Category: Report

The 57th Residential Refresher Course (RRC) organised by the Seminar, Public Relations & Membership Development Committee (SPR & MD) held at Mahabaleshwar from 22nd to 25th February, 2024, marked another significant event in the annals of BCAS. Against the backdrop of BCAS’ 75-year journey, the 57th RRC embraced the theme of “Back to the Roots,” underscoring a commitment to foundational principles that underpin the BCAS’ ethos amidst evolving dynamics. Notably, this marked the 19th RRC hosted at Hotel Dreamland (coinciding with the Hotel’s 80th year) — a testament to enduring partnerships and shared milestones.

With 140 delegates from diverse regions across the country converging at Hotel Dreamland, the stage was set for an enriching experience over four days. The composition of attendees mirrored a balanced mix of youth, experienced professionals, and seasoned experts. This blend promised a diverse exchange of ideas and perspectives, enriching the collective learning experience.

At the inaugural session, CA Uday Sathaye, Chairman of the SPR & MD Committee, set the tone for the event by extending a warm welcome to all attendees and reflecting on the legacy of the past 56 RRCs. He shared nostalgic anecdotes about the long-standing association of RRCs with Mahabaleshwar and Hotel Dreamland. Additionally, he provided an overview of the program scheduled and various other statistics of delegates.

The inauguration witnessed the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the esteemed Chief Guest, Shri Harshu Ghate, alongside the Committee Chairman, Past Presidents, Office Bearers and Committee Convenors. Shri Ghate, a distinguished Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, who co-founded & established ESOP Direct as a thought leader & market leader, brought insightful perspectives to the forefront during his presentation on “CA Profession & Entrepreneurship.” His emphasis on cultivating a corporate mindset within firms resonated strongly, urging delegates to envision and build institutions with enduring value having separate identity from its founders which he aptly described as ‘infinite game.’

As the event was unveiled against the scenic backdrop of Mahabaleshwar, it served not only as a platform for knowledge dissemination and camaraderie but also as a celebration of the BCAS’ resilience and adaptability over the years.

The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Multi-Disciplinary Issues on Charitable Trusts’ that delved deep into the intricacies of charitable trusts, encapsulating a comprehensive 360-degree view on prevalent issues in Income Tax, GST, and Charity Law.

The session moderated by CA Mandar Telang and CA E. Chaitanya, provided a symphony of insights from CA (Dr) Gautam Shah, CA S.S. Gupta and CA Sonalee Godbole, addressed critical issues ranging from the application of principal repayments to the doctrine of Mutuality and the compliance regime applicable to Charitable Trusts. Past President CA Anil Sathe, the Chairman of the session, steered the discussion with finesse, supplementing the speakers with his expertise in direct taxes. As queries from participants punctuated the dialogue, the panellists adeptly elucidated each concern, leaving no stone unturned in ensuring clarity and comprehension.

The second day of the RRC witnessed a poignant exchange of ideas as members convened early for group discussions at various breakout venues led by group leaders CA Chaitee Londhe, CA Chintan Shah, CA Chirag Haraniya, and CA Manish Dafria. The focal point of these discussions were the thought-provoking case studies on ‘Taxation Issues in Respect of Non-Resident Indians’ curated by CA Kishore Phadke. In an atmosphere charged with intellectual fervour, participants delved deep into the nuances of the case studies, engaging in spirited deliberations and constructive dialogue. Case-studies in Direct Taxes is an annual feature of the RRC and is an endeavour to make it a great learning experience for all.

As the day unfolded, the RRC members navigated through a myriad of interesting dialogues as the group discussion was followed by the panel discussion on a very relevant topic- ‘Scaling up Professional Practice in a Challenging World’ that was enriched by the insightful contributions of distinguished panellists Past President CA Shariq Contractor and CA Milin Mehta, under the adept chairmanship of Past President CA Narayan Pasari, adding a touch of seasoned wisdom to the proceedings. The session, skilfully moderated by CA Sushrut Chitale, was marked by the exchange of intriguing experiences pertaining to the augmentation of CA practice.

The panel discussed strategies for CA firms to enhance market position and topics such as succession planning, the imperative of scaling up, partner remuneration structures, and others ensued. It was collectively acknowledged by the panel that there exists no singular correct approach to scale up and for a firm to work, and that varied strategies may be warranted based on unique circumstances. Furthermore, deliberations touched upon the significance of human resource management, effective delegation of tasks, and the willingness to part ways with clients not aligned with the firm’s vision or scale.

