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Category: Past Editors’ Musings

BCAS – Volunteering – Making a Difference

CORE OF VOLUNTEERING IS TAKING VOLUNTEERING TO THE CORE

RAMAN JOKHAKAR

Chartered Accountant
(Editor from August 2017 to July 2022)

 

I was requested by the Hon. Editor of BCAJ, Dr CA Mayur B. Nayak, to write a musing on volunteering. What a fabulous subject! It is inspired by the BCAS theme of this quarter, Change — Leaders — Charity. In our profession, we are used to quarterly themes that are about guidance on profits or Sarkari announcements on tax collection data and so on. To have the theme of Change — Leaders — Charity is unique. I have taken some of the outline points given by the Editor, as subheadings, and shared my thoughts on them.

Association with BCAS: Many members after becoming Chartered Accountants are told by their mentors / parents / principal to become a BCAS member. So was I when my father asked me to enrol as a life member immediately after the results.However, my association was much before that. My father was the president of the BCAS in 1971–72. I was born in 1972. Growing up, I had heard many stories from the times he used to be a member in the early days of the BCAS. The Bulletins and other material used to get posted from our office for some time. The Union Budget copies, that were brought from Delhi by evening flight by seniors like the late Shri P. N. Shah, were copied (it wasn’t as easy as today) and circulated the next day. I had heard stories of how seniors gave generously their time and some big names of today didn’t help the Society. I had heard from him stories of how elders mentored a younger president half their age. One story in particular is of Shri P D Kunte, who gave office property to the Society in its early days. And I thought to myself, what goodwill must be in it, apart from his generosity. Stories of people, who said they will work but won’t take a position in management. It seems that ordinary people do extraordinary things through volunteering. Many unique personalities simply worked for the love of it — expecting close to nothing and building professional camaraderie that lasts a lifetime. Even in those days when life was much more severe and funds were lesser, hearts were larger. As I grew up, I had heard stories like these more than once.

As a young person / article student, I remember visiting some BCAS members like the late Shri Ajay Thakkar (then Editor), whose office was a few blocks away. So as a young man, I felt, when I grew up, I would like to be like that! I resonated with the culture and spirit of the BCAS. People thought of the Society as their own and they belonged to it.

After qualifying, Shri Ajay Thakkar (Editor, 1990–2000) took me to the Core Group in the Journal Committee. At some point in time, I was given the opportunity to co-author a compilation feature called Miscellanea. In those times, committee meetings were ‘full house’; discussions went from words all the way to their essence. Members of the committee had vast experience, whereas I was the least experienced. Mostly, I was a spectator, amused, and often sensing my ignorance while hearing people talk at those meetings. I remember that everyone around wanted to make things better — do more to achieve that. This connected me more to the Society.

I remember one Chartered Accountant member told me that his son doesn’t want to do any FOC (Free of Cost) work, so he didn’t associate with the BCAS much. But I had volunteered all my teens and early 20s as a student. Serving without expectation of reward — often called seva — was a part of life, in that way I studied and also served on weekends and holidays. Some of that non-professional work — seva — was the best education that I have ever received. So, I associated with BCAS in a similar way.

As an office bearer and later as BCAS president, I got to work closely with many people. There is nothing more valuable than working with bright people in a voluntary setting. Once, I saw Shri Narayan Varma, who was suffering from cancer, come straight from the hospital to BCAS to attend an important meeting. And I thought BCAS was really close to his heart. I got to see numerous perspectives from people — how they thought about matters of the Society. How people disagreed. How consensus was the mode of operation. How long-term thinking was part of the system. People always think about how a decision can become a precedent to deal with in the future. Culture and quality were more important than numbers. How politics was kept at bay and those who worked were taken ahead. As office bearers, the president paid for the snacks at OB meetings and that as office bearers, we wouldn’t take any ‘benefit’ except tea / coffee from the Society. I thought some of these were priceless standards and were higher than written ones. I also saw some people treat BCAS work as a top priority, while others took it as secondary. Some wanted to get some standing, some were there to share their stand on matters, and most to help others stand straight and tall.

Volunteering has been like standing on a tower built by so many, for so many, and seeing what it does, what it can do, and giving shape to it. I feel it’s inside out though, and only a reflection of your commitment to what you value most.

