Here is my journey from the small village to the chairman of one of the biggest branches of ICAI in the financial capital of India. Fighting tough times, overcoming fears, failure, and then qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. It was a roller coaster ride that helped me to fulfil my dreams.
I was born and raised in a very small village in the Shekhawati region of Mahansar (Dist Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan), with my parents and two sisters. Everyone’s economic and life situation is unique, from belonging to humble family background, my father was a supervisor & he was away from home for 9 months in a year for earning a livelihood. Thus the entire burden to look after our day to day activities was on my mother shoulder. I have very closely observed her with how difficulties she has raised all three of us. She always focused on our studies & aspires us to be good in academics. She knew the importance and power of education. On the other hand, I also wanted to become something in life, so that we can live together happily. It’s very true – You don’t need motivation from outside to do anything, it comes from within, and when you are in such kind of situation, you are fully charged up to do something and prove yourself.
I still have the memories in my mind, walking 7-8 Kilometers if I missed the last bus for school. I did my schooling at Ruby School and Bal Vidya Mandir Niketan Ramgarh, I was a mediocre child with a burning desire to learn. In 2005 after completing my 12’th our entire family left the comfort zone and came to the dream city of Mumbai so that we can pursue higher education.
I joined Abhinav Vidya Mandir College, on the first day when I went to college and entered the classroom. After seeing my colleagues the way they communicated I felt so insecure. I was weak in English, I was not able to understand what my teachers were speaking. Now here comes the biggest challenge of my life that is English communication, which made me so nervous and literally demotivated me and I got a fever for a week. At That moment I felt all left alone, scared, and had an inferiority complex. I was in such a dilemma that I didn’t know what to do and how I can sustain myself without English. Then I thought of leaving Mumbai as it was difficult for me to survive.
But my mother and family stood as strength of pillar and they supported me to overcome this barrier and encouraged me not to give up. That was the day when I decided to turn my every failure into a big success. I started putting in my 100% efforts, as an outcome, I got 3rd rank in my second as well 3rd year of graduation in my college. It boosted my confidence.
These lines motivated me:
जीवन मे सबसे बड़ी ख़ुशी उस काम को करनें में है, जिसे लोग कहते है कि आप नहीं कर सकते।”
Unaware about the CA course till the second year, destiny had other plans for me. In the third year, through a friend, I got to know about the existence of the CA course. I thought, if I came this far and can be a rank holder despite being from a Hindi medium, then I can also become a CA. That is how my journey as a Chartered Accountant began.
In my CA journey, I faced two challenges first finance and second connections. During this phase, my elder sister wedding was there. And I had to fill the CPT registration form, I didn’t have enough money. Words can’t express the difficulties we faced. Then I and my sisters broke our piggy bank and collected money for my CPT registration form. Finally, the CPT was registered. Then for my education, I started doing part-time jobs to complete my further studies.
But that is not the end of the struggle here comes my second challenge, where I actually got to know the power of networking. Being completely new to Mumbai I didn’t have any sources or connections. So there was nobody to guide or mentor me under where I should do my articleship. It was a very difficult situation for me. But finally by the grace of “Salasar Balaji,” I got my way and after a few days, a friend of mine recommended a CA Firm “K.B. Mistry & Associates”. From childhood, I had full faith in Salasar Balaji. Whenever I feel hopeless, he showed me the way. I always thanks him for everything in my life. Realized that how important it is to have good communication and contacts in life. You know adversity in life teaches you a lot and I believe whatever happens in life prepares you for the next challenge.
The ultimate passion or aim in my life was always to be together and get over the financial problems so that we can all live happily. When I used to get up to study at 3 am in the morning, it used to come to my mind that there should be a bigger house than this, and we all should be together. Finally, the happy moment came to my hard work paid and with distinction in 4 subjects I finally become a Chartered Accountant in 2013. It was a proud moment for me and my family because I am the first Chartered Accountant from my village.
“WHEN THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY”
As soon as I became a chartered accountant, the very first thing I did, I ask my father to leave the job and stay at home and take care of his health. But destiny had a different plan, my father became seriously ill and it took two years of medication and hospitalization to recover from spine surgery. And at that time my family wanted me to get married. So this way my married life and father’s illness occurred together. At that time my wife Deepika Tiwari even though being a newly married bride she supported me fully in taking care of my family. She always stood by my side and became a pillar of strength. Finally with the blessing of god my father recovered
Initially, I did my first job to get financial stability but back in my mind I always wanted to be an entrepreneur as it is in the blood of Marwari, I left the job and started my practice in the name “Abhishek S Tiwari & Associates”. As soon as the practice began, I started meeting the people and at that time elections were also approaching and I decided to contest for the election. By the grace of Salasar Balaji, I contested in the election of Vasai Branch of WIRC of ICAI and with a good number of votes, I won and also become the chairman (2021- 2022). While serving the positions I also get a few accomplishments, some of them are.
- Best Citizen Reporter Award from Times of India Group (Nav Bharat Times).
- Author of Publication of Bank Branch Audit of 2021
- Got more than 15 Certificates / Medal / Awards from various Prestigious Institutes.
- Conducted highest CPE Hrs during my Chairmanship tenure in Vasai Branch of WIRC of ICAI (95,000+ and counting)
- Organized National Conference for CA Members with Highest Record 7500+ Members Participation.
- Initiative for Inauguration of Accountancy Museum of India by Gracious hands of President of ICAI CA Nihar Jambusaria & WIRC Chairman CA Manish Gadia at Vasai Branch Premises
My only motto in life is to serve people in need and help them as much as I can.
The mentality on which I strongly believe, and follow is “If you will not help yourself, no one else is going to help you.” Your background or birthplace doesn’t define your success; it is your zeal to achieve things which defines your Success.”
These are the few lines which always inspire me.
पाना है जो मुकाम वो मुकाम अभी बाकी है ,
अभी तो आएं हैं जमीन पर ,
अभी आसमान की उड़ान बाकी है ,
अभी तो सिर्फ सुना है लोगों ने मेरा नाम ,
अब इस नाम की पहचान बनाना बाकी है ..