The author elaborates on his friend and mentor, Raghu Pikale, a chartered accountant and a person who believes in giving back to society
He was born 72 years back in a nondescript village in Karnataka. But, he chose Goa as his ‘karmabhumi’. What a choice it was. Today, this Chartered Accountant in practice Raghu Pikale commands the largest number of partners (CAs) and employees. As many as 98 Chartered Accountants have passed from his office (trained by him) in his Panaji, Ponda or Margao offices.
Today he has the most enviable clientele representing maximum high net worth people and also last 7 Governors of Goa. Indeed a formidable financial powerhouse of Goa. His son CA Vinesh and daughter in law CA Priyanka and partners form a rock solid second line of leadership in his organisation. Admirably Vinesh has carved out his own independent name over the years and is a leading practitioner on his own.
Over to Pikale’s trailblazing social work. Since 1984, he has been the elected Chairman of Goa State Co-operative Housing Finance Federation Ltd. This federation has financed homes of hundreds of people by way of inexpensive and easy loans. He was the Vice Chairman of National Co-operative Housing Federation of India, New Delhi. He has drafted Goa State Co-operative Societies Act, and also rules/byelaws for housing societies. He has served on the Finance Committee of Goa University. He was treasurer and later Vice Chairman of Red Cross Goa. He is President of Kanara College Society which runs 7 colleges. Pikale painstakingly mentions that founder President of this society was Dr. A.V. Baliga who played some role in the liberation of Goa. He has been honorary auditor and tax consultant for temples, muths, churches, social organisations and charitable institutions.
And what is his advice to run a successful profession? “It is important to serve a client competently, rather than with expectation of reward or fees”
“You have to be accessible to the client 24 hours and in person at the time of emergency”.
He says that a professional should be one step ahead of his competitors. He adds: One has to take care not only of the clients but also of employees/trainees etc.
While dealing with CA students who train under him, he keeps 2 things in mind:
1. They have come to him to learn and graduate as CAs.
2. They could be more intelligent than him.
In particular, how does he take care of the clients? He ascribes three qualities: Truthfulness, dedication and competency.Always advice the client what is the law and consequences of not following the same. One must always update one’s knowledge by reading, discussing, attending seminars and adding more intelligent and young partners.
Coming from a poor agricultural family, Pikale knows what deprivation is. Hence, he believes in returning the debt to the society through the means in which he is an expert – the co-operative sector. He did not feel it necessary to join any club etc. to serve the society. He is a prolific donor and was one of the highest donors for office premises of Goan CAs at Patto Plaza.
Happily married to Shrudha, a simple, religious, compassionate lady (as I have seen personally), he lives in Caranzalem.
I have known this powerhouse of finance since 1980. I have seen his magnetic smile and willingness to do monumental hard-work which has not diminished with age. He is always ready to help the needy and the poor. May God give him many more years of fulltime practice and social service. Goans, at large, will agree with me.
