The Hindu Business Line : At the forefront of the world accounting scenario

KINGS usually have a bad habit. They want their visitors to heap praises, ad nauseam. Thus, after tonnes of adulatory phrases, there would be a short message, more muttered under the breath, such as that there is severe famine and people are dying.

Perhaps, the Institute is no different. Its recent Jaipur conference, "addressed by luminaries from all parts of the world", had a "major heartening feature" in the form of "tribute paid to the Indian accounting profession and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India by speaker after speaker, from Mr Rene Ricol, the President of the International Federation of Accountants, Mr Robin Harding, the President of the Confederation of Asian Pacific Accountants, to Mr Badruddin Fakhri, President of the South Asian Federation of Accountants, and a host of others from all parts of the world," as the president's message on the ICAI's Web site would inform.

Rajasthan Governor too "referred to the rich heritage of the accountancy profession in India". To almost force one to reach for some salt to pinch, the ICAI vice president also chipped in by pointing out that the conference "will be written in golden letters in the history of the Institute."

To add, "the content and quality" of the conference were "mesmerising". Blame it on the ambience, food or just the general mood, but it looks like everybody gets carried away by the occasion.

Thus, "just as our country as a whole is taking great strides in the economic field, the Institute also has taken a number of very important steps for keeping our members in the forefront of the world accounting scenario," the prez would write in his sedate message. But don't look back to check if you are in the front, because for all you know you may be at the tip of a precipice, wherefrom even looking down would be a folly.

When our team can go to Pakistan and play cricket, why not send our apprentices to other countries? Thus, "the spirit of internationalisation" is catching up, so "it has now been decided that students should be allowed to undertake articled training up to a maximum period of three months with members of other SAFA bodies." And SAFA is short for South Asian Federation of Accountants. It is rumoured that somebody is mooting the idea of creating sports teams with so much of `pencil-feed' available in the form of captive articled clerks.

Another brainwave is to rope in CAs who are "at the helm of affairs." Thus the president feels "there are sound reasons to encourage the formation of two separate guilds, one of the CEOs who are members of the Institute and other of the CFOs who are members of the Institute, from the top 500 listed companies." They won't be discussing golf and clubs, but giving "views/ inputs and suggestions".

It looks like a pipedream when you read that "they can also be involved in the strategy evolving process of the Institute in an appropriate manner."

Even if they were all loyal to their alma mater and gave ideas, one wonders how the Institute would be able to give a shape for all such. "And from the Institute's side, it would be possible to recognise their status/stature in a befitting manner." Smacks of scratching their backs, deep and clear.

AccountSpeak@thehindu.co.in

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