A Cup of Tea, a Dose of Courage
Sometimes, inspiration doesn't come from seminars or textbooks - it quietly brews in the middle of our busy professional day, between one GST opinion and another half-drafted reply to a show-cause notice. In our office, the Service Tax and GST Division is not only unified but also the largest and most dynamic wing, operating independently from the traditional Accounting and Auditing Division. It's a world of its own - filled with notifications, clarifications, and that daily race against deadlines.And while many offices rely on coffee machines for refreshment, we rely on someone far more special - our most popular and soft-spoken peon, Shameem Ansari Ji, whose freshly prepared tea is known to dissolve stress faster than any statutory relief ever could. It was during one such tea break that a small spark of conversation turned into a wave of reflection.
Having written books on Service Tax and GST for Chartered Accountants and Advocates for over two decades, I've realised that while laws teach us compliance, life teaches us courage. That Monday afternoon, when my colleagues - CA Amit, CA Rohit, and CA Pooja - and I gathered around Shameem Ji's steaming cups, a casual mention of the old advertisement line "Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai" started it all. We laughed at first, but within minutes the laughter turned thoughtful.Because fear, we realised, is not limited to tax litigation or departmental notices. It exists in every bold decision - whether in business, relationships, or personal growth. That day's discussion, which began with tea, turned into a heartfelt conversation about courage - and the seven real-life stories that prove that beyond every fear lies a victory waiting to be claimed.
- कहानी 1 - श्रीरमनकपूरजी (Atlas Footwear)
(From Helper to Brand - A 1985 Turning Point)
CA राजजग्गी:मेरीपहलीकहानीमेरीपत्नीदिवंगतरेनूजग्गीजीकेबड़ेभाईश्रीरमनकपूरजीकीहै।उन्होंने 1970 केदशककेअंतमेंआगराकीएकप्रसिद्धजूतेकीदुकानमें helper केरूपमेंकामशुरूकिया।सुबह-सुबहदुकानखोलना, ग्राहकोंकोसंभालनाऔरशामको retail दुकानोंतक delivery पहुंचानाउनकारोज़मर्राकाकार्यथा।My first story is of my late wife Renu Jaggi Ji's elder brother, Shri Raman Kapoor Ji. In the late 1970s he began as a helper in a well-known footwear shop in Agra - opening the shop early, attending to customers, and making evening deliveries to retail stores as part of his daily routine.
CA अमित:सर, दिल्लीका connection कैसेबना?Amit: Sir, how did Delhi enter his story?
CA राजजग्गी:अच्छासवालअमित।उनके employer उन्हेंअक्सरदिल्लीभेजतेथे - ladies' footwear कीखरीदारीऔर supplies final करनेकेलिए।उन frequent visits नेउन्हेंदिल्लीकेबाज़ारका first-hand ज्ञानदिया - कौन supplier genuine है, कौन-सा design चलताहैऔर payment terms कहाँबेहतरहैं।CA Raj Jaggi: A good question, Amit. His employer often sent him to Delhi to purchase ladies' footwear and finalise supplies. Those frequent visits gave him first-hand knowledge of the Delhi market - which suppliers were genuine, which designs sold well, and where payment terms were most favourable.
CA पूजा:यानीदिल्लीउनकेलिए training ground बनगई?Pooja: So, Delhi became like a training ground for him?
CA राजजग्गी:बिलकुलपूजा।वहाँउन्होंने market कोबारीकीसेसमझाऔर confidence पायाकिएकदिनअपनाकामशुरूकरेंगे।लगभगछहसालकेअनुभवऔरसाहसिकसोचकेसाथ 29 मार्च 1985 कोउन्होंनेअपनेबड़ेभाईश्रीरविकपूरजीकेसाथमिलकरनईदिल्लीमें "Atlas Footwear" केनामसेअपना wholesale business शुरूकिया।Raj Jaggi: Exactly, Pooja. There he studied the market closely and developed the confidence to one day start something of his own. After nearly six years of experience and bold determination, on 29 March 1985 he and his elder brother Shri Ravi Kapoor Ji jointly launched their wholesale business in New Delhi under the name "Atlas Footwear."
