One Last Time… ADIEU.. SAYONARA.. PHIR MILENGE..
The month of June 2025 has been quite eventful. There were numerous global upheavals. The tragic plane crash at Ahmedabad left us dumbstruck and disconsolate. This incident raised serious concerns about safety in the aviation industry. The 12 day Israel-Iran conflict and ongoing Russia-Ukraine war along with other developments have had a severe impact on the world trade and economy.
THEME OF THE SPECIAL ISSUE – JULY 2025
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the order of the day. Machines are taking over human tasks faster than we thought. The use and success of AI in recent wars and various areas of life have not only proven its utility but also its essentiality. The CA profession is no exception to the impact of AI. My recent certification course on AI revealed that it is enthralling, empowering, engrossing, and encompassing, yet also scary and overwhelming. Considering its importance and essentiality, this year’s special issue of BCAJ is based on the theme – “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – ITS IMPACT ON CA PROFESSION.”
The issue features an interview with CA Ninad Karpe and five articles covering various aspects of AI’s impact on the CA profession. The issue also carries a poem by CA Divya Jokhakar on AI titled “Humanity in the Machines”, two cartoons on AI by Anirudh Parthasarathy and also the column of CA C.N. Vaze on “Light Elements” assisted by AI.
We hope readers will appreciate and enjoy reading them. However, the real crux of AI lies in its implementation, not merely in reading. So, readers are well advised to adopt and implement AI in their practice.
THE END OF THE JOURNEY
I have mixed emotions as I write my last Editorial. On the one hand, I have the satisfaction of completing three years of my tenure and doing my duty diligently, whereas on the other hand, the sadness of no longer being able to communicate with all of you through this medium. All good things must come to an end, and this is also true so far as my association with the BCAJ as editor is concerned. When I took over from Raman, I had the daunting task of maintaining the quality and reputation of this great journal, which it has had for decades, thanks to the tremendous contributions and hard work of my predecessors. Raman did a stupendous job during his tenure and elevated the journal to new heights. He had the privilege of heading it in its 50th year.
When I took over the baton from him in 2022, India was celebrating its 75th year of independence, and two years later, BCAS celebrated its 75th year. God has been very kind in blessing me with the role of Editor of this prestigious journal during these two important years of its illustrious 56-year history. In a couple of issues, we published QR Codes of articles with an option to listen to them as a podcast.
My association with BCAJ dates back to my student and articleship days, when I would read BCAJ to stay updated on Direct Tax Case Laws, as there was limited or no internet access in the late 1980s. At that time, I had never imagined that one day, I would head this prestigious journal. My esteem for the journal has increased by the day, as I have witnessed numerous individuals selflessly contribute and share their knowledge. It is indeed a privilege to serve the profession through a knowledge-enriched publication. I thank God and my Gurus for this honour.
I am grateful to CA Ninad Karpe, who invited me to serve as the Editor of Touch Down India Magazine in the 1990s. This gave me exposure and experience in heading a professional Journal quite early in my life.
I am lucky to have been born to a journalist father, the late Dr. Bhanukumar Nayak. I believe I have inherited some of my father’s qualities as a journalist. My PhD studies further developed my academic skills and qualities. I express my gratitude and thanks to the seniors in the BCAS for entrusting me to head this prestigious publication. Not only that, but they also continuously supported, guided, and contributed to the journal. This makes BCAS a unique and distinct organisation.
Like many of my predecessors, I also faced my share of challenges during my three-year stint. Working past midnight to meet deadlines, finalising and editing during travel at odd hours and in odd places is perhaps a common challenge to all editors. Meeting the postal deadline while facing challenges at the printer’s end is also equally daunting.
However, such challenges test our strength and help us grow. Fortunately, the support of the Editorial Board members comes to the rescue of the editor at BCAS. But when one sees his fellow members and colleagues benefited and enriched, then one has the satisfaction that all that trouble and effort was worth it. Some readers express their gratitude through e-mails; others silently appreciate it. I thank all of you who have thanked BCAJ expressly or silently.
Writing an Editorial is a growth journey. It is challenging and, at times, overwhelming. Selecting a topic, conducting research, and articulating it to meet readers’ expectations (without AI’s help) is a herculean task for any Editor. However, it is equally satisfying when readers appreciate Editorials. I had the fortune of communicating with you through my Editorials month after month, which I shall be truly missing. I was fortunate to have received valuable contributions to my Editorials from CA Gautam Nayak, CA Tarun Kumar Singhal, CA Anil Doshi, CA Raman Jokhakar, Adv. R.K. Sinha, IRS and Ex-DIT, and many others. I am grateful to all of them.
My sincere thanks to all authors, contributors, feature writers, advertisers and readers for their continuous support, encouragement, and contributions in making BCAJ a world-class publication. I thank many luminaries who readily gave interviews and shared their valuable insights on important topics, their life journeys and gave tips to succeed in life. This year, we organised a successful Writers’ Workshop, and we had some enthusiastic writers as well. I appeal to all budding writers to write for BCAJ, as writing is a means of expressing oneself.
I thank CA Mihir Sheth, CA Chirag Doshi, and CA Anand Bathiya for inviting me to join their team as Chairman of the Journal Committee and other Office Bearers for their support in this role. I thank every member of the Editorial Board, the Journal Committee, Ms. Navina Perarasan and my convenors, CA Jagdish Punjabi, CA Abbas Jaorawala, CA Rohit Jethani, and CA Vinayak Pai, for their support and valuable contributions. I thank Mr. Davar of Spenta Multimedia, his entire team and various coordinators for their support and help. I thank my family for their sacrifices in many ways and for their encouragement to accomplish my tasks. My thanks to CA Uday Padia, my partner, and the other staff members of my firm who assisted me in various ways. My special thanks to my co-chairman, CA Raman Jokhakar and CA Gautam Nayak for their solid support and for being my sounding boards in various matters. Thanks to Raman for giving me one month’s break during my daughter’s wedding.
I am happy to hand over the baton of the BCAJ to my able colleague and a dear friend, CA Sunil Gabhawala, an accomplished professional, author, speaker, and writer. I am sure BCAJ will scale new heights in his tenure. I wish him good luck.
In Gujarati, we don’t say goodbye, we say Aavjo…આવજો (Means do come next time). In Marathi, it is said, Bara Yeu Me… बरं येऊ मी (Meaning I will come back). In Hindi it is said, Phir Milenge… फिर मिलेंगे.
I prefer to say goodbye in local languages, which expresses a hope to meet again, perhaps in a different role, at a different place, for a different purpose.
Let me end by saying…
धन्यवाद दिल से अदा करता हूं
अब मैं आपसे विदा लेता हूं
लेकिन प्यार भरा यह संदेश भूल न जाना
आपसे फिर कभी मिलने का वादा करता हूं!
