fiogf49gjkf0d
The backward glance of a lion
Prologue :
The Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society popularly
referred to as BCAS has completed 60 years of its useful existence. The
Diamond jubilee celebrations continued throughout the year including a very
well attended conference in November 2008. The year is coming to an end and I
have been entrusted with the responsibility of penning down the history of
last 10 years, a journey from Golden era to Diamond era.
It was one of our past Presidents and a former editor of
our prestigious journal late Ajay Thakkar who had in his inimitable style
written the history of our Society for the first 40 years. I had the good
fortune to write the continuation thereof for the next 10 years and that I
have already written and it is documented in August 1998 issue of our Journal.
The world today is in a rush, haste and constantly engaged
in a fierce battle against time. Add to this time constraint, technology has
given us increased heartbeats. Our present day life is spent on utilising
scarce time, sorting out competing demands on time and redistribution of time.
Whenever we speed up, we tend to slow down and neglect the past. It is said
that improved technology saves a lot of time. But what about human reflexes ?
One who travels normally by a bullock cart or a cycle, cannot adjust to the
jet speed immediately. We all have a desire to dazzle and aspire for
adulation. It is a very precious chemical compound consumed by all without
watching or caring for side effects. In such a scenario, whether people would
get time to read history ? Add to it, budget to be presented on 3rd July 2009.
Who really has time to read BCAS history for the last decade ?
In such a scenario, there is always a bit of diffidence and
hesitation about the utility of the work for the future. However it is also
said that the importance of a work is to be judged not from the immediate
gains. Recording of history is not for those who live in the present but for
those who will be our future. It may be a guide or a source of inspiration for
future. It is with this background and a hope that I am writing this history
for the last 10 years.
How do I describe this Journey from Gold to Diamond ? Shall
I ‘review’ the events of last 10 years ? No way. ‘Review’ is too often an
official document and a matter of discussion in a meeting. I therefore refuse
to describe History as a bald review. In Western Culture, there is a system of
looking at the past ‘in retrospect’. The idea is to look at the events of the
past in a critical manner. I do not propose such a look ‘in retrospect’. I, on
the other hand, would like to refer to the past events as a backward glance of
a Lion. Our Society is a lion institution. A lion has a habit of frequently
looking back. In vernacular it is known as ‘Sinhavalokan’. There is a
forward marching army ready to attack, but a keen observant lion is required
to have a backward glance, both for guidance for the future journey as well as
protection from a possible attack from behind as a result of some laxity. This
is more native and also positive. My attempt may therefore be looked as a ‘Sinhavalokan’.
Our Presidents :
In an organisation, those who are past Presidents or past
dignitaries are more ornamental designations and they are to be invited with
apparent respect for any function. With BCAS, it is exactly the opposite and
the past presidents do play a very keen and positive role throughout the year
for a collective success of the Society. They occupy positions as active
chairmen of various Committees or as committee members and they are permanent
invitees to the Managing Committee meetings. In fact, on an issue of great
importance, the President in office would convene a meeting of the past
Presidents to ascertain their views and seek their guidance. Although the
President of the Society is elected every year, he invariably enjoys the
blessings of elders in the Society.
This process of selecting/electing a leader has been
continued as per the previous tradition in a healthy manner even in the last
decade. There are some people who could look at this as imposition by the
seniors. In fact, in some quarters, BCAS is described as a closed door joint
family and people believe that it is difficult to get an entry into the
family. I would refer to BCAS as a closely-knit family. The door is always
open to those who wish to devote time and energy for the cause of the Society.
Views differ. The outcome for the last 60 years is for everyone to see. You
cannot think of becoming an office bearer or the President of the Society,
unless you have put in an active association with the activities of the
Society at least for a period 10 years. The process of selection has always
made equitable choices to give leadership to this organisation. There could be
aspirants, but they have to follow the process.
As a result, some persons who deserved to be Presidents may
not have made it to that position. Fragrance of a flower is enjoyable; but
some flowers have the fortune of becoming a garland for the God, some do get
an opportunity to be in close proximity of women, some flowers spread their
fragrance in the nature and fade away in the evening. This is life. Late Jal
Dastur in my view deserved to be the President of the Society. He contributed
to the journal very regularly. He was one such person who would read the
journal from line to line and also point out any shortcomings. He would also
contribute papers for the prestigious RRCs of the Society. He died as a result
of a tragic accident in the year 2005. It is one of those cases of a flower
which spread its fragrance in a very different way. He lives in the hearts of
our members and the interaction with him will always remain etched in memory.
I am recording below and recognising and felicitating our
Presidents in the last decade. The BCAS respects and acknowledges their
contribution for the cause of the Society.