CA रोहित:सर, शुरुआतमेंकितनीचुनौतियाँआईं?Rohit: Sir, what challenges did they face initially?
CA राजजग्गी:बहुतसी - capital कीकमी, competitive marketplace और retailers से payment recovery कीदिक्कतें।परदोनोंभाइयोंने discipline कोअपनाधर्मबनालिया।उन्होंनेपहले 25 वर्षोंतक "no-holiday policy" अपनाई - नारविवार, नात्योहार।हरदिनदुकानखुली, customers केसाथ personal bond बनायेऔर service मेंकोईकमीनआनेदी।CA Raj Jaggi: Many - lack of capital, a highly competitive marketplace and difficulties in recovering payments from retailers. But the two brothers made discipline their creed. For the first twenty-five years they followed a strict "no-holiday policy" - no Sundays, no festivals. The shop was open every day, they built personal bonds with customers and never let service falter.
CA अमित:क्या family कासहयोगभीमिला?Amit: Did the family also contribute?
CA राजजग्गी:हाँअमित। 1990 केदशककीशुरुआतमेंउनकेछोटेभाईश्रीप्रेमकपूरजीभीव्यापारमेंशामिलहोगएऔरपूरीलगनसे elder भाईयोंकासाथदिया।औरसबसेखास - उनकेपितादिवंगतश्रीमनोहरलालकपूरजीने advanced age मेंभीइनदुकानोंके accounts और record-keeping कोबेहदनिष्ठासेसंभाला। ledger balancing, cash reconciliation और daily bookkeeping - सबउनकाध्यानरहताथा।उनकी meticulous accounting ने business को stability दी।Raj Jaggi: Yes, Amit. In the early 1990s their younger brother Shri Prem Kapoor Ji also joined the business and supported his elder brothers wholeheartedly. Most significantly, their father the late Shri Manohar Lal Kapoor Ji meticulously managed the shops' accounts and record-keeping even at an advanced age. Ledger balancing, cash reconciliation and daily bookkeeping - he oversaw it all. His meticulous accounting gave the business vital stability.
CA पूजा:तोउनका secret क्यारहा?Pooja: So, what was their secret?
CA राजजग्गी:बसएक pattern - consistency, integrity और hard work। Delhi का firsthand market knowledge, लगातार service और 25 सालकी "no-holiday" अनुशासनने Atlas को Delhi के wholesale market मेंएकविशेषस्थानदिलाया।इनसबनेदिखायाकि fear को discipline मेंबदलनाहीअसलीजीतहै।CA Raj Jaggi: A simple pattern - consistency, integrity and hard work. His first-hand Delhi market knowledge, consistent service and the 25-year "no-holiday" discipline gave Atlas a distinct place in Delhi's wholesale market. All this proved that converting fear into discipline is the real victory.
कहानी 2 - श्रीअवतारकिशनकपूरजी (Galaxy Footwear)
(From Sales Boy to Founder - Early 1980s Journey)
CA राजजग्गी:दूसरीकहानीमेरेबड़ेबहूCA हरप्रीतकपूरकेससुरश्रीअवतारकिशनकपूरजीकीहै।वे 1980 केदशककीशुरुआतमेंदिल्लीआएऔरएकजूतेकीदुकानमें sales boy केरूपमेंकामशुरूकिया।उन्होंने trade केहरपहलूकोसमझा - market behaviour, design preference और retailer credit patterns।CA Raj Jaggi: The second story is of my elder daughter CA Harpreet Kapoor's father-in-law, Shri Avtar Kishan Kapoor Ji. He came to Delhi in the early 1980s and began as a sales boy in a footwear shop. He understood every aspect of the trade - market behaviour, design preferences and retailers' credit patterns.
CA अमित: Sir, फिरउन्होंनेअपनाकारोबारकैसेशुरूकिया?Amit: Sir, how did he start his own business then?