BCAS is important to my mind. An association outside a Statutory Body, such as ICAI is very important. The government can take over statutory bodies and influence them. Voluntary bodies are outside that ambit of direct control. And, therefore, have a role of their own to be a free voice that is clear, non-partisan and not be a wah wah party and instead boldly make observations and recommendations. It takes generations to build such bodies. I saw people who would be invited to places to speak. But they always kept BCAS in the forefront as a flag bearer more than themselves. Time and even money would be theirs, but credit went to BCAS.

Role as Editor: I think each role during my volunteering journey has only gotten better. The last role as Editor was the most gruelling for its length of five years, its daily focus on dealing with monthly plans and the sheer responsibility it carries. Yet, it was the most rewarding.

For one, I didn’t know that Editors mostly had a Co-Chair, etc., with them in the past. So in ignorance, I carried on solo as Chairman and Editor. But never felt for a moment like that as all the Editors before me were available to help. It felt like they saw me as them continuing in some sense and taking the Journal further. It was perhaps the most enriching and transforming time after being a Core Committee member to Managing Committee member to an Office Bearer. One thing I learnt by writing an Editorial every month was that I had to think more. I had to hit the nail. I couldn’t disregard what was happening in the profession like NFRA, Expert Committee Report, to Self Regulation and so on.

It was also exhilarating to execute some projects, which were spoken about but couldn’t get done for years (like Views and Counterviews or Surveys). As a comparatively younger Editor, I had to meet the expectations of the past Editors, who were always watching over and also looking out for me. There was freedom with scrutiny. The 50th year of the Journal was truly a ‘golden’ year for me to work as Editor.

I think volunteering gives meaning to the words ofSt. Francis of Assisi — “it’s in giving that you receive”.To deliver consistently without missing a beat changes you. To me, the desire to make something better than the way you received it, makes one better than what one can ever be!

Balance of personal, professional and BCAJ Life: As a president, I worked out regularly. I just kept that promise of being healthy and fit. In fact, I did a session or two with BCAS staff on fitness, which they still remember. However, it meant, I had to work longer at night and early mornings. I would call focus as against balance alone. One had to be sharper on time and priorities. Personal life does take a toll.

As Editor,you have to sign off the final 130 pages on a certain day, no matter where you are and what you are doing. I have cleared the Journal from California to Palawan in the Philippines, from a hospital room during my father’s surgery during COVID to being in bed while I was hit by COVID. Journal comes with you like the tagline of a mobile network ad – wherever you go, the Journal follows. First, it seems like a responsibility, but after a while, you take it as part of your life! However, with age, perhaps priorities and, therefore, time giving changes — one has to spend time on health, taking care of older parents, etc., and, therefore, BCAJ life has to get budgeted somewhat after more than 25 years of volunteering!

Challenges of Editor:It’s a stream of challenges as I said before. Monthly timelines that cannot be breached as a starter! Then, there is creative challenge and administrative challenge too. You are responsible for both content and production. BCAJ gives a mix of articles every month. Rejection of articles is another challenge. Review of every article takes 30–45 minutes to suggest changes and do justice to a volunteer who has written and sent it. Yes, there are several reviewers; however, the Editor has to take the call and own up to that call. Often one has to talk to authors to shape a piece. Keeping the team in good humour is also a challenge when susceptibility to micro errors is a looming risk. I always was keen to expand the scope of the Journal with cartoons, surveys, a few features, adding technology and practice management into the index. These things take effort and constant dialogue with those who would contribute. Any activity that is outcome-based is always challenging. But it also makes you gather all your strengths and deliver. One has to live with the motto: You’ve got to do what you need to do in the time you’ve got.

Benefits of being Editor: You are in charge like a pilot, but also carry responsibility for 60 months, in my case. You see details with a sharper focus and also see the whole magazine with a broader vision. The Journal is the key deliverable of the society, and it is not outsourced. You have to think for months ahead. Arrange meetings to gather ideas and craft their implementation. You often get flack as there are people who may not agree with a view. You often get admiration and pats for expressing what people believe to echo their own voice. I would have never learnt to write very tightly, with more meaning than words if I were not Editor. The ratio of meaning to words should always be more than 1. I read so much almost daily. During the COVID lockdown, we brought out nine Special Articles on the impact of COVID. Creative benefits are perhaps the biggest benefit — to envision and roll out by taking everyone along.

