Independence

Arjun (A) — Slogging! Slogging!! Slogging!!! Please help me God. Oh Shrikrishna, where are you?

Shrikrishna (S) — My dear Arjun, I am always with you. I am everywhere! Omni-present!.

A — And Omnipotent, Omniscient as well! You have no boundaries; but we are bound by so many constraints.

S — Didn’t you celebrate your Independence Day?

A — There was that flag – hoisting in our housing society. But who will wake up early on a holiday? I never attend it.

S — Oh! Shame on you. Don’t you remember the martyrs that sacrificed everything for independence of the country? Even their lives! How dare you be so callous about independence?

A — Oh, Lord, please pardon me. I never meant offence to anyone.

S — I thought, at least you would be valuing the independence above all!

A — Yes. I do. In fact, our profession is expected to be ‘independent’. We are supposed to act without fear or favour.

S — Then how can you afford to sleep when flag hoisting is on? You CAs should be in the forefront.

A — I agree. But you know, we get so tired. So much of tension. Last time, I narrated all our difficulties. You advised us to gear ourselves up.

S — Then what have you done about it? You are in the habit of mere crying.

A — What to do? We are so helpless. Clients are not serious. Our staff is also useless. Everything comes on us.

S — But you are an independent professional. You have to overcome the situation some day or the other. How many years you can pull on like this?

A — Lord, ‘Independence’ is a myth. Everybody dictates on us. Regulators, Clients, staff, articles, our Institute; and even our family members.

S — Ha ! Ha !! Ha !! Rukmini and Satyabhama also keep dominating on me. Jokes apart; tell me, have you taken steps to complete the audits in time?

A — Ah! There is so much time upto 30th September. Clients wake up only after 15th of September.

S — Let clients not wake up. What about you yourself? You need to be eternally vigilant. That is the cost of independence!

A — So many holidays in August. Independence Day, Parsi New Year, then Rakhi, then your own birthday of Krishnashtami. Again in September, Ganapati will take away our time! I think, we cannot do things in time. We must start crying for extension. You only said, we need to be ‘proactive’!

S — Wah! Great thought! You are very much aware that this year courts will not support you. Tell me, have you studied new CARO; have you looked into IFC?

A — IFC? What is that?

S — Internal Financial Controls. You have to specifically report on that. And CFS?

A — You are giving me surprises. What is this new ghost?

S — Consolidated Financial Statements. Are you at least aware that even your CARO format is changed?

A — Yes, Yes. I have heard about it. Frankly, I have not studied the new company law as yet. So much of ambiguity there!

S — True. But you can’t afford to be totally ignorant. Remember, Government is appointing new regulatory authority to look into the quality of your work.

A — Baap Re! Already we have disciplinary committee, consumer forum, NFRA, and what not! And on the top of it, this new Authority? God save the profession.

S — I will surely save you, only if you are vigilant and diligent.

A — Oh Lord, I know, I am rather lethargic. I have to be constantly on my toes. Even slightest of relaxation may be suicidal.

S — Assure you that so long as you can prove honest efforts and support it by documentation, your Council will always help you. Don’t worry.

A — Thank you, Lord!

Om Shanti.

The above dialogue aims at highlighting the importance of having the right attitude towards the profession. Being alert and proactive towards the dynamic laws becomes extremely important in today’s world.