Kavasji Katrak
Kavasji Hormusji Katrak | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1856 |
| Died | 24 June 1946 |
| Spouse | Khorshedbanu Katrak |
| Children | Sohrab Katrak |
| Father | Hormusji Katrak |
Sir Kavasji Hormusji Katrak (1856 - 24 June 1946) was a Parsi businessman of Karachi. He was associated with several institutions in British India. The Sohrab Katrak Parsi Colony was founded by him.[1]
Early life
[edit]Kavasji Hormusji Katrak was born in 1856. His father was Sir Hormusji Katrak, a prominent Parsi that had been knighted by George V.[2][3] The name 'Katrak' was an ancient family from the Indian subcontinent.[4][page needed] Kavasji Katrak[which?] was living in Bombay prior to the start of his business career.[4][page needed]
Career
[edit]In 1874, Katrak left Bombay to begin his career. He came to Rawalpindi and found employment at Jamasji & Sons, where he worked at for a period of 18 years, before eventually coming to Karachi, where he established Katrak & Co in 1891.[4][page needed][5] Katrak & Co. was an import company, which became very successful.[6][page needed] He served on several Government organisations, including the Karachi Port Trust, Karachi Municipality, North Western State Railway's Advisory Committee, and the Daily Gazette[1]
Philanthropy
[edit]Katrak was part of several philanthropic projects, including the Virbaijee Katrak Maternity Wing (constructed in 1917 as an extension to the Lady Dufferin Hospital),[7] the Khorshedbai Katrak Parsi Home, the YMZA (Young Mens Zoroastrian Association), the Hormusji Katrak Hall (erected in 1920),[8] the Sohrab Katrak library, the Katrak Swimming Bath (since declared a heritage site)[9] and the Sohrab Katrak Parsi Colony.
Personal life
[edit]Katrak married Khorshed Banu[10] and had one son and five daughters.[11]
His son, Sohrab Katrak served as Mayor of Karachi and authored three books, Message Eternal, Who are the Parsis[2] and Through Amanullah's Afghanistan.
His daughters include Meherbai, who married Burjorji Madan, son of Jamshedji Framji Madan[11] and Dinbai, a social worker who married Indian cricketer Hormasji Vajifdar.[6]
Katrak was a Freemason.[1] He had been knighted by George V.[2]
Death
[edit]Katrak died on 24 June 1946 in Karachi.[12][4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil. 1953. pp. 36–37.
- ^ a b c "Katrak, Sohrab Kawasji Hormuzdyar". www.zoroastrian.org.uk.
- ^ Golwalla, Sunnu Farrokh (2002). Sands of time: History of Karachi, Zarthosti, Banu Mandal 1912 to 2000 and Sketch of Zarathushti Associations in Karachi. Karachi Zarthosti Banu Mandal.
- ^ a b c d Biographical Encylopedia of Pakistan. Biographical Research Institute, Pakistan. 1961. pp. 1009–1010.
- ^ "A great dust heap". 7 May 2011.
- ^ a b Dadachanji, Faredun Kavasji (1989). Parsis, Ancient and Modern and Their Religion: Never Before Has So Much Been Achieved by So Few. Victoria Print. Works.
- ^ "Distressed Lady Dufferin". 5 July 2009.
- ^ "All the world's a stage". 28 November 2010.
- ^ "Library threatened by Malir Expressway gets heritage status". 3 October 2024.
- ^ The Pakistan Year Book & Who's Who. Kitabistan. 1949. p. 864.
- ^ a b Modi, Nawaz B (1998). The Parsis in Western India, 1818 to 1920. Allied Publishers. ISBN 978-81-7023-894-2.
- ^ Giara, Marzban Jamshedji (2000). Parsi Statues. available from, Marzban J. Giara. p. 137.