CA राजजग्गी:कुछवर्षोंकेअनुभवकेबादउन्होंनेअकेलेही "Galaxy Footwear" कीनींवरखी - limited stock औरएकछोटे godown सेशुरू।परउन्होंने procurement, accounting, delivery और payment collection तकसबकुछ single-handedly संभाला।वेहरमहीनेसमयपर Haryana, Punjab और Jammu जाते - supplies देनेऔर payments collect करनेकेलिए।उनकीमेहनतऔर personal connect नेधीरे-धीरे Galaxy कोमजबूतीदी।CA Raj Jaggi: After a few years of experience he founded "Galaxy Footwear" single-handedly - starting with limited stock and a small godown. He managed everything himself - procurement, accounting, delivery and payment collection. Every month he would personally travel to Haryana, Punjab and Jammu to deliver supplies and collect payments. His hard work and personal connections gradually strengthened the Galaxy business.
CA पूजा:इतनीमेहनतकेबाद scaling कैसेहुआ?Pooja: After so much effort, how did the business scale?
CA राजजग्गी:उन्होंने suppliers केसाथभरोसेमंद relationships बनाए, margins पर control रखाऔर small manufacturing improvements किये - design testing और quality checks।धीरे-धीरे demand बढ़ीऔरउन्होंने reinvest करके operations professional बनाया। Galaxy आजउस single-minded मेहनतऔरदेनदारीकापरिणामहै।CA Raj Jaggi: He built reliable relationships with suppliers, controlled margins and made small manufacturing improvements - design testing and quality checks. Demand grew gradually and he reinvested to professionalise operations. Galaxy today is the result of that single-minded effort and commitment.
CA रोहित:सचमेंप्रेरणादायक!Rohit: Truly inspiring!
CA राजजग्गी:हाँ - औरयहीसिखाताहैकिअकेले determined मेहनतसेभीबड़ाब्रांडबनसकताहै।CA Raj Jaggi: Yes - and this teaches that determined individual effort can also build a major brand.
कहानी 3 - श्रीइंदरबाजाजजी
(From a Small Family Factory to Industrial Growth - Late 1980s Onwards)
CA राजजग्गी:अबइंदरबाजाजजीकीकहानीकाविस्तारकरूँगा - क्योंकियहाँएकअहमबातसटीककरनीथी।उनकेपितानेशुरुआतमेंएकछोटा packaging tube manufacturing unit चलायाथा; इंदरनेउसीकोलियाऔरउसेनईसोच, process-upgrades और market linkages सेएकबड़ा enterprise बनादिया।CA Raj Jaggi: Now I'll expand on Inder Bajaj Ji's story - because an important clarification was needed. His father had started a small packaging-tube manufacturing unit; Inder took that unit and, through fresh thinking, process upgrades and market linkages, transformed it into a large enterprise.
CA अमित:सर, विस्तारकिसतरहकिया?Amit: Sir, how did he achieve that scale-up?
CA राजजग्गी:उन्होंने production efficiency बढ़ाई, selective machinery पर investment कियाऔर raw-material procurement centralise कियाताकि cost efficiencies मिलसकें।साथहीउन्होंनेworkforce training programmes शुरूकियेऔर product diversification परकामकिया - different tube sizes, custom-printing और better finishing।इन improvements ने pharmaceutical और FMCG clients केबड़े contracts secure करनेमेंमददकी।CA Raj Jaggi: He improved production efficiency, invested in selective machinery and centralised raw-material procurement to gain cost efficiencies. He introduced workforce training programs and worked on product diversification - different tube sizes, custom printing and better finishing. These improvements helped secure large contracts from pharmaceutical and FMCG clients.
CA पूजा:तोयेकोई overnight success नहींथी?Pooja: So this wasn't an overnight success?
CA राजजग्गी:बिलकुलनहीं।कईसालोंके incremental improvements थे - production schedules optimise करना, working-capital discipline रखनाऔर long-term supplier contracts करना।कभी-कभी liquidity squeeze भीहोंगे, लेकिनइंदरकी floor-level presence औरलगातारध्यानने business को regional औरफिर national supply chains मेंखड़ाकरदिया।आजउनकाव्यवसाय dazzling success बनचुकाहै।CA Raj Jaggi: Definitely not. It was years of incremental improvements - optimising production schedules, maintaining working-capital discipline and signing long-term supplier contracts. There were occasional liquidity squeezes, but Inder's floor-level presence and persistent focus took the business into regional and then national supply chains. Today his enterprise has become a dazzling success.
