Draft:Sohrab Katrak

Sohrab Kavasji Hormusji Katrak was born on 26 November 1892 to Khan Bahadur Sir Kavasji Katrak (1855-1946){{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com.pk/books/edition/Biographical_Encyclopedia_of_Pakistan/sGtmAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA2&printsec=frontcover |title=Biographical Encylopedia of Pakistan |year=1961 |pages=215-216}} and Khorshed Banu Katrak.{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com.pk/books/edition/The_Pakistan_Year_Book_Who_s_who/fEbGAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=the+pakistan+year+book+of+whos+who+1949&pg=PA625&printsec=frontcover |title=The Pakistan Year Book & Who's who |year=1949 |pages=864-865}} His father was knighted by George V. He had 5 sisters, including both Meherbai (who later wed Burjorji Mardan, son of Jamshedji Framji Madan){{Cite book |last=Mody |first=Nawaz B |url=https://books.google.com.pk/books/about/The_Parsis_in_Western_India_1818_to_1920.html?id=BwZuAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y |title=The Parsis in Western India, 1818 to 1920 |date=30 August 1998 |pages=212}} and Dinbai (a social worker, who married Hormasji Vajifdar).{{Cite book |last=Dadachanji |first=Faredun Kavasji |url=https://books.google.com.pk/books/about/Parsis_Ancient_and_Modern_and_Their_Reli.html?id=UOu1AAAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y |title=Parsis, Ancient and Modern and Their Religion: Never Before Has So Much Been Achieved by So Few |year=1980 |pages=135}} His father, began his career in 1874, aged 18 at Jamasji & Sons and thence relocated to Karachi in 1891. Katrak was educated at the Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi High School in Karachi as well as Pitman’s College in London.{{Cite book |last=Darukhanawala |first=Hormusji Dhunjishaw |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62648/page/n5/mode/2up |title=Parsi Lustre On Indian Soil |year=1939 |edition=2nd |pages=38-39}}

In the 1920’s, he developed the Sohrab Katrak Parsi Colony, as well as the Sohrab Katrak Park. In May of 1942, he became the Mayor of Karachi. From 1947-52, he was a trustee of the Karachi Parsi Anjuman Trust Fund. In 1950, he became a trustee to the International Islamic Economic Conference. He authored several books, including ‘Through Amanullah’s Afghanistan’, which won him a place at the Royal Geographical Society. He also authored ‘Who are the Parsees’ and ‘Karachi: That was the capital of Sind’.

In 1919, he married Dina Madan, the daughter of Jamshedji Framji Madan and his wife Pirojbai. Together, they had 2 sons and 3 daughters, Jamshed (died in 2008){{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Tahir |date=1 November 2023 |title=Sindh govt seals remains of partially flattened heritage building in Karachi |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1785420}}, who was the Head of the Department of Clearing and Forwarding at Katrak & Co. His second son, Homi was a Chartered Accountant in London. His eldest daughter, Khorshedbai was the wife of Jal Contractor. The second daughter, Perin was a social worker in Karachi. The youngest daughter, Vera, was an archaeologist (PhD University of London) who married Cowasjee Cowasjee, brother of Ardeshir Cowasjee. Katrak died in Karachi in 1972. He was survived by his wife, son, and 3 daughters.

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