Following the panel discussion, CA Kishore Phadke offered elaborate responses for case studies concerning taxation issues for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) which were discussed by participant groups in the morning. Insights on interpretation challenges regarding split residential status, tax implications of work-from-home policies, taxation of unpaid salaries earned as a non-resident but received upon becoming a resident, ramifications under the Black Money Act, influence of citizenship on stateless individuals, taxation of passive income earnings for NRIs within the context of the India-UAE Tax Treaty, etc. were shared at length. This session was expertly chaired by Past President Dr. CA Mayur Nayak.

As the day moved ahead, participants across age groups engaged in evening leisure pursuits/ recreational activities such as cricket and badminton, fostering camaraderie and relaxation. The group later proceeded to the picturesque Mystic Valley for extended delight. Morning discussion groups transitioned into competitive teams for fun-filled activities such as hula hoop passing, dog and bone, and musical chairs, amidst the scenic backdrop of the sunset, accompanied by participant-performed songs;, the atmosphere was imbued with a sense of serenity and camaraderie, creating lasting memories.

The eventful day culminated with an engaging session featuring eight esteemed Past Presidents — CA Ameet Patel, CA Anil Sathe, CA Ashok Dhere, Dr. CA Mayur Nayak, CA Narayan Pasari, CA Pranay Marfatia, CA Rajesh Muni and CA Uday Sathaye; offering a unique opportunity for a reflective dialogue titled ‘Back to the Roots – A Journey Through Time’. During this distinctive tête-à-tête, they reminisced about their experiences attending, presiding over, chairing, and deriving value from RRCs. They shared insights into various aspects such as event statistics, amusing anecdotes, memorable moments, unusual participant requests, revered speakers, attendance records, inaugural years of participation, esteemed chief guests during their tenure, and cherished the RRCs. The session was orchestrated by Convenor CA Preeti Cherian.

After a day of bonding and networking, the third day commenced with intensive brainstorming at group discussions for case studies on Direct Taxation that enthralled participants on a Saturday morning. Divided into four groups led by group leaders CA Atul Suraiya, CA E. Chaitanya, CA Kinjal Bhuta, and CA Shaleen Patni, group discussions continued even during breaks, reflecting the delegates’ enthusiasm. CA Jagdish Punjabi’s meticulously compiled case studies on pertinent and complex direct tax practitioner challenges formed the centrepiece of these discussions. The dynamic discussions underscored the collective zeal to unravel complex challenges and chart a course towards innovation and progress.

The subsequent session featured a Paper Presentation titled ‘Global Opportunities for CAs in India’ with a specific focus on the USA and UAE, delivered by CA (Dr) Mitil Chokshi and proficiently chaired by Past President CA Ameet Patel infusing a dash of knowledgeable insights into the proceedings. CA Mitil elucidated on the multitude of opportunities available to Indian Chartered Accountants (CAs) for servicing clients in the UAE and USA. He provided a comprehensive overview of the process involved in establishing a practice in these jurisdictions, including insights into expected setup costs, types of services offered, and supplemented his discourse with pertinent case studies. Additionally, he articulated strategies for CAs to procure work in these domains, thereby encouraging diversification into new business lines and harnessing the vast potential inherent in non-traditional sectors.

Following lunch on the third day, CA Satish Shenoy delivered a compelling paper presentation titled ‘Internal Audit – Thriving in the Co-sourcing Space’, proficiently chaired by Past President CA Rajesh Muni. CA Satish adeptly emphasised the essential qualities and guiding principles for auditors, emphasising adaptability in the digital era, introducing the ABCD framework (Automation, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, and Deep Data Analytics).
His engaging presentation included insightful dos and don’ts of auditing, accompanied by humorous songs relevant to audit scenarios, keeping the audience captivated. Overall, CA Satish’s presentation effectively conveyed his vision for thriving in the co-sourcing landscape.

The third day concluded with leisure activities, as participants engaged in an exhilarating treasure hunt followed by indulging in some retail therapy and leisurely strolls along the lanes of Mahabaleshwar in the evening while relishing the strawberries and other delectable dishes. The evening culminated with a delightful gala dinner by the poolside, providing a perfect ending to the day’s events.