CA रोहित:पाठक्याहै?Rohit: What's the takeaway?
CA राजजग्गी:कि inherited assets को vision और persistent effort सेउठायाजासकताहै।कभी-कभीजीतनयानिर्माणनहींहोती - पुरानेकोनएतरीक़ेसेऊँचाउठानाहीसबसेबड़ीविजयहोतीहै।CA Raj Jaggi: That inherited assets can be elevated with vision and persistent effort. Sometimes victory isn't creating something new - it is elevating the old in a new way.
कहानी 4 - CA राजजग्गी (The Longest Race to a Dream)
CA पूजा: Sir, अबआपकीव्यक्तिगतकहानीविस्तारसेसुनिए - ख़ासकरवेबातेंजोआपनेबार-बारबताई: पिताकीअनिच्छा, रेनूजीकासहयोगऔरआपकी qualifications।Pooja: Sir, now please tell your personal story in detail - especially the parts you've often mentioned: your father's reluctance, Renu Ji's support, and your qualifications.
CA राजजग्गी:ठीकहैपूजा।मेरीकहानीसाधारणनहींथी।मेरेपिता, अपनेनिजीमतोंकेकारण, नहींचाहतेथेकिमैंकिसी professional course में admission लूँ।उन्होंनेकभीनतोआर्थिकऔरनही moral support दिया।परमैंनेअपनीइच्छा-शक्तिकोअपनासबसेबड़ा capital बनाया।Raj Jaggi: Alright, Pooja. My story was not ordinary. My father, for personal reasons, did not want me to pursue any professional course. He never provided financial or moral support. But I made my willpower my greatest capital.
CA अमित: Sir, शादीसेपहलेआपनेक्या qualify कियाथा?Amit: Sir, what had you qualified before marriage?
CA राजजग्गी:जबमेरीशादी 1993 मेंहुई, तबतकमैंनेCost & Works Accountancy (ICWA)कीपरीक्षाऔरCompany Secretaryship (CS)के Intermediate कापहलासमूह qualify कियाथा।बाकीसभी qualifications - C.S. Final, Chartered Accountancy (C.A.), M.Com.औरयहाँतककिB.Ed.कीपरीक्षाभीमैंनेशादीकेबादपूरीकी।B.Ed.मैंनेMewar Law Institute, Ghaziabadसे regular course केरूपमेंकीथी।यानीमेरीअसलीपढ़ाईतोविवाहकेबादशुरूहुई।Raj Jaggi: When I got married in 1993, I had qualified the Cost & Works Accountancy (ICWA) exam and the first group of Company Secretary (CS) Intermediate. All my remaining qualifications - CS Final, Chartered Accountancy (CA), M.Com., and even the B.Ed. examination - I completed after marriage. I did my B.Ed. as a regular course from Mewar Law Institute, Ghaziabad. In fact, my real academic journey began after marriage.
CA पूजा: Sir, यहतो extraordinary dedication है! शादीकेबादपढ़ाई manage करनाआसाननहींहोता।Pooja: Sir, that's extraordinary dedication! It's never easy to continue studies after marriage.
CA राजजग्गी:हाँपूजा, परमेरीपत्नीदिवंगतरेनूजग्गीजीनेहमेशामेरासाथदिया।उन्होंनेघरऔरबच्चोंकीसारीजिम्मेदारीअपनेकंधोंपरलीताकिमैंअपनेसपनोंकोपूराकरसकूँ।Raj Jaggi: Yes, Pooja, but my wife, the late Renu Jaggi Ji, always stood by me. She shouldered all household and childcare responsibilities so that I could pursue my dreams.
CA अमित:और B.Ed. कीपढ़ाईकैसे manage कीआपने?Amit: And Sir, how did you manage your B.Ed. studies?
