Eulogy- CS Solaiyappan, Salem

Deaths rarely make me cry. I believe that death is the permanent relief to every human being & this realization makes me not to cry for many deaths.

But all these philosophies took back seat when I heard about Solaiyappan sir's death.

He was 79 years old; lived a fulfilling life. Still cannot bear his loss.

He was one of the Founder members of Salem Chapter. It is really difficult to run a chapter in such small cities. His contribution to run the Salem Chapter successfully for many years is extremely commendable.

He is a key learner of things. When he came to spoke in Chennai, he saw us displaying the Profile of the speaker with PPT & photos. During my next visit to Salem, saw them using that method. Sir had the urge and open ness to learn from any one.

He always asks things for Salem chapter. Never for himself.

When I became Chairman of SIRC this year, he asked for a bigger program for Salem.

As per his wish, we had organized Tamilnadu CS Conference at Salem.

When we went to Salem, he was there to receive us at 5 AM with Bouquette. Though we asked him, sir why you should come, he avoided that question with a simple smile.

His death really shook me to a great extent. He had returned from Madurai after going for some work. He has over slept and train has started moving. He had got down when it was moving and fell down and died.

Really difficult to digest such a pious and helping person should meet such a tragic death.

Even in his death, he has taught us lessons. Never run and get into or get out of a train or bus. You can catch next bus or train. Life is only once.

Sir, thought you will live for 100 years. We will miss you for ever !

Thoughts of few more Company Secretaries:

Mr Boopalan, Chairman, Salem Chapter of ICSI SIRC

Mr Solaiappan ,who were in employment became a Practicing Company Secretary when Salem corporates were depending Chartered for all secretarial works and were not known much about the Practicing Company secretaries and corporate laws. Mr Solaiappan was a dedicated ,versatile, very simple and having human touch in all his activities spent two decades for the upcoming of CS profession in Salem.His initiation to have SALEM as ICSI chapter is remarkable and service to
the chapter whether he was an office or not is unforgettable one.We lost not only my mentor but a pillar our CS institute
Prof.V.Balachandran 

Formerly Registrar and Dean of Management  Alagappa university.

CS Solaiappan, a loveable personality, simple, humble  and humane in nature. He has contributed a lot  for both Madurai chapter and Salem chapter as Chairman in those days

Alagappa university had long association with him and we organised together many programs, seminars and conferences for the benefits of students. He is a role model for his simplicity, leadership and generosity.  

Our heartfelt  condolences and  sincere prayers to the Almighty that his soul may rest in peace.

CS Poornima Shankar, Salem

I know CS Solaiyappan sir for the past 10 years.. He is a man of simplicity and humbleness. He is always a down to earth person who easily mingles with any age group. He has been a great motivator for many people to pursue CS like me. He is the man behind the opening of Salem chapter through which today many of the students are getting benefited. Also many of the students got qualified from Salem. He is the person who proved AGE is not a barrier for profession.

CS Thulasi Raman, Practising CS, Salem

In our CS Professional life, at any circumstance when we come across the word Salem, the very first name which comes to our mind- 

“SALEM- SECRETARY-SOLAIYAPPAN”

In my journey with my professional guru for past ten years, I have learnt many things from him,in Professionalas well as personal life -

How to manage the Profession …..

How to manage the family….

How to manage the social life….

And also howa person should update himself in his/her professional life….

I was awed and inspired by his never – say – die spirit when I had the opportunity to work with him in organizing the regional conference at Yercaud.

On6th& 7th of September 2013, ICSI – SIRC and Salem Chapter of the ICSI had jointly organised the 8th Southern India Regional Conference of PCS at Yercaud, Salem Dt. As the Chairman of the Salem Chapter of the ICSI, he took the entire responsibility along with other committee members of the Chapter to host the Program and to make it a grand success.

SIRC had some hesitation as tohow a small chapter like Salem could hold such a mega conference within short period of time. He confidently announced that the Salem chapter will host this conference and to make it agrand success. He proudly said, “Our strength is our Salem Chapter Members and Students”. He always used to affectionately call the student members by the name “Our Pasanga” (My Children).