On Sunday, the final day marked the last technical session of the event, featuring CA Jagdish Punjabi’s discussion on the direct tax case studies. This session was chaired by Past President CA Ashok Dhere exemplifying his seasoned leadership. CA Jagdish’s thorough deliberation on the case studies, covering topics such as capital gains, exemptions under sections 54 and 54F, property redevelopment taxation, rectification proceedings, penalty provisions under section 270A, presumptive taxation under section 44AD, and revision proceedings under sections 263 and 264, provided a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act, 1961, akin to revisiting fundamental principles.

Overall, the breakout sessions served as crucibles of thought, igniting innovative perspectives, and fostering a culture of collaborative learning.

The 57th RRC also featured T20 sessions for the first time, inspired by the GST RRC, introducing a novel concept whereby first-time participants were allotted 20 minutes each to present on a topic. All three T20 sessions garnered positive reception from the audience.

Session 1 focused on “Financial Statements — a better way,” presented by CA Namit Bhambri. CA Namit elucidated on innovative techniques for enhancing financial statements using Excel efficiently. Additionally, he demonstrated SQL queries applicable in Tally software to facilitate effective management of ledger groupings during financial statement preparation.

Session 2 focused on “Recent Amendments in ITR Forms,” presented by CA Aditya Pradhan. CA Pradhan delivered a succinct and informative presentation regarding the latest amendments in the ITR forms, pertinent for the forthcoming tax return filing season.

In Session 3, titled “Unique Features of GST,” CA Payal (Prerna) Shah delivered an informative and comprehensive presentation highlighting key aspects of GST, providing attendees with valuable insights into the intricacies of the taxation system.

To commemorate the 75th year of BCAS, the office staff was graciously invited to Mahabaleshwar for a weekend getaway during the RRC. It was an opportunity for them to unwind, have fun, and finally experience firsthand the event they tirelessly work on but have never had the chance to attend.

The event reached its conclusion with Chairman CA Uday Sathaye delivering formal closing remarks. President CA Chirag Doshi extended his heartfelt congratulations to all participants for their contributions to another successful event, coinciding with BCAS’ 75th year celebrations. Reflecting on the recent three-day mega-conference, “Reimagine,” he fondly recalled the cherished memories and acknowledged the many unsung heroes who have played pivotal roles in BCAS’ journey. In particular, he highlighted the significant contribution of one such unsung hero — a respected senior gentleman, who generously contributed to BCAS including the 75th year as a gesture of giving back, citing how BCAS had played a crucial role in his formative years, attending the RRCs and learning from esteemed figures like CA Pradyumna Shah, CA Pinakin Desai and more. These experiences had greatly benefited him, honing his understanding, and instilling the confidence to develop a flourishing career.

As the event drew to a close, attendees reminisced about the fruitful exchanges and meaningful connections forged during the gathering. Delegates also provided heartwarming feedback and offered constructive suggestions. In celebration of the platinum jubilee of BCAS, attendees who had participated in 25 or more RRCs, as well as those under 40 who had attended five or more RRCs, were honoured with tokens of appreciation. The event exemplified a collective dedication to academic excellence and professional development. With hearts full of gratitude and minds enriched with new insights, participants departed, carrying with them not only cherished memories but also a renewed sense of camaraderie and commitment to excellence in their professional journeys. The contributions to the success of the RRC also goes to Convenors of the Committee CA Kinjal Bhuta, CA Manmohan Sharma, CA Preeti Cherian and CA Rimple Dedhia. We now move on till we meet next year for the 58th RRC.

BCAJ Admin

The flagship event of the Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS), the Residential Refresher Course (RRC), was held at Coimbatore or Kovai as it is called in the local language, from Thursday, 23^rd February, 2023 to Sunday, 26^th February, 2023..

The preparations for the RRC commenced in July 2022 with the formation of the Seminar, Public Relations and Membership Development (SPR&MD) Committee for 2022-23. Countless calls and meetings followed, even a recce to finalise the venue – after all, the 56^th RRC was a special one. The previous RRC (the 55^th RRC) had been a hybrid one (given that many of the participants were shy of travelling since the economy was slowly opening up after the onslaught caused by the global pandemic). The Committee was also conscious of the fact that they needed to deliver a program that was contemporary, relevant, and thought-provoking. The time-tested mix of panel discussion, paper presentations and group discussions were successfully adopted.