Message to young writers: Editorial on Writing  which is a summary of much I have read on writing says it. One of the best ways to hone thinking is by expressing thoughts in words. Writing is the test of thinking. If you use AI for writing originally then your NI (Natural Intelligence) will vanish. Your own expression opens you to your core. It is not just writing about what is known, or compiling things succinctly, but often putting forth words that will awaken a ray of new meaning in the reader she never came across.

Peculiarity of BCAJ:There are a number of them.

a.    BCAJ is one of the first aggregators in professional journals — an aggregator of articles.

b.    A reader gets multiple viewpoints. One reads from a number of practitioners who bring their experience across.

c.    Broad spectrum collection of ideas and analysis from several fields is important as specialisation has limitations.
d.    I have seen BCAS would like to validate the integrity so far as possible of people who write and speak — intellectual and other perspectives.

e.    Some features collect the best reads and present it succinctly.

f.    It’s a great read for 30 days till you receive the next one.

g.    Reader develops analytical aspects, as she reads well-analysed topics.

The list is long!

Youngsters and BCAJ: It is not the age, but what a generation looks up to. If you admire a king — then you will be a warrior and a benefactor of people. If you admire a thinker — then you will be a thinker. It is all about values. I feel values are shaped much differently today, due to wide exposure. Often the shaping is less as there is way too much information that is worth nothing. For example, all the politics you see on TV for hours in a week often is just indigestion. So exposure to society, peers and what one seeks will decide whether they will be attracted to reading, to going deeper, rather than be a ‘consumer’ and ‘enjoyer’ — but more of a learner, going deeper. For every generation, their role models change. Money is quite central today for more and more people! It all depends as I like to say — do you want to create a great balance sheet or a great profit and loss? Reading creates that biggest asset — YOU — which falls in the balance sheet category.

A key value is gathering expertise in one’s own field — to go to the bottom of things. Rather than buying from a consultant, and ‘consuming’ it, one would be better off ripping off information and connecting it to the situation. Some of what we read is not of immediate ‘use’, but I have seen it come in handy at some time when you have to connect many dots. The way the mind works is if you have a great wealth of knowledge and experience, you will make better decisions. There is a saying the eyes cannot see what the mind does not know.This is not taught in school and college, but one understands with time and inclination. In the beginning, it is towards one specific / chosen field, but then it becomes a trait where we learn to go deep and cut the crap in most situations.

Unique experience during Editorship: I saw some people were always so helpful, always so available. I saw others who won’t respond to a missed call (I am sure they did if it were a client). You see an array of professionalism.

The experience of imagining, designing, shaping the Journal during the 50th year was amazing. We had so many ideas that were generated at the first level. And then, we had to churn and arrange them sequentially. We had some great articles come forth. Ashokbhai Dhere wrote about two previous colleagues in the committee and three past Editors. Dastur Saheb gave an article for the opening journal. Interviews with Mr Y. H. Malegham, Zia Mody, Ishaat Hussain, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, and more. It was a treat to work on how to draw the most from the time we got from luminaries.

Well, one cannot ignore goof-ups. Although I shouldn’t share all, here is one: During Mr Malegham’s interview, he received a call, and I fiddled with the phone that was recording to not record his conversation on the phone. After his call, I missed switching on the recording. I realised that part of the interview was not recorded after reaching the office. Mr Malegham was kind enough to get it typed and send answers to some questions after we sent him what we remembered from memory!

Everything expanded my ability to take on a lot and do what had to be done. It is great to be a mascot for something like the Journal. Two editors after my tenure told me that honestly, they were not sure whether I would be able to cope when I started. But they were pleasantly surprised at the end about the work that was done.During some part of my tenure, we got one Chartered Accountant member to draw cartoons as it was his serious passion. And in a few years, we had more than 200 cartoons in the Journal, which often spoke more eloquently than words would. These are some creative, memorable elements!

At the end of my tenure, I received letters from seniors like Dastur Saheb, stating that “I always look forward to reading your editorials – they not only comment on the most recent and topical matters but were very educative”. I think a pat on the back from seniors you look up to growing up, is a memory for the keeps.

I wish to end with what Richard P. Feynman said decades ago: “The only way to deep happiness is to do something you love to the best of your ability.”And if something you love is something that you believe to be greater than you, then the happiness is 10 times more!

