Who Are You To Judge Me?

Who gave ICAI the right to judge me? No metaphors, no introduction, no digression, no reluctance to rely on clichés, no attempt to be diplomatic, no guilt of injuring emotions and absolutely to fear of saying things that would earn me the fury of all – this is the reality, the truth, the bare facts that glimmer before my eyes and I can take no more of this Atrocity. I have no clue how you are going to take this but as a blogger I feel obliged to write this article, duty bound to express my views and guilty of not having shared my thoughts on the matter so far.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) announced the CA Final Exam results a week back and that of CA IPCE just two days back revealing shocking figures. The pass percentage has dropped to a decade low of 3.11% from 10% last year. The grapevine informs that this is an attempt by the Institute to improve the quality of CAs. Others agree that by having reduced output the demand has increased. Apparently CAs are being offered better pay scale and all that hungama.

Let the institute do whatever it wants. ICAI is an independent organization with an undisputable and enviable reputation which flaunts to the world some of the finest members of the profession. It has its policy to implement, reasons to draft those policies and the rights to so. Period. No questions raised and no fingers pointed. But what irritates me is, and I tender no apologies for what I say or how I say it, WHY ARE WE BOTHERED ABOUT IT? I see brilliant people – Accountants, tax specialists, auditors who weave magic, experts in finance and Business management, people who have a flair for numbers and the charisma to lead, people who have earned deep-rooted respect from the clients they serve and people without whom the Engagement partner is helpless – I see these people struggle to earn a tag of two letters – C.A… and I ask – WHY?

Never give up! Success will be yours. One day you will achieve. Not now, but soon.  Failure is the stepping stone to success. Victory comes only to those who…. Blah blah blah…. Proverbs flood my Facebook wall during the months of January and July (that’s when the results are announced). To all those who shared the posts I reiterate the same with one addition – Choose your battles carefully.

Brilliant extra-ordinary, etc, etc, I have used those words to describe some of my friends who did not clear the exam. I shall use the same words to describe some of my CA friends too - some really inspiring dudes. I will also say that there are absolute duffers who didn’t crack the exam. And there are those, around each and every one of us, we have all seen them, some characters who make us wonder, “How in the name of Bloody Blundaleomite did this fellow clear his 8^th standard?” Look at me in the face and tell me it is not true? Tell me you haven’t met people and thought the exact same words only to have the shock for the day - “He is a Chartered Accountant!?”

Live examples of CAs reporting to non-CAs are aplenty. And even more are CAs who slog until they earn the tag. Devdas’ who yearn for their lost love and drown themselves in the ocean of “Never give up’s” and “Next time’s”. What is stopping a professional from going up the corporate ladder, or as a matter of fact, any organization? One needn’t “qualify”, to qualify as a professional. If you disagree, I lament – “O corporate jungle, Please lend your ears. Show some maturity and don’t bother who clears”.

There is a charisma. A charismatic curse that draws students towards it and behaves like a Venus flytrap. Once in, never out! Yes, yes, go ahead and say it, “You won’t understand!”, “It’s easy to preach”, “Say the same thing when your results come, kk?” True, emotions are overwhelming, defeat is tragic and repeating the effort is frustrating. But the fact remains that we are somehow stuck in the unhealthy chase for “C”. “A". The fact remains that this exam – or any exam for that matter, is only a test of your skill. A test. A test. One of the tests. One of the thousands of ways to find out if you are worth a job, worth a promotion. There are 999 others ways to show the world that we have the skill set but this truth is forgotten in the rat race. “Why should I qualify?” the question is never asked.

The irrelevance of exams, the flaws in our educational system, those are words too big for me to use I dare not venture there. But I have faith in the world. Economically speaking – The market knows the fair value of an asset. Don’t take this for a motivational session – it is not! I am not trying to motivate anyone and I am least bothered about how long shed your tears after the heartbreak of results. This is a social awareness… thingy.... kind of article. A playback of whatever Amir Khan said in 3 idiots. A blind hunger for an unworthy certificate. Yes, unworthy in the hands of a real Chartered Accountant, for he doesn’t need one to prove his worth. And yeah, a Chartered Accountant is an amazing human being – trust me, I see… Every day.

Wrapping up this article for the moment. Have loads more to write but since my exam due in another year I have tons to study. Notes to copy, problems to read, books to finish!

Love

P.S. Many Many Happy Returns of the day to my dear sister who celebrates her birthday on Feb 3 (tomorrow)! Love you ma!

P.P.S Advance Birthday Wishes to our dearest Super-manager who celebrates her birthday on Feb 3 (yes, tomorrow)! Love you too…