CA राजजग्गी: (थोड़ीमुस्कराहटकेसाथ) वोसालमेरीज़िंदगीकेसबसेकठिनलेकिनसबसेअनुशासितसालोंमेंसेथा।मैंसुबह 7:20 बजेघरसेनिकलताथा, दोबसबदलकरलगभग 9:00 बजेMewar Law College, Ghaziabadपहुँचताथा।शामकोलगभग 5:00 बजेघरलौटता, फिररेनूजीकेहाथोंकीप्यारसेबनीचायऔरदेरसेमिलाहुआ lunch लेता।उसकेबाद 6:00 बजेसेलेकरआधीराततकअपने students की personal coaching classes लेताथा।(Smiling slightly) That year was one of the toughest yet most disciplined in my life. I used to leave home at 7:20 a.m., change two buses, and reach Mewar Law College, Ghaziabad, by 9:00 a.m. In the evening, I'd return home around 5:00 p.m., have my late lunch, and enjoy a wonderful cup of tea lovingly prepared by my wife, late Renu Jaggi Ji. After that, from 6:00 p.m. till midnight, I conducted personal coaching classes for students.
CA पूजा:फिरतोआरामकेलिएवक़्तहीनहींबचताहोगा, Sir!Pooja: Then you must have had no time to rest, Sir!
CA राजजग्गी:सहीकहापूजा।मैंलगभग 12:30 बजेरातघरपहुँचताथा, dinner करताऔरकरीब 1:00 बजेसोताथा।फिरसुबह 4:45 बजेउठकरअगलेदिनकीतैयारीशुरूकरदेता।सुबहअपनीदोनोंबेटियोंकोस्कूलबसस्टॉपतकछोड़नामेरारोज़का routine था - औरअगरकिसीदिनबसनआती, तोमैंखुदउन्हेंस्कूलतकपहुँचाताथा।यहकठिनदिनलगभगदसमहीनोंतकऐसेहीचले।Raj Jaggi: You're right, Pooja. I used to reach home at around 12:30 a.m., have dinner, and go to bed around 1:00 a.m. Then I would get up again at 4:45 a.m. to start preparing for the next day. Every morning, I dropped my two daughters at the school bus stop - and if the bus didn't come, I personally took them to school. This exhausting routine continued for almost ten months during the entire B.Ed. session.
CA अमित:औररेनूजीका reaction? कोईशिकायतकभी?Amit: And what about Renu Ji? Did she ever complain?
CA राजजग्गी: (भावुकहोकर) नहींअमित, एकबारभीनहीं।इतनीकठिनपरिस्थितियोंमेंभीउन्होंनेकभीअपनाधैर्यनहींखोया।हमेशामुस्करातीरहीं, motivate करतीरहीं।सचकहूँ, उनके never-die attitude और unconditional support केबिनायह journey अधूरीथी।(Emotionally) Never, Amit. Not even once. Despite such difficult conditions, she never lost her calm. She always smiled, always motivated me. Honestly, without her never-die attitude and unconditional support, this journey would have remained incomplete.)
CA पूजा: Sir, आपकीयहकहानीसचमुचप्रेरणादायकहै - sacrifice, strategy और steady work काअद्भुतसंगम।Pooja: Sir, your story is truly inspirational - a wonderful blend of sacrifice, strategy, and steady work.
CA राजजग्गी: (मुस्करातेहुए) हाँपूजा - औरयहीसिखातीहैज़िंदगीकिडरकोछोटाकरो, कामकोबड़ाकरो। Courage पर compound interest मिलताहै; जोडरको installments मेंचुकादेतेहैं, उनका success ledger हमेशाहरारहताहै।CA Raj Jaggi(Smiling) Yes, Pooja - and life teaches one simple truth: make your fears smaller and your work bigger. Courage earns compound interest; those who pay off fear in instalments keep their success ledger forever green.
CA अमित: Sir, you seem to find a legal solution under the GST Acts read with GST Rules for every client - क्यायही secret formula ज़िंदगीमेंभीचलताहै?CA Amit: Sir, you seem to find a legal solution under the GST Acts read with GST Rules for every client - is that the secret formula of your life too?