1      Editorial, June 2022, BCA Journal

BCAS – Volunteering – Making a Difference

Dear Readers, BCAJ has completed over five decades of its illustrious journey. Publication of a monthly professional journal is a task in itself, as it entails wholesome responsibility and requires total commitment. BCAJ has had 10 editors so far. As the BCAS is celebrating its 75th year, it would be interesting to read what some of the editors have to share. In tune with the current Office Bearers’ Theme of “Change – Leaders – Charity” for the quarter ending December 2023, this issue carries a write-up by two of the editors who have shared their experiences of volunteering and leading the change. We hope that readers will find it interesting and youngsters will find it inspiring to volunteer with the highest degree of commitment and dependability.

SANJEEV PANDIT
Chartered Accountant
(Editor from August 2010 to July 2013)

 

I was aware of the Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society since my articleship and used to occasionally read a few articles from the BCA Journal. Soon after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, I became a life member of the BCAS. However, my association with the Journal began as the President of the BCAS in 2005–06. I was the Joint Editor from 2007 to 2010, with Gautam Nayak as the Editor, and then the Editor for three years from 2010 to 2013.

Once you become a part of the Journal team, the Journal actually grows on you, and even more, once you become its Editor. My immediate predecessor, Editor Gautam Nayak, is a person with mastery over the English language and is a voracious reader. It was a daunting task and a challenge to succeed him. But the support of the Editorial Board was always available.

At the start of my journey as the Editor, I was worried whether I would be able to identify appropriate topics for writing the editorial every month. But within a brief period, I realised that there were varied subjects, and it was an opportunity to share my views with the readers. I used to read with great interest the editorials of the late Ajay Thakkar, who was the Editor for about 10 years between 1990 and 2000, and that helped me in choosing topics for my editorials. I attempted to cover a wide canvas in my editorials by writing on wide-ranging topics such as the CA course and students, the introduction of Companies Act, 2013, retirement of Ratan Tata as the chairman of the Tata group, decision of the Supreme Court in the Vodafone case, Radia tapes, introduction of GAAR, plight of honest bureaucrats, reports of the then CAG Vinod Rai, Tax Accounting Standards, family-managed businesses, FDI in retail, etc. When readers appreciated an editorial or commented or responded by either supporting or countering the views expressed in the editorial, there was immense satisfaction and joy at having provoked thoughts amongst readers.

As the Editor, it was interesting to identify new authors and topics for articles. I recollect the article “Understanding Islamic Finance”. It was indeed a novel subject. Authors included a Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and a retired Income Tax Ombudsman, apart from Chartered Accountants. Some of the authors have continued writing for the Journal. Editing the contents, particularly the articles, was always a delicate task. One had to take care that editing did not result in changing the style or views expressed by the authors. It was an enjoyable task to work with some of the authors who produced interesting articles. An article would sometimes go back and forth multiple times before it was finalised. I also tried to introduce ‘blind-fold peer review’ for articles. As theEditor, I had to read all the contents thoroughly, which gave me an opportunity to study subjects which were not part of my core practice. Over a period, I earnedthe trust of many of the contributors of featurescovering the digest of cases, and they gave me a free hand to edit the material to bring out the ratio of a decision clearly.

Selecting the contents of the Journal is a balancing act. On the one hand, there is a temptation to lean towards content that is immediately useful for Chartered Accountants in practice or employment. Such articles and features are like digests and guides. No doubt they have utility and attract readership. On the other hand, there are articles which are thought-provoking, introducing a new thought or sharing the experience and result of research. I always thought that our Journal had features that fulfilled the need for digests and references, and the articles should cover more serious content, which would help the readers broaden their perspective. Some features like ‘Closements’ and ‘Controversies’ are analytical and thought-provoking. At times, one had to reject a ‘good’ article only because it exceeded acceptable length, even if it was to be published in parts.

The Journal required an editor to devote substantial time, particularly at the end of each month. One had to respect the deadlines and work on that basis. I recollect once I had plans to travel, and ‘the dummy’ of the Journal was delivered only at late night the previous day. I had to halt the car for over 30 minutes off the highway to convey the corrections and changes to the printer. The printer was new, and the coordinator was also not so familiar with the requirements. In the initial months, this necessitated spending much more time editing each issue of the Journal.

