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Saturday, August 22, 2009

We At Kolhapur Branch!

It is always interesting to peep into the history of an organization. More so, when it is located at a historical place like Kolhapur. The Maratha dynasty of Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur came into existence by the Treaty of Krishna River in 1766. The correct written and printed history of Kolhapur can be read into Major Graham’s treatise named “The Principality of Kolhapur” published and printed in 1854, almost 155 years ago. Major Graham has elaborated the then existing systems of economy, finance and financial supervision (auditing) in his exceptional writings. Can we call the system as the foundation platform of current day system?

In more recent times, i.e. after independence, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India came into existence in 1949. It is said that Kolhapur had four eminent ‘Registered Auditors’ or R.A.s then, three of them known and remembered by name and one unknown, who may have drifted elsewhere. One out of them, late C.A. R.B. Bhagwat went on to become the first chairman of duly established Kolhapur Branch of W.I.R.C. in 1981. Though the Kolhapur branch was established in 1981 on reaching a topographical number of fifty chartered accountants, it would be interesting to note that its seeds were sown much earlier. In 1972 the local chartered accountants under the advice of late C.A. Anil M. Parikh, then central council member decided to form and formed an unregistered “Kolhapur Chartered Accountants’ Society” on completing a number of twenty five members. The inauguration of the said society was done in 1972 at the hands of late C.A. Shyam Argade, Central Council member at the premises of College of Commerce, Kolhapur. Late C.A. Dadhe, W.I.R.C. member from Pune graced the function. Another very interesting event that took place at the same time and venue was forming of the “C.A. Students’ Association.” This was painstakingly formed by students Shri Sharad S. Samant and Shri Deelip V. Phadnis, both senior practicing Chartered Accountants of today. Unfortunately, both these associations ceased to function after few years of existence.

When the number of Chartered Accountants in Kolhapur reached a threshold limit of fifty in 1981, the ICAI awarded the branch to Kolhapur, which was inaugurated in the late 1981 at the hands of then WIRC chairman CA Rusi Karanjia, Mumbai. Late CA R.B. Bhagwat became the first chairman of the new branch. Shri. Sharad S. Samant played the role of master-of-ceremony at the inaugural function. That is how the Kolhapur Branch came into existence. It had members of Kolhapur and Ichalkaranji in its fold. In about 28 years time, the number of members has increased by almost six times to 300 plus. So far, the Kolhapur branch has worked under 19 chairman, CA P.G. Diwan occupying the coveted seat for longest period from 1985 to 1993.

Presently, CA Umesh J. Powar is acting as the chairman of the branch. The branch had its ups and downs, but, can boost of numerous achievements under its belt. It hosted 4th Sub-Regional Conference at Panhala in 1999 under the chairmanship of CA D.S. Patil and 13th Sub-Regional Conference at Kolhapur in 2005 under the chairmanship of CA Girish A. Samant. It was a proud moment for the branch when for both theses years the branch was awarded the status of “Most commendable small branch of WIRC” by the ICAI.

Besides those SRCs the branch organized two TAXCONs and numerous other professional programes, seminars and conferences for the benefit of members, students and the public at large.

The student activities have increased manifold in last few years with almost 2,000 students pursuing the CA course in the region and about 500 students appearing for the examinations conducted at Kolhapur centre, which started conducting CA examinations at Kolhapur in 2000 as an accomplishment of strenuous efforts of local CAs under the chairmanship of CA N.T.Jadhav. Also in August 2008 under the Chairmanship of CA F M Mulla the Kolhapur branch started a full fledged Information Technology Training Centre under the auspices of ICAI.

The annual family gathering and sports boots are much awaited events by CAs, their family members and students.
Irrespective of its erstwhile laurels the branch is still devoid of its owned premises and is making every effort to establish it at earliest opportunity. Under the able guidance of representatives at Central and Regional levels, the Kolhapur branch is trying to reach higher summits in professional excellence in coming times.

1 comment:

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