CA राजजग्गी: (हल्कीमुस्कराहटकेसाथ) ज़िंदगीकीबैलेंसशीटमें "Action" को debit करदोऔर "Excuse" को credit - फिरदेखो, "Profit of Success" अपनेआपबढ़ताहै।मैंनेहमेशायहमानाहैकिकिसीचमत्कारकाइंतज़ारमतकरो, बल्किखुदवोचमत्कारबनो।ज़िंदगीतबनहींबदलतीजबहालातबदलतेहैं; ज़िंदगीतबबदलतीहैजबसोचबदलतीहै।With a smile - In the balance sheet of life, debit your actions and credit your excuses, and watch your Profit of Success grow automatically! I've always believed that you should never wait for miracles - instead, become one yourself. Life doesn't change when situations change; life changes when our mindset does.
कईलोगसोचतेहैंकिकोईदैवीशक्तिआएगी, हमेंसहीरास्तादिखाएगी, औरसबकुछअपनेआपठीकहोजाएगा।परसच्चाईयहहैकिभगवानभीउन्हींकीमददकरताहैजोखुदअपनीमददकरनेकीकोशिशकरतेहैं।अगरहमहाथपरहाथरखकरसिर्फ "divine intervention" कीउम्मीदकरें, तोशायदभगवानभीमुस्कराकरकहे - "भाई, थोड़ातुमभीतोकोशिशकरो!"Many people believe that some divine power will appear, show them the right path, and fix everything magically. But the truth is - even God helps only those who first help themselves. If we just sit with folded hands waiting for divine intervention, perhaps even God would smile and say, "My friend, at least give it a try yourself!"
मैंनेहमेशायहसोचाहैकिजोलोगअपनेसपनोंकोपूराकरनाचाहतेहैं, उन्हेंइंतज़ारनहीं, प्रयासकरनाचाहिए।अगरआपलगातारकोशिशकरतेहैं, ईमानदारीसेमेहनतकरतेहैं, औरअंधेरेसमयमेंभीउम्मीदनहींछोड़ते - तोकिस्मतखुदझुककरआपकोरास्तादिखातीहै। Action is the best prayer, क्योंकियहभगवानकोयहसंदेशदेताहैकि "मैंतैयारहूँ, अबतूमेरासाथदे।"I have always believed that those who wish to fulfill their dreams should not wait - they should act. If you keep trying sincerely, working hard, and holding on to hope even in the darkest phases, destiny itself bows to show you the way. Action, I believe, is the best form of prayer - because it tells God, "I am ready, now walk beside me."
मैंयहभीकहताहूँकिजोलोगकुछनहींकरतेऔरसिर्फयहसोचतेरहतेहैंकिकोईऊपरसेचमत्कारहोगा, वेअपनीज़िंदगीकी steering किसीऔरकेहाथमेंदेदेतेहैं।जबकिअसलीचालकतोवहीहोताहैजोअपनेजीवनकीदिशाखुदतयकरताहै।हाँ, कभी-कभीरास्तेकठिनहोंगे, गड्ढेआएँगे, पर steering अगरआपकेहाथमेंहै - तो accident नहीं, experience होगा।I also say this - people who do nothing and merely wait for miracles are like drivers who hand over the steering wheel of their life to someone else. The real achiever is the one who drives his own journey. Yes, the road will have bumps and turns, but if your hands are firmly on the wheel, it won't be an accident - it'll be an experience.
यहीवजहहैकिमैंनेहमेशाअपनेजीवनमेंयहअपनाया - Act first, hope later. क्योंकिउम्मीदकासबसेअच्छाआधारखुदकीमेहनतहोतीहै।जोकोशिशकरताहै, उसेकभीअफसोसनहींहोता; औरजोकोशिशनहींकरता, उसेज़िंदगीभर "अगर" कापछतावारहताहै।इसलिएमेरेलिए "डरकेआगेजीतहै" सिर्फएकस्लोगननहीं, बल्किएकजीवन-सिद्धांतहै।That's why I've always lived by one rule - Act first, hope later. The strongest foundation of hope is one's own effort. Those who try never regret; those who don't try live forever with the regret of "what if." And that's why, for me, "Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai" is not just a slogan - it is a way of life.
जोडरसेलड़े, वहीजीततेहैं; जोकदमबढ़ाए, वहीपातेहैं।डरकेपारजोचला, उसेहरमोड़पररास्तामिलताहै।He who fights fear triumphs; he who steps forward attains.Beyond fear walks one whose every turn finds a way.
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