Several factors decide the success of an issue of any magazine, particularly a professional journal. The quality of contents, effective presentation, proofreading, pagination, placing of advertisements, error-free printing and timely delivery to the readers — all contribute to the success. Only when one can consistently bring out issues of a journal fulfilling various criteria, can the journal earn a reputation as a quality publication. It requires teamwork and co-operation of everyone involved. It is purely because of the dedication of the team that the BCA Journal has achieved its present position.

My experience as the Editor of this prestigious Journal was truly exhilarating, memorable and enriching. I continue my association with the Journal as a member of the Editorial Board. Maybe it is now time to make room for younger minds to lead the pack!

Past Editors’ Musings BCAS — Volunteering — Making a Difference

Dear Readers,

BCAJ has completed over five decades of its illustrious journey. Publication of a monthly professional journal is a task in itself, as it entails wholesome responsibility and requires total commitment. BCAJ has had 10 editors so far. As the BCAS is celebrating its 75th year, it would be interesting to read what some of the editors have to share. In tune with the current Office Bearers’ Theme of “Change – Leaders – Charity” for the quarter ending December 2023, this issue carries a write-up by one of the editors who has shared his experiences of volunteering and leading the change. We hope that readers will find it interesting and youngsters will find it inspiring to volunteer with the highest degree of commitment and dependability.

ANIL J. SATHE

Chartered Accountant

(Editor from August 2013 to July 2017)

The editor, Dr CA Mayur B. Nayak has requested me to narrate my experience as the former editor of The Bombay Chartered Accountant Journal (BCAJ). At the Bombay Chartered Accountants Society (BCAS), the request of the editor is a command and therefore, I had no option but to obey.

I joined the BCAS, soon after qualifying as a chartered accountant sometime in 1983. I was immediately attracted to the various activities of this Society. In those times, the sources of knowledge for a professional were limited and BCAJ was an extremely important one. To date, the Journal remains the flagship of the BCAS and is widely read and immensely respected by professionals.

I joined the Journal Committee sometime in 1992 and became its convenor in 1996. I had the privilege of working with persons who were titans in the profession. I must mention Mr. Narayan Varma, the publisher of the Journal for decades, whose enthusiastic and innovative attitude, I can never forget. In those days, the Journal Committee meetings that undertook a review of past issues were events we would look forward to — for collecting gems of knowledge and wisdom. I recall the analysis of the various articles and the precision of grammar explained lucidly by the Late Mr. Jal Dastur. His meticulous reading of the Journal was an experience which has remained etched in my memory.

I wrote my first article for the BCAJ in 1992. I was guided in that endeavour by a former editor, Ajay Thakkar. I remember visiting his office, where he critically examined the draft of every article. In that interaction, I learned to ensure the completeness of an article from him. Working with my predecessor editors was an enriching experience. Each one of them had their own working style and quality. Another former editor, Ashok Dhere, was a disciplinarian, and he guided me with his profound understanding that when you are acting as an editor, it is purely the stature of the Journal that should matter and not of the contributor. He was particular about the sequence of contents with a strict adherence to timelines. The Late Mr. K C Narang was an unassuming personality but commanded respect from the contributors of the Journal. He was a voracious reader and periodically used to send paper clippings on various subjects. Mr. Gautam Nayak, a dear friend, is a storehouse of knowledge. I have often referred to him as RBI, the lender of the last resort. He is a person we turn to when we face difficulty in the tax arena.

My immediate predecessor was Mr. Sanjeev Pandit. From him, I learnt the art of editing. He explained to me that an editor should never impose his thought process or style of writing on the author. While editing, one is to ensure that the flavour of the article and the author’s thought process remain intact. The editing process should not result in the article being rewritten by the editor in any way.

All the contributors to the BCAJ are volunteers and busy in their own professions. To ensure that the deadlines are met, an editor should always strike the right balance between exercising authority and tactful persuasion. Fortunately, virtually all the contributors, despite their busy schedules, used to fulfil their commitments on account of their love and loyalty to the BCAS.
An editor has to deal with both the aspects of the Journal: the substance and the form. I have spent long hours editing contributions I received just around the deadline. However, those late nights were an educational experience. I recall reading several articles in the Journal which were brilliantly written, and I had the privilege — being an editor — of reading them much before they were out before the general readership.

