Dear friends,
I hope you did not read my last month’s article. If you have read it, please try to forget it. Henceforth, we are going to listen to the dialogue between CA — Arjuna and Bhagawan Shrikrishna on the Code of Ethics (COE) of our Institute of Chartered Accountants of India — (ICAI).
Is it a coincidence that our ICAI Head Office is situated on ‘Indraprastha Marg’ — the capital of Pandavas? Anyway, CA Arjuna and Shrikrishna are present on the battlefield. War is yet to commence!
What a great idea! — Even the wars in those times were fought by following the rules of ethics! — Start at sunrise, close at sunset, not to harm women and children, not to attack anyone who is without a weapon; and above all, seek blessings from seniors even from the enemy side! — Poetic indeed — but at that time, a reality.
The dialogue begins: CA Arjuna
(A) — Hell with this profession! And that meaningless Code of Ethics (COE)! Lord Shrikrishna
(S) — What happened? Why are you so upset?
A — Last time, I was not willing to fight. You pushed me into the war. But then this COE ties my hands. I can’t freely accept audits, I cannot advertise, I cannot do any other thing! How can I fight now?
S — Who says? Have you read COE?
A — Yes. Of course! I read it 20 years ago for my exam.
S — Oh! You still remember it?
A — Not fully. I only remember that while auditing, I have to obtain an NOC, and I cannot advertise.
S — Only that much? Then why are you making such a fuss of it? Only a couple of restrictions!
A — But nowadays many of my friends are receiving love-letters from the Institute.
S — Do you remember, at that time it was called Code of Conduct; and now it is Code of Ethics?
A — The same nonsense. Only the name has changed. Unnecessary burden! Times are changing so fast — and they are sticking to those old so-called ethics!
S — Are you aware your CA Act of 1949 was amended in 2006?
A — What difference does it make to me? We elect the Council members and they harass us. I hate going for voting.
S — But do you know what the motto of the Institute is? What a CA really stands for?
A — Don’t tell me that. There is an eagle there and something scribbled in Sanskrit. Who cares to know it!
S — It is ‘Ya Esha Supteshu Jagarti’ — He who is awake when the others are asleep.
A — Yes. We are slogging round the clock, and our clients are relaxing and enjoying. Very apt motto! No wonder, I am suffering from insomnia! And on top of it this burden of Ethics.
S — No dear. You are in the slumber — only playing with numbers. You have forgotten your role. That’s what also happened in Mahabharata war. Ethics is not your burden. It is your shield. That is why you Pandavas succeeded.
A — Ah! Don’t give me the sermon. How can the restrictions imposed on me become my shield? Who will remember all those rules of ethics? Such a long list of dozens of items!
S — No. You are mistaken. Really speaking there are only 3 rules, which your Guru told you when you completed your education.
A — Yes. Something he told from Taittireeya Upanishad. S — Satyam Vada — Always speak the truth.
— Dharmam Chara — Follow the Religion — that means not the worship — or pooja path — But your duties. That time, duties as a Kshatriya (warrior); now as a CA — professional. — And third — Swadhyayat Ma Viramah — Never give up studies.
A — I know. That is that CPE! That is the only place where I can sleep in the auditorium.
S — Why? — Do you attend it or send your proxy?
A — But then, in that war, you gave us some ‘practical tips’ to circumvent the truth. Why these double standards?
S — No. That was not bypassing the truth; but temporarily masking it — Eventually to uphold the Truth — and Dharma.
A — I am again confused. Next time, explain to me all those nasty restrictions one by one — and tell me how it is a shield. Let us take a break. Om Shanti.
