Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 12: The popular notion in vogue is that passing of IAS and IPS examinations is easier as compared to successfully completing chartered accountancy (CA) course. This notion is not totally unfounded. Because, considering the number of aspirants trying to clear the CA examination, the percentage of successful candidates is marginal.
Moreover, the fact that education among Muslim girls has still a long way to go makes this young woman's feat a truly remarkable one.
Shabana, a Muslim girl who hails from a poor family based in rural area, has won the admiration of a large number of people by clearing CA exams with sheer hardwork and dedication. Daughter of M A Hussainabba and Bi Fathima residing in the government hospital compound, Karnad, Mulky, Shabana gets full credit for being the first ever Muslim woman candidate from the coastal region to have registered this landmark achievement. In the entire state, only two or three Muslim women chartered accountants can be found.
Shabana is the third among five children of Hussainabba with two elder sisters, a younger sister, and a brother. Hussainabba,, who worked as supervisor in a local plywood factory, did not allow financial constraints to weaken the prospects of his children, in spite of being the sole earning member. While Shabana has successfully completed her dream of becoming a CA, her brother, Rashiq, has completed MBA and bagged a job in Bengaluru.
Shabana got her primary education in UBMC school in Karnad, completed PU education in Karnad government PU college, and B Com degree course in Pompei College, Aikala, Kinnigoli. In the CA examination held in November 2014, only 8.23 percent of 181 students who appeared for the examination in the city could clear it. It is learnt that the national average pass percentage pertaining to this examination is eight.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India having central office at Chennai conducts these examinations. It has a branch office at Padil in the city, and St Aloysius College here happens to be the examination centre for the CA examination.
When Shabana was questioned about how she got interested in CA, she said mathematics happened to be a favourite subject for her since younger days. "When undergoing degree course, I got interested in becoming a CA, and my teachers encouraged me. After the degree, I appeared for the Common Proficiency Test and after passing it, joined for three-year articleship course under Gopalakrishna Aithal, CA based in Mangaluru. After he died last year, I continued the course in his office, and then joined another CA from the city, Keshava Ballakuraya. After the result was announced on January 19, at the advice of Ballakuraya, I have continued to work under him as an associate CA," she explained.
On the method of preparing for the examination, she explained that she used to start to seriously study for the examination about two months in advance, by beginning studies at around 5 am. After completing first round of study, mostly practical, till 7.30 am, she said she consumed breakfast and took up second round of study. "I used to study theory from 8 am to 10.30 am. Then I took ten minutes rest, and resumed the same subject and continued till 1 or 1.30 pm. Then I took up another subject between 2 pm and 4.30 pm, mostly practical. I then continued study from 5 pm to 10.30 pm. I never studied more than four subjects per day, and did not opt to lose sleep for studying like some others do, as I felt studying in the morning was more effective," she added. She clarified that she found it difficult to study during working days as it would be late by the time she reached home. She said she used to take leave as the examination approached, and study during this period.
About the support she got at her workplace, she was in profuse praise for her current boss, who she said, used to get case studies done through her by providing her necessary books to study. She said that this had helped her immensely in the CA examination. On her future plans, she explained that she wants to work for a few months at the present office, where she will get rich experience in handling service tax issues. Her next plan is to work for a year in an auditing firm in Bengaluru, where she will get to study issues concerning foreign clients, as companies in Mangaluru do not get them. After that she wants to set up audit firm either on her own or in partnership with others in the city.
On being congratulated for emerging as an inspiration for Muslim girls and seeking for her message to her Muslim sisters, she said they should hone their talents and should come out and achieve something rather than staying at home. She feels that they should make use of opportunities lying before them.
Her advice to parents is that they should never adopt the policy of educating only the sons and encouraging only them to work. They should equally identify talents of their daughters and encourage them to study and work. Even the girls should be allowed to explore opportunity and carve out a future for themselves, she opines.
Asked about the support she got from her family, she said that her father, who worked in a factory in the local industrial area, supported his children to study what they wanted, although the family was poor. She also said she is grateful to her maternal uncles, who have always supported her plans, and provided all needed support for education. She said they have also promised to assist her to set up her own office.