I am often asked by many youngsters why command over the language plays such a crucial role. This skill assumes importance when you are an editor. In a professional journal like the BCAJ, the sequence of material and the number of pages allotted are generally predetermined. A very lengthy contribution may disturb the balance between subjects. In the case of some features, if the author exceeds the predetermined length, content may spill over to the next page. In such a situation, a grip over the language enables an editor to edit the article without losing its meaning or flavour.

Another important aspect of the role of an editor is to ensure the correctness of all the material that goes into an issue. Normally, the editor would have the domain knowledge about one or two subjects. Regarding subjects covering other domains, one has to rely on other professional colleagues. In that regard, the editor of the BCAJ is fortunate as the Society has many stalwarts who are always willing to help an editor in distress. I experienced this while editing my last issue as an editor: the special issue of July 2017. The GST law came into force on 1st July, 2017, and the special issue contained all articles pertaining to GST. My domain knowledge is in direct tax, and I had to rely on my friends to ensure that this GST special issue came out on time whilst maintaining the quality for which it is known. I must express my gratitude to all the experts who helped me to make the July 2017 issue, a memorable one.

In conclusion, I must remind readers that the Society is celebrating its platinum jubilee. The BCAJ has always enjoyed a place of pride in the hearts of all my professional brothers. The editor, Mayur Nayak, often expresses concern that at times there is a dearth of quality articles. I would urge all my young friends to open their laptops and key in their thoughts. Your first foray may not find acceptance. But let that not disappoint you, for expressing yourself is also an enjoyable experience. Keep writing, and someday, you will find your name in print.

BCAS — VOLUNTEERING — MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Dear Readers, BCAJ has completed over five decades of its illustrious journey. Publication of a monthly professional journal is a task in itself, as it entails wholesome responsibility and requires total commitment. BCAJ has had
10 editors so far. As the BCAS is celebrating its 75th year, it would be interesting to read what some of the editors have to share. In tune with the current Office Bearers’ Theme of “Change – Leaders – Charity” for the quarter ending December 2023, this issue carries a write-up by two of the editors who have shared their experiences of volunteering and leading the change. We hope that readers will find it interesting and youngsters will find it inspiring to volunteer with the highest degree of commitment and dependability.

ASHOK DHERE

Chartered Accountant

(Editor from August 2000 to July 2005)

Dear readers,

Our present editor CA Dr Mayur Nayak is making all-out efforts to popularise the journal amongst young professionals, and it is certainly a commendable effort in this special year for our BCAS. He has posed certain questions, and my job is to provide precise answers to the challenges which the B.C.A. Journal is going to face in the years to come. My thoughts are based on his questions but expressed randomly.

1. Immediately after qualifying in the CA examination, I became a member of the BCAS, thanks to the initial guidance and encouragement given by the seniors and active members of the BCAS like Shri Vasantbhai Kishnadwala, who was my teaching staff colleague in N. M. College of Commerce. Both of us were part-time lecturers. My initial attraction to the BCAS was the BCA Journal, which used to give a variety of knowledge and information in capsule form and in a manner helpful to young professionals. My association, therefore, with the BCAS and the journal is over 50 years old. I was first a member of the library committee and then the journal committee sometime in 1974 and the association continues even today, and certainly, it was a pleasure to work in different capacities for the journal.

2. Recently, I read a book on the classic epic Mahabharata. It depicts various characters in Mahabharata from a hitherto unknown angle. The principal lesson that we learn from the book is that the characters in Mahabharat are eternal and depict the sociology and psychology prevailing then and how it is present even today and will also be there tomorrow. It further states that your character is your destiny. By nature, I love working in an academic environment and the BCAS and BCAJ as I see it, is engaged in imparting professional education on a continuous basis. My own character is suited to this environment, and hence, my association with the BCAS was influenced by my character, and that is destiny. Monetary consideration for voluntary work in BCAJ was irrelevant, and its absence was never felt. I was, and I am, a happy and willing volunteer. There was a feeling that we must actively contribute to the educational activity here, and it does benefit us in the long run.

3. An editor of a professional journal has a tremendous responsibility, and it also becomes a delicate task because the principal participants and the contributors are rendering service voluntarily without expectation of any monetary reward. You sacrifice your time and energy because you want to be a partner in a professional development process.

