A small success story..
I belong to the small village named Pimpali in rugged mountains of Jawali, Satara. They say soft places make soft people. I had a privilege to grow up in a rugged land of great Maratha warriors and the greatest king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
I belong to the family of farmers and it makes me even more proud to share my story. Few years ago I had started a journey. A journey that engrave the words "Chartered Accountant" before your name for the rest of your life. It was a huge challenge for an average student who studied in vernacular medium(Marathi) till 12th standard. It seemed like it was too big a dream and intimidating at that time. Lot of people doubted and I don't blame them since nobody over there had ever pursued it before.
But I had a dream!!! I was taught to dream big all the time. I believed in my idols. I went to the great school "Nav Maharashtra Vidyalaya Shivnagar, Raigaon." This school instilled in me the undying will to succed, work ethic and killer instinct to see it through. These qualities stood by me throughout my career and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.
I had cleared my first CA exam in very first attempt and it all started on a positive note. But as I prepared for the course further, I realised the real strength and self discipline it takes to achieve one of the most prestigious degrees in the world. This course tested my competence and patience to its core. I failed in the second exam and then it all started to get challenging. My hard work was not enough and it pushed me to raise the bar again and again. I kept doing it and cleared both the groups of CA Inter at the same time.
In finals the course was even more demanding and it kept beating me until I did even small things right. ICAI, the second largest accounting body in the world which conducts CA exams does not discriminate on the basis of caste or socio-economic background. It beats you every single time you make a mistake, every single time you don't give your best. Merit is the only thing that matters and it takes everything you have to achieve the supreme goal.
I kept pushing myself with faith and there were no limits to the long hours of work that I invested in me. With guidance of all my wonderful teachers I made value additions every single day and finally today I passed both the groups of CA final at the same time. Failures in my life made me who I am today.
Today my journey has met its destiny and I am a proud CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT.
I want to thank my younger brother Girish who stood by me like a rock. I'm grateful to my parents, teachers and all the people who believed in me and supported my endevour.
I know there is a young kid out there in village like mine who has dream in eyes. I just want to say to him/her "go for it". Embrace your dream and do not let anybody ever tell you that you cannot do something!!! No matter where you came from, you can always make a difference if you just believe in yourself. Failures will be there but it will always be better to fight and lose than not to fight at all. And I promise you, one day will come and you will be victorious, your hardwork will pay off.
My success is dedicated to all the hardworking students from rural India and to the sacrifice of their parents. I am sure those talents in our villages if nurtured well are going to make our great country the best place on the earth.
CA Ashutosh Babaso Shinde
JAI SHIVRAY!!! JAI HIND!!!
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