In Hindi, 56 is ‘chhappan’. The word evokes the memory of Chhappan Bhog, the special prasad offered to Lord Krishna during the Janmashtami festival. The preparation of the Chhappan Bhog is, by itself, an homage paid to the Divine. With great reverence and veneration, the bhog is lovingly cooked by the devotees with their hands – the rasas in the fingers slowly blending into the food. It is said that our five fingers have five rasas – sweet, salty, sour, spicy and savory. To the uninitiated, rasa is basically a source of emotion – it brings joy, brings back memories and opens up conversations.

To the participants of the 56^th RRC this year – 138 participants drawn from 20 states and 38 cities – the event was akin to a Chhappan Bhog. Many of these participants have been devout bhakts of this annual pilgrimage, and the RRC gave them an opportunity to rekindle old friendships and reminisce over the past editions. For the first timers, the RRC gave a chance to experience the charm and bonhomie of this much-awaited event. Another unique feature was the four couple participants.

The excitement in the air on the 23^rd February was palpable as delegates poured in from all corners of the country. Day 1 began with the inaugural session, with the CA Kinjal Bhuta, Convenor, SPR&MD Committee, welcoming everyone CA Mihir Sheth, President, BCAS officially opening the RRC. This was followed by an address by CA Chirag Doshi, Vice President, BCAS who spoke about the benefits of groups, associations, and local communities in the profession. CA Narayan Pasari, Chairman, SPR &MDSPR spoke about the relevance of the RRC, selection of its venue, detailed schedule and statistics of the RRC. The esteemed Chief Guest and Past President, CA Uday Sathaye, regaled the audience on the previous RRCs and how his involvement over the past decades has taught him precious life lessons, which have in turn contributed to his professional successes as well. He further noted how his passion for BCAS has led him to be crowned with the moniker, ‘BCAS che ladke vyaktimatva’ (the lovable personality at BCAS). The inaugural session was also graced by the presence of the Past President of ICAI, CA G Ramaswamy and the Officer Bearers of The Auditors’ Association of Southern India (TAASI) and SIRC members.

The inaugural session was followed by the curtain-raiser, the presentation paper on the contemporary topic “Handholding Startups – An emerging area of practice” by CA Eshank Shah. The session was chaired by CA Priya Bhansali. This was followed by a group discussion on “Case Studies in Direct Taxes” which saw the break-out groups discuss threadbare challenging and compelling case studies.

Day 2 saw the break-out groups continue their deliberations, followed by the erudite Adv. K.K. Chythanya who discussed the intricacies of the case studies at great length. The session was chaired by CA Phalguna Kumar Enukondla. Post a sumptuous lunch, the eager delegates set out to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva at the Perur Pateeswarar Temple. The temple traces its origins to the 2^nd century CE, making it one of the oldest temples in the state and also India. This was followed by a visit to the Isha Foundation. Thanks to local participant, CA V Ramnath, both the visits went off smoothly. A special mention must be made of the Coimbatore team of Yuva participants, ably led by CA R Harish, who took it upon themselves to assist all the other delegates during the entire visit.

Day 3 witnessed the participants appreciate the complexities in the paper presentation on the topic “Additional Reporting Intricacies – Special focus on CARO, IFC & NOCLAR” by CA Mohan Lavi, ably chaired by CA Zubin Billimoria. Post lunch, the break-out groups gathered for yet another stimulating group discussion on the topic “Case Studies in penalty and prosecution in Direct & Indirect Taxes”. The evening ended with an engrossing brains trust session on multi-disciplinary areas of practice. The intellectual team comprising Past President CA Anil Sathe, CA Chinnsamy Ganesan, CA Rutvik Sanghvi and Past President CA Sunil Gabhawalla had a very engaging discussion, where they presented their individual views on the case studies at hand. The session was ably moderated by CA Kinjal Bhuta and CA Mandar Telang. The evening ended with some first-time participants sharing their feelings about the RRC. Post dinner, the young at heart and in age found themselves on the dance floor, grooving to the beat of the music which transcended all borders.

Day 4 commenced with Adv. Raghvan Rambhadran giving his replies on the topic, “Case Studies in penalty and prosecution in Direct & Indirect Taxes”. The session was chaired by CA Sanjeev Lalan. This was followed by the Presentation Paper, “Practice Automation Tools” by CA Druman Patel, ably chaired by CA Chirag Doshi. In the concluding session, Chairman Narayan Pasari once again acknowledged all those who had worked towards delivering a successful RRC, especially Committee member and local participant, CA Priya Bhansali who played an active role in making all the logistic arrangements. Apart from others, the ever energetic four Convenors – CA Kinjal Bhuta, CA Mrinal Mehta, CA Manmohan Sharma, and CA Preeti Cherian deserve credit – they were ably guided by Past President CA Uday Sathaye.

