Nasrat Parsa:

In His Own Words...

Dearest Fans / Web Readers,
The biography of an entertainer tends to be most interesting to his devoted fans and his fellow countrymen and women. I hope this fulfils your levels of interest and gives you some insight into my life, as you would like.

To begin, I would like to say that art, literature, and music have a profound effect on all without any recognition of boundaries. 

I was born in the beautiful city of Kabul, Afghanistan on what my mother described to be a calm, peaceful, and sunny day. My father dedicated most of his life to the teachings of his students and children. When I was born he was teaching as the head of the department of education in Kabul. My mother, just like all other devoted mothers of the world sacrificed her youth for the well being of her children. "Worship" is the word that comes into my mind when I think of Sima Parsa and the late Hafizullah Parsa (bless his soul), my loving parents.

The art of poetry, literature, sculpturing, painting, and music played a big part in shaping my fathers family. My uncle, Amanullah Parsa who now resides in Columbus, Ohio with his family, after his graduate studies in Italy, taught art at the University of Rome and Milan. My brother, Najeeb Parsa, was the first person to have such a great impact on my life involving music. He has given me tremendous guidance in this incredible journey, "I have never felt alone," even if we were oceans apart. In my childhood years I started listening to my brother Najeeb when he recited poetry while playing the harmonia. I started mimicking him, and thus began our close ties to music and each other.

Soon after, during a New Years celebration at Radio Kabul Studios, I sang two songs belonging to the greatest artist that ever lived in Afghanistan, Ahmad Zahir (God bless him), and received great encouragement and likeness from the people.

The next morning the celebration was broadcasted over the radio and Ahmed Zahir heard his songs. He invited me over to his house where we sang together and it was perhaps the greatest honor of my life. The recording of the New Years celebration, singing with Ahmed Zahir at his home, and singing in the radio game show would all come to my benefit in the future.

Accomplishments:

I participated in plays and musicals alongside my brother Najeeb at the University of Kabul, where he was head of the Performing Arts in the Science department. At age 7, I sang a song on the radio game show hosted by Zohra Yusof.
 
I was also fortunate to be given the chance to absorb from classical teachings of my master, Ostaad Mohammed Houssein Sarahang (God bless him) and his son Eltaf Houssein, who were also family friends.
At age 12 I immigrated with my family to Pakistan and on to India. In a matter of two years in Delhi, India, I attended the school of music where the great Pandate Daish Pandi taught.

In India, I was fortunate enough to have private teachings from Ostood Monawar Ali Khan.
 

The journey continued to Germany where Ghulam Ali Khan was holding a concert. I was introduced to him. My family invited Ghulam Ali Khan to
our home. I was given an honor when he gave me a band to tie on my
wrist, indicating an official student status.

Nasrat Parsa 1969 - 2005:

Combining modern dance beats with traditional melodies, 36-year-old Nasrat Parsa was one of Afghanistan's most popular singers, especially among youth. Parsa left Kabul as a 12-year-old prodigy. He went on to study music in India before settling down in Germany. Parsa, who had only recently released his 10th compact disc, died yesterday after being attacked following a concert in Vancouver, Canada.

"I would like to say that art, literature, and music have a profound effect on all without any recognition of boundaries."

Those are Nasrat Parsa's own words, posted on his website.

Parsa, a globetrotting Afghan musician from a family of artists, had a profound effect on his countrymen from early on.

Twenty-nine years ago, at the age of seven, Parsa was discovered during a New Year's celebration in Radio Kabul. During the live show he performed two famous hits by his idol, Ahmad Zahir.

Zahir, whom Parsa has described as the greatest Afghan artist ever, was so impressed that he helped Parsa launch his career.

Since 1989, Parsa has toured the world over, releasing 10 compact discs, the most recent being "Dil," a collection of soft melodies released last fall.

One of Afghanistan's most popular recording artists, Parsa combined Western dance beats with traditional South Asian melodies. The singer was in Vancouver on 8 May as part of a month-long tour of Canada.

Police said Parsa died after being swarmed on the street outside his hotel following a performance in downtown Vancouver.

Tim Fanning of the Vancouver police spoke to reporters yesterday: "He had been approached by three male suspects, one punched him and he fell down some stairs hitting his head. He was rushed to hospital and was pronounced dead."

Parsa's official website said he had suffered from internal brain bleeding.

Police said a 19-year-old suspect by the name of Ahmad Siar Forogh was arrested for assault. The charge against him is expected to be manslaughter. A second suspect was also apprehended.

The motive for the attack was not immediately known. Reports said the three men had been present in the hall during Parsa's concert and had been drinking alcohol.

Parsa's two brothers, Najib and Ahsan Parsa, witnessed the attack.

Najib Parsa told AFP that at the concert, the three men had become angry when Parsa, who was playing soft music for Mothers' Day, rejected their request to play more dance tunes: "It wasn't a big reason to be upset. But they followed us to the hotel and attacked him. He was standing at the top of concrete and stone stairs. It was like a prepared plan. He fell backward and hit his head."

Parsa left with his family for Pakistan when he was 12. They later moved to India, where he attended music school and took lessons. In Germany, he became a student of Ghulam Ali Khan, who has been called "the Mount Everest" of Indian and Pakistani music.

May God Bless His Soul!!!

Nasrat Parsa Songs

Nasrat Parsa Photos

Nasrat Parsa Lyrics

Nasrat Parsa Funeral Photos

Nasrat Parsa Last Song

Nasrat Parsa Last Video

Interview with Tamim Faizi (sound producer & keyboard player)

Interview with Aziz Guman (about nasrat parsa)

Interview with Hotel Manager (where nasrat parsa was attacked)

Farhad Darya Talks about Nasrat Parsa

Song Dedicated To Nasrat Parsa (haris parwez)

Song Dedicated To Nasrat Parsa (jawed popal)

BBC Program About Nasrat Parsa

CBC Video on Nasrat Parsa

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