4. Balancing one’s own professional work, the BCAS work and time for family and personal duties is always a tightrope walking. However, this is not only true for CAs, but it is also applicable in all walks of life. How one tackles this depends on an individual’s character. The best thing to do is work with pleasure; if you do it with pleasure, work becomes worship and does not remain a mere idiom.

5. The editor is actively involved in coordination between various contributors, printers and reviewers in a time-bound manner, and it is a task by itself. Each one is hard-pressed for time. Besides general difficulties, there are hidden egos. To manage all this is really the job of an editor. Fortunately, during my term of five years, I got a printer in Madhav Kanitkar who was also a keen student of English literature. Some of us write in vernacular English, which may contain grammatical errors. Madhav used to correct all this without any grumbling or extra charge. Our contributors are all devoted and fine people, but in their busy schedules, maintaining timelines used to pose problems. An editor has to maintain the timeline and also take care of the mood of the contributors. In such a situation, as a human being, at times, he is likely to lose his cool. How to remain cool and how to avoid tensions are things which are not available by way of guidance anywhere, and one has to learn it the hard way, and the editor is no exception to it. He needs to develop that skill. You succeed many times by efforts, but failure also must be tolerated. When I took over the charge, because of a variety of reasons, the monthly posting of the journal used to be delayed. Through the combined efforts of all, I was successful in restoring the timeliness of the journal.

6. My benefit as an editor is my own satisfaction, nothing else. You come in contact with various authors and prominent professionals with whom you develop a good rapport, and you remain updated with professional knowledge, and these are incidental but valuable benefits.

7. I honestly believe that this message to a younger generation is meaningless. This young generation is far more capable and knowledgeable and are masters in this digital world. It is enough that we should give them a feeling that in case they have any difficulty, we are always available for help. Such an assurance, in my opinion, is good enough.

8. The peculiarity of BCAJ is its ability to project the Chartered Accountant as not only a taxing and ticking professional, but as an ‘Independent Business Economic Advisor’. In my opinion, it enhances the reputation as a learned professional. The nature and the contents of the journal are such that it gives us a bird’s eye view of various professional issues.

9. At my age and in the time period I worked as an active professional, voluntary work did give satisfaction and other incidental benefits. The mindset of the younger generation will be different. In a new environment, it is a matter of further examination as to how the younger generation looks at the whole profession. The approach has to be different, and there should not be a cause to grumble.
10. Artificial intelligence is a certainty of the near future, and it is difficult to envisage in what way it will benefit. However, I would like to go with a belief that yesterday was bright, but tomorrow is pregnant with a new hope and a new life which is going to be brighter. There is no point in blowing the trumpet of the past.

11. Attracting youngsters to the journal would be a two-way traffic. We have no other alternative but to make constant improvements in the journal because everyone accepts that change is the only thing which is constant.

12. My best regards and best wishes for the journal.

GAUTAM NAYAK

Chartered Accountant

(Editor from August 2007 to July 2010)

At the request of the BCAJ Editor Mayur Nayak, I have put down a few thoughts on my journey with the Journal, and in particular, my period as the Editor.

I became a member of BCAS immediately after my qualification in January 1986, at the urging of my father, who was also a BCAS life member. I had, of course, become a fan of the BCA Journal during my articleship itself and aspired to one day write for the journal, which I so much admired.

I actually started my articleship two and a half years after my graduation and was therefore keen to learn as much as I could to make up for the lost time, as most of my contemporaries had already qualified as CAs one year after their graduation. While I was initially associated with the Publication Committee of BCAS, I also used to regularly attend study circle meetings as well as lecture meetings, besides attending as many seminars as I could.
Sometime in the late 1980s/early 1990s, I was fortunate to be requested to write reports in the form of summaries of these study circle discussions and lectures for the BCA Journal. Since this was something I was aspiring to do, I gladly took it up, jointly with other members who used to then contribute to these columns. This also gave me the benefit of gathering together and crystallising my thoughts on the subject discussed and cementing my knowledge on the subject. That was how my initial association with the Journal began.

In April 1996, I got the opportunity to join Pradip Kapasi as co-author of the column, ‘Controversy’, beginning a long inning, with both of us continuing as co-authors of this column till today. Writing for this feature has helped me immensely. Reading all case laws on a controversy, analysing the conflicting case laws and then applying one’s mind to arrive at a conclusion, besides discussing the complex issues with my co-author — though all this took a substantial toll on my time, it helped me be prepared for any client advice or representation before tax authorities since I was already aware of the intricacies of issues involved.