And as the curtains came down on yet another successful RRC, one was reminded of the passion that courses through the veins of the die-hard RRC fans, and the beautiful doha composed by the 15^th century mystic poet and saint, Kabir:

“कबीरा कुंआ एक हैं, पानी भरैं अनेक। बर्तन में ही भेद है, पानी सबमें एक।।.”

 Meaning –

Kabira, the well is but one, from which many draw water,

Only the pots differ, the water they hold within is the same.

In the context of the RRC, the ‘well’ can be likened to the inexhaustible source of knowledge that the BCAS is – where the thirsty gather and meet; the ‘pots’ represent the diversity among the participants – drawn as they are from different corners of the country; and the ‘water’ is the knowledge that the participants and stakeholders of the RRC partake and emerge invigorated with.

shailesh.kwebmaker

There were two sets of stars at the launch of the Golden Jubilee issue of the Bombay Chartered Accountant Journal (BCAJ) – on the one hand were five young music students at the Symphony Orchestra of India, NCPA, and on the other hand were stalwarts who had consistently contributed to the Journal for decades.

The glittering event was held on Wednesday, 6th March, 2019 in the C.K. Nayudu Hall of the Cricket Club of India and attracted a full house of office-bearers, eminent chartered accountants, committed contributors and unabashed admirers of the BCAJ. When the special commemorative issue was formally released, there was prolonged applause, bursting of balloons and a shower of confetti.

BCAJ Editor Raman Jokhakar, who was the master of ceremonies, started by welcoming the guests and introducing the young musicians at the ‘Birthday Celebrations of the BCA Journal’. First off, Gauri Khanna played Air Pergolesi and Dance Jenkenson on the cello. She was followed by Pranaya Jain on the flute rendering Rondo Mozart. Leah Divecha on the violin and Tivona Murphy D’Souza (D-Bass) rendered the popular Bollywood number “Senorita”. And Sangeeta Jokhakar ended the performance with a Bollywood medley and a cavatina by J. Raff on the violin. The budding, young musicians (some of whom will become the stars of tomorrow) and their teachers were felicitated with bouquets and mementoes.
Next, Raman invited the chief guest, Sunil Nair, Mumbai Resident Editor of the Times of India and BCAS President Sunil Gabhawalla to the dais. He stressed that the purpose of the celebration was to honour and acknowledge those who had contributed to the BCAJ for long and enabled it to reach the fabulous figure of fifty. He also quoted Steve Jobs who had said, “One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are.”

Thereafter, the President spoke about the service provided by the Journal and acknowledged the scores of dedicated people who had nurtured it for years. He then introduced the chief guest.

Sunil Nair, who spoke on the “Future of the Print Media”, gave a brief and informative talk. He spoke about similarities in the roles of auditors and the press. He stressed the need for independence of media and also spoke about the future trends in media by embellishing his points with statistics.

He was astounded by the fact that the BCAJ had been published without a break for fifty long years and depended totally on subscriptions. Another unique achievement was that it was being brought out by chartered accountants who stole time from their professions to publish it on a voluntary basis. Warming up, he was candid enough to admit that although The Times of India was the biggest English language newspaper in the world, of late it had slid to the third position overall in terms of copies sold in India. The first two positions were now held by Hindi news dailies and the Times was no longer the highest-selling daily in the land. The silver lining, according to him, was that overall the circulation of newspapers in India was on the upswing – whereas in the rest of the world it was seeing a pronounced fall.

In other words, he stressed, the printed word still carried weight, and although television, the internet and other electronic forms of dissemination of news were becoming popular all over the world, they had still to make any huge impact in India. This was probably because of the late “blooming” of the Indian economy. Nair’s talk was well received and he was presented with a memento by Vice-President Manish Sampat.
Raman then spoke about the early days when editing DID NOT involve backspace, select, delete, cut, copy, paste. He stated that instead of a big bang special issue, the Editorial Board had decided to carry Golden Pages throughout the year which contained Interviews, Views and Counterviews and Special Articles (32 in number) amongst other regular features.

Just before the release of the last issue of Volume 50, past Editors Ashok Dhere, Gautam Nayak, Sanjeev Pandit and Anil J. Sathe along with Editorial Board members Kishor Karia and Anup Shah were invited to be part of the team to release the special issue. The twelfth issue of Volume 50 was then released by them.