Unfortunately,a few week before the conference, he underwent hernia surgery which forced him to take complete bed rest. But he did not allow his health to come in the way of organising the conference.In order to start pre-conference work,he reached the venue along with the Program coordinators and volunteerson 5th September, 2013.He was working along with the volunteers day and night , braving the heavy downpour and cold weather, climbing up and down the steep slopes of the Golden Nest Resort without even bothering about his surgery. In spite of not having slept the whole night, he was there the next morning brimming with enthusiasm to welcome the delegates with his warm charming smile. Such was his dedication and determination to make everything he took up for ICSI and Salem Chapter to be a success!

Every day spent with him was a learning experience. He always dared me to challenge him for various interpretations thereby making me to learn across the profession. His attention to every minute detail in his profession, his thrifty lifestyle, his compassion for everyone be it family or trainees or students/members, his presence at any social gathering, his spontaneity in reaching out to anyone who needed his support...
the list of his good deeds can go on and on. I am proud and blessed to have spent my formative years with him, to get absorbed into his value system and make it a way of my life.

“HE WAS AN ALL ROUNDER THROUGH OUT HIS LIFE”.

Mrs. Saranya, Company Secretary, Salem

I am writing this eulogy in the demise of my senior Late CS.S.Solaiyappan under whose leadership I did my 15 months training programme. He was not only a mentor for me but also a well wisher who would always stays at my heart as a First Guru of My career.

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as real strength"

This phrase could more suited to a great person Late CS.S.Solaiyappanwho was a senior practicingcompany secretary among the leading professionals in south India  and who created 15(apporx) young CS professionals in Salem. He was not only known for his gentleness but also for his spirit, enthusiasm, knowledge, good memory and hospitality to the friends, family and professional fraternities.

CS Professional : New Syllabus: How to prepare: Interview with Ms Soundarya

ICSI has introduced new Syllabus for CS Professional from June 2019 exams. Ms Soundarya from Chennai, who wrote Module 1 and 2 in New Syllabus cleared both in the first attempt. Few questions to her on the new syllabus and how she prepared :

Congratulations on clearing Module 1 and 2 of CS Professional  New  syllabus;  While you had the option to chose old syllabus, you chose to write in new syllabus. Any specific reason for that?

Thank you ; Compared to the content of both the syllabus,  the  new syllabus felt updated to meet the current expectations

Any specific reason for choosing to write Module 1 and 2?

As some subjects are interconnected in module 1 and 2 , I chose to write the first two modules

What is your over all view on the new syllabus?

New syllabus is good and some contents are repeated which is easier to study and remember. Since June 2019 was  the first examination under new syllabus  it was very challenging to study under new syllabus. No scanners,  guides and  classes were not easily available. Self-study was the best option avaialble.

Please share something about the question paper pattern. What kind of questions were generally asked.

Every question was based on understanding of the concept. No direct questions were asked.

Question paper pattern for taxation

1)      4*5marks                                                                                         = 20marks

2)      4*5 marks with option to write 2 or 2A                                     = 20 marks

3)      5*4marks                                                                                         = 20 marks

4)      2*5marks                                                                                         = 20 marks

5)      5*3marks                                                                                         =15 marks

6)      3*5 marks with option to write 6 or 6A                                     =15 marks

For other subjects

1)      4*5marks                                                                                         = 20 marks

2)      4*4marks with option to write 2 or 2A                                      = 16 marks

3)      4*4marks                                                                                         = 16 marks

4)      4*4marks                                                                                         = 16 marks

5)      2*8marks                                                                                         = 16  marks

6)      4*4 marks                                                                                        =16 marks

How is the Institute study material? How much you relied on it? Any other books you followed for specific subjects?

Institute material is sufficient. Relied totally on the study material and it has given the fruitful result.

For reference, used CMA study material for indirect tax .

Is there any subject similar to old syllabus, so that you can ask those scanner for that particular subject? Guess Tax and Drafting are similar to old syllabus papers?

Yes , Drafting and Taxation are similar to old syllabus. In Drafting  2 chapters were newly introduced and  those  are found to be very useful .

You studied all the chapters or left out few?

Covered all the chapters but concentrated on selected important topics  and  chapters. I also gathered  basic understanding and knowledge about the other chapters.

How many times you did revision?

