CA Daivajna & Co: 50 years of accounting and striking the right balance

BHARATI PAWASKAR | JANUARY 29, 2018, 07:13 PM IST



Some people exhibit die-hard spirit and a never-say-no attitude and these are the ones who reach to the top, with their dedication and perseverance. Ganesh Daivajna is one of these rare personalities who, despite utter poverty, hardship and lack of resources, rose to be the most respected chartered accountant in Goa, who is completing 50 years of his memorable journey in this profession on February 1.  

The founder partner of a CA firm, Ganesh Daivajna & Co, Daivajna recalls starting his practice in a small way on February 1 in 1968. His firm grew over the years and now comprises of chartered accountants and tax assistants providing services to individual clients, partnership firms, businesses, banks, public sector units and corporates.  

“We operate with a motto to maintain ethical, professional and technical standards by adopting quality control procedures,” shares Daivajna. Set up to serve clients of stature and profile, his office is staffed by a combination of local recruits and experienced personnel trained with them. In this way control is maintained over methodology and quality while capitalising on local business knowledge. Having rich experience in the field of taxation, accounting, auditing and management consultancy, the firm has earned a name of reputation in Goa and neighbouring states in the last 50 years.  

It was in January 2012, that Daivajna moved in his own office premises, ‘Ganesh Chambers’, designed and equipped with modern facilities and having scope for future expansion. Located in the heart of the commercial capital of Goa – Margao, this is probably the only CA office in the whole of Goa to have its own dedicated building.  

But this journey was not easy and Daivajna has an interesting story to tell. A humble Daivajna recalls in his book, “Born in 1939 at Aggargaon, a suburb of Gokarn in what today is coastal Karnataka (then Mysore) in a hand-to-mouth family, I had to fight against odds to pursue my primary education in Adnur. Having done my high school and college education in Hubli, I ranked second in PUC and fourth at BCom exam of Karnatak University, Dharwad - though it was extremely difficult to pursue education in those days.”   

After a battle to educate himself Daivajna found himself in Goa, when his part-time employer - a CA firm - assigned him the task of running a professional office here. After qualifying as a chartered accountant, he set up his own practice in a small office space with one employee in 1968. Since then Daivajna has developed his practice many fold and the present firm M/s Ganesh Daivajna & Co has been rendering professional services in a variety of fields. His dedication and commitment earned him a position of respect and prominence in his profession.  

Over the years Daivajna has earned many positions in various capacities. He was chairman of Goa Branch of Chartered Accountants Institute in 1985-86 and attended World Accountants Conference at Vancouver, Canada, as a delegate of the CA Institute in 1992.  

A self-made man, deeply involved in social and educational activities who had realised the importance of education, Daivajna thought of paying back to the society and hence took lead in promoting and running educational society ‘Vidya Vikas Mandal’ in 1971.   

Today this Society has seven institutions under its umbrella - in Commerce, Law, Management and a school with KG to PG courses. Presently he is the president of the society and has been devoting his valuable time and energy in empowering the Institution for the last 40 plus years.  

Happy that his legacy would be carried forward, Daivajna informs that his son Naveen, a CA, a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, as well as one of his daughter-in-law, Sonam Suraj Daivajna has joined him as partners in his firm while son Suraj is founder director of ACCOSPHERE, which is specialised in accounting, HR and GST outsourcing activities.   

“Naveen was chairman of Western India Chartered Accountants Students Association (WICASA) Goa branch in 2013-14 and has served as treasurer, secretary and vice-chairman of Goa branch of WIRC of ICAI. He served the Goa branch as its Chairman during the year 2014-15, which saw the branch earn laurels at the Western region with two awards for member and student activities,” briefs Daivajna.  

Associated with the prestigious Bombay Chartered Accountants Society as a life member Naveen was also member of the Infotech & 4i Committee, General Direct Taxes advisory committee of the income tax department, government of India and the governing council of Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao.  

Speaking high about Sonam, Daivajna points out that she is expert in internal and statutory audits and besides being a chartered accountant, holds a degree in business management. Currently pursuing her company secretarial course, she is also principal consultant at ACCOSPHERE, delivering talks and holding training sessions on GST and tax planning.  

Besides the professional activity he took leading role in promoting and running educational society ‘Vidya Vikas Mandal’ in 1972, which today has six institutions under its umbrella - a commerce college, a law college, an institute of management and an English medium school (KG to PG), of which, presently Daivajna is the vice president.  

Daivajna, who was the chairman of the Goa branch of Western India Regional Council of ICAI in 1985-86, has been associated with Lions Clubs International for 49 years. He was Lions District Governor of District 324-D2 (now named as Dist 317B) for the year 2000-01 and again in 2005-06 and attended World Lions Convention at Honolulu, Hawaii.  

Having served the Maharashtra State Financial Corporation (MSFC) and Goa Housing Board, both as directors, Daivajna was the honorary secretary of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) for a decade.  

A widely travelled person he has been to Singapore, Colombo, Vancouver, USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and many countries in Europe including UK, Portugal and Spain. His book of memoirs is an ideal inspiration for today’s generation.   

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