I was fortunate to take over the role of Joint Editor of the Journal after my term as President of BCAS, with Mr K C Narang as the Editor, for a couple of years. While I managed the editing of the text and production of the Journal, it was a privilege and treat to see the innovative thoughts and ideas that Mr Narang would come up with for the Journal. Every week, I would get three or four press clippings from him, with some news and his thoughts on how we could build on that for the Journal.

I was then the Editor of the Journal for a period of three years, from 2007 to 2010, with Sanjeev Pandit as my Joint Editor. It was indeed a challenge to live up to the exacting standards set by my predecessor, Mr Narang. When I started off, I was fortunate to have an experienced printer of the Journal, Mr Madhav Kanitkar, who took great pride in ensuring that the final product came out almost perfect in terms of language and layout. BCAS also had a Knowledge Manager, who was a CA Pinky Shah. The experienced Editorial Board, with stalwarts such as Mr K C Narang, Narayanbhai Varma, Kishor Karia, Ashok Dhere, and an enthusiastic convenor, Anup Shah, made my task easier in the initial stages.

Throughout my period as President of BCAS and then Joint Editor and editor of the Journal, I also continued my role as co-author of “Controversy”. Due to this, I ended up spending a substantial amount of time on the journal as a contributor writing for Controversy, chairing the monthly Journal Committee meetings and the Editorial Board meetings, and actually editing the journal every month. I spent about 15 to 20 per cent of my work time on the Journal! Fortunately, since I was by then part of a larger firm, I had a team to support my client work and could afford to spend that time.

More than half a day of the last few days and the first couple of days of each month were devoted to journal activities — writing the editorial, reading the proofs of the full journal, checking the index, coordinating with the printer, etc. Fortunately, being a speed reader, I could achieve all this. I had to plan all my travel to ensure that I was in Mumbai at that time of the month. Many times, my personal time on weekends (Saturdays as well as Sundays) would be taken up by this work. However, I found it thoroughly enjoyable since I would read the journal from cover to cover and thereby enhance my knowledge in the process, too.

The biggest challenge during my period as an editor was sometime in October 2009, when the long-time printer of the journal suddenly disappeared, possibly due to his financial difficulties. For the next two or three months, the production of the journal had to be managed directly with the staff of the printer, who could fortunately still continue with the proofreading, printing and mailing. Simultaneously, we had to finalise a contract with an alternative printer. Fortunately, we were introduced to an experienced printer, Spenta Multimedia, by Shri Narayan Varma. Spenta took over from the February 2010 issue, and we could continue publication of the journal without a break.

Editing the journal was indeed an enriching experience for me — not only in terms of enriching my knowledge, but also learning from and interacting with other stalwarts, contributors and members with whom I worked as a team. I had to necessarily review material on all areas of professional practice and different laws. Often, I would look up the relevant case laws or subjects on Google to verify a proposition or statement made by an author, the correctness of which I was unsure. Ultimately, it was the reputation of the Journal for correctness that was at stake. Today that would be much easier for an Editor with the aid of Artificial Intelligence. In those days, a large part of the production process, particularly the proofs were sent across manually for verification. Today, newer technologies facilitate sharing and speedier processing of data, e.g., online storage on Google Drive or MS One Drive facilitates simultaneous editing of a file by multiple persons working on different aspects of the same article.
The Journal may, of course, have to change to keep up with the changing times. With the younger generation now reading most literature online, with time constraints, and the desire for precise and concise material on any subject, the Journal also has been seeking to meet the challenge by catering to both — its older readership, who still need detailed analysis of a subject in physical form, as well as the younger online readership, who are more comfortable with a shorter, online version. Increasing specialisation has also meant that, sometime in the future, one may need to consider breaking up the journal into parts, each part dealing with a particular area of practice. That would also, of course, perhaps need multiple Editors, each dealing with their own area of specialisation.

Being a part of BCAS over the decades has been a thoroughly enriching experience in terms of gaining knowledge and making friends with other professionals. My experience has been that, so long as one wholeheartedly and sincerely contributes, you get more out of it in return than the loss of time that you devote to supporting it in its activities.