“Katrak’s quest”

Your "In Memoriam” piece titled "Katrak’s quest” (Parsiana, May 21, 2008) provided more positive coverage of the late Kersy Katrak than the opinion expressed in "The Parsi quartet” (Parsiana, April-May 1974) where four leading Parsi poets were discussed. The quartet, which comprised Keki Daru­wala, Gieve Patel, Adil Jussawalla and Katrak, has now been reduced to a trio.

You have quoted Eunice De Souza’s balanced opinion about Katrak: "He was a fine poet whose forte was the long, reflective poem, sometimes shot through with irony and sometimes a wicked sense of humor.” May I be permitted to provide an example?

In what she chooses to call a biography of Bombay, Gillian Tindall wrote a book titled City of Gold published in 1982. I reproduce a poem by Katrak, Malabar Hill, which appears in that book: "High on their hill the Parsi dead keep watch,/ snore, giggle or whatever,/ Dead men do. Even now the names sound well;/ Vatcha and Dadyseth, Wadia and Taleyarkhan:/ traders, philanthropists, persons of art, as/ placid now/ As when they were alive…”

So far, so good. There’s nothing really offensive. In fact some may prefer to use the word "naughty” instead of "wicked” to describe Katrak’s writing, except perhaps the lunatic fringe who may cry themselves hoarse. Frankly, the piece is a reflection of a poet who was much ahead of his times and could take a dig at the system even when it was working well and vultures were in abundance.

RASHID KHOSRAVI