Covered the syllabus 3 times before the examination.

Your specific tips to clear Tax paper

New and different types of sums are asked in taxation so practice as many sums as possible . For practicing sums use other professional books too. Understanding of the concept is completely essential for solving sums.

About optional paper?

Going to write elective during December 2019 examination only and I have selected Forensic Audit as the optional paper.

Any other tips/ points that you would like to share.

Be consistent in your efforts .Replace excuses with effort, replace laziness with determination and everything else will fall into place. Before you quit, remember why you started. Hard work and consistency pays off well.

There is no shortcut to success , do your best leave the rest to God .

Questions by: A Mohan Kumar

Know your CS Member – CS Raamanaathan V

Know your CS Member – CS Raamanaathan V

Tell us about your student days; when you registered for CS course. How you were attracted to this course.

I finished my Degree BA Corporate Secretaryship in 1986 and immediately went into an employment as Office Assistant..

Joined ACS, late in the year 1987.  In those days the options were limited to pursue a Professional course.  Of the three available, I was attracted to ACS as it contained Law and also allowed me to pursue the course whilst in employment. 

Please share about the beginning of your career. Were you in employment in any Companies?

As was indicated above, I started my career as an office assistant.  Thereafter, joined a company for writing books of accounts and stayed there for a period of 2 years.  Then broke my employment to complete Industrial Training.  I qualified in 1991 and joined a group company as Company Secretary. Was in employment in various companies spread across industries till 1999.

When did you start practice? Must be one of the early entrant..

Yes.  Started my practice in the year 1999.  When I first started, the market was not aware of Compliance Professional or Company Secretary as well.  Was always getting a cold response from Corporates / Clients during those days.

When and how were you attracted towards drama?

I was always fond of acting, emoting etc., right from my school days.  Once in late 2013, I was kind of making a statement, that am not getting opportunities (though I never tried hard for that) to a good friend of mine.  He introduced to his friends, who are and even now running a Tamil Theatre Group called Dummies Drama.  With them, I was given a break and did my first show called HANUMAN which is a story about the Rocket Launch.  I did the character of ISRO Chairman.

Tell us about some memorable dramas you acted and appreciations you received.

Acting in Live shows are always a challenge.  To emote in front of so many people, and the strong lights focused on you is always demanding.  The dialogues have to be by heart and the movements have to be in sync with the fellow artiste.  There is no question of a redo.  If you mess up, the next actor should rescue one as well. Having  done different roles, I enjoy all most all of them.  In some of the Dramas, I was the one given the opportunity to give a pep or create that element of comedy as part of the script.

All the roles I did was well received by the audience.  You can visit our site for the no. of creations.  www.dummiesdrama.com.

How did the first break in film industry came?

I guess, in 2016, after one of my shows, I was approached by an Associate Director to do the role of a Church Father.  Accepted that and went thro the grind.  It was a different experience.

What are the films you have acted and in what characters? Any current projects in pipeline?

So far, I have acted in 3 Films.

1.    KUTTRAM 23 as Church Father.

2.    VELLAIKARAN as a Businessman.

3.    IMMAIKA NODIGAL as a Church Father.

Some projects were told to me and are yet to crystallize.

Drama or Cinema? Which one you like the most?

Difficult to answer.  With the passion in stakes, I love both.  Drama for the electrifying atmosphere from the stage of rehearsals to the show and often repeat and in Cinema, so far, my experience is couple of days of commitment.  Only challenge in Cinema is that, you need to emote both at the time of shooting and in dubbing.  The finesse is more in Cinema as even a minute movement can cause a retake.  One has to be patient more in Cinema till the final output is reached. 

Both drama and cinema requires tremendous amount of time; how do you manage profession and this passion?

As it is, when you are indulging in passion, you forget the pressures of time.  As I mentioned earlier, Cinema requires committed time, whilst in Drama, you can be little flexible.  Save for byhearting the dialogues, the rehearsals are done with the availability of fellow artiste, in various form like physically, thro skpe, thro tel and video recordings.  In Drama, we are a well knit group and as such dates and time are exchanged earlier.  Calendar are blocked and if there are surprises, adjustments are made.  You may note that most of the Artiste are senior in various vocations.    So far, excepting on