old kirtankar Parvez Katrak on the occasion of his completing 60 years of socio-religious service throughout India and even abroad. When regaling audiences with his kirtans he pursued his motto of seva-bhakti-daan (service-devotion-charity), never charging a single paisa for his services but appealing to the audience for voluntary contributions at the end of each program which he would then donate to different charitable causes, it was recounted at the function, a report of which was sent to Parsiana by felicitation committee honorary secretary Nariman Daruwalla.

From left: Engineer, Mirza, Katrak and Andhyarujina Photo: C. C. Gandevia

Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza recited the hambandagi with blessings for Katrak and remarked that Katrak had led his life like a true Zoroastrian. Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee Maneck Engineer who was the chief guest mentioned that whilst several people refer to Katrak as a Gandhian, he preferred to describe him as a karmawadi Zoroastrian. Presiding over the function Firoze Andhyarujina, a respected High Court and Supreme Court advocate, pointed out that though not a rich man at all, Katrak distributes alms every six months to orphanages, widows’ homes, hospitals and old people’s homes besides providing entertainment to lonely souls.

Accepting the flowers, shawls and memento presented to him Katrak mentioned that he valued this award as it was conferred with true affection and goodwill by ordinary Parsis like himself. He also acknowledged with gratitude the help of the Almighty for bringing him in contact with good souls like Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters, kirtankar Kar­sondas Maneck and poet Khabar­dar, as also the legendary Jamshed Mehta of Karachi and Das­tur Khur­shed Da­boo. The inspiration of Lord Zara­thushtra and poet Kabir, besides the values imparted by his parents have stood him in good stead, mentioned Katrak, referring also to the encouragement and musical accompaniment he got from the late Navroze Mehta.