The next segment consisted of honouring the Editors and the authors, writers and columnists of existing features. Raman started off with the words of Khalil Gibran: “You give little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” What Gibran meant was giving of one’s time, because one’s time was one’s life. He also spoke about the past eight Editors and acknowledged the presence of the family members of the Late B.V. Dalal, the Late Ajay Thakkar and the Late Narayan Varma who served as Publisher for a long time. He also regretted the absence of K.C. Narang who was indisposed on that day.

Four past Editors, Ashok Dhere, Gautam Nayak, Sanjeev Pandit and Anil Sathe, were felicitated by the chief guest with a special memento designed for the event for their diligent, meticulous, persistent and focused contribution to the BCAJ. The words on the mementoes read: “In appreciation of your long and outstanding contribution to the BCA Journal…”

There was special applause when President Sunil took the mike in between and requested the chief guest (himself a resident Editor) to present a trophy to the BCAJ Editor, Raman.

In a touching gesture, Raman did not overlook those of his predecessors who were no longer with us. Thus, bouquets were presented to Mrs. Dalal, Mrs. Thakkar and Mrs. Varma, spouses of late Editors and Publisher.

Moving on, Raman spoke about a set of Japanese people called TAKUMI, which stood for artisans. This word could be written in many different ways in Kanji characters and each one of them gave different meanings – adroit, eminent, clear and so on. It is said that the intensity of the Takumis’ work borders on obsession – they are precise, absorbed and meticulous. These people are real experts. One of their characteristics is – Ganbaru – or to persevere, to stay firm by doing one’s best, with obsessive attention to detail. All of this is considered to be a unique talent in Japan.

The twenty five feature writers of the BCAJ, he stated, are perhaps best described by these two words: They are “Takumis” or artisans whose hands dance and flow in concert, designing and creating a new form each month.

Each of the features was introduced with a brief history, how it was curated and who were the people who wrote them. Each of the feature writers was then presented with a trophy as a mark of appreciation and regard for their consistency, quality and length of voluntary service to the Journal. It was notable that some feature writers had been contributing for more than 30 years on a monthly basis.

In an interesting twist, the trophies were not presented by the chief guest or by the Editor. Rather, the past Editors and President were called upon to make the presentations. Editor Raman, who compered the event, included not only facts and anecdotes during the presentations, but also sprinkled a fair dose of humour on the proceedings. He requested Gautam Nayak to present the trophy to the other Nayak — Mayur. Similarly, one Anil (Sathe) was asked to present a trophy to another Anil (Doshi). A round of applause greeted Anup Shah when Raman pointed out that when he had started off as a contributor, he was called CA. Anup Shah, but after nearly two hundred columns he had now become Dr. Anup Shah.

The presentation included a specially-designed trophy to all the regular contributors who had been writing for more than five years for the features concerned. Each trophy contained a sketch of the feature writer himself, along with a citation mentioning the feature. More than 40 trophies were ready for distribution.

Raman also recognised those involved in bringing out the Journal : V.K. Sharma, the Knowledge Manager, and Ms. Navina Vishwanathan, the Assistant Knowledge Manager, Anmol Purohit and the BCAS team. The printers, M/s Spenta Multimedia, were also present and each of the team members was acknowledged with a round of applause.

And then it was time to cut the ceremonial cake. It was a huge cake, to put it mildly, and it required the efforts of Raman, Sunil and some of the past Editors to cut it. The icing on top of the cake was designed to look like the cover of the issue that was released on the occasion.

Apart from the Editors, office-bearers and authors, the C.K. Nayudu Hall also saw the presence of some of the chartered accountants whose absorbing life stories featured in the article “Kaleidoscopic View” in the Golden Jubilee issue. Among them were Motichand Gupta, now Senior Manager for Taxation with Ion-Exchange (India) Ltd.; Ms. Nandini Shankar, CA, violinist and music teacher; Kisan Daule, who established his own practice after serving Transworld Shipping for 20 years (he retired as Senior GM); and Brij Mohan Chaturvedi, who is the third generation in a family having five generations in the CA world (he was accompanied by his granddaughter Tina, who is the fifth-generation CA in the Chaturvedi family).

A sumptuous repast was laid out for the guests who partook of it with great delight. As the eventful night came to an end, the hosts and the guests headed home carrying pleasant memories of an evening well spent.

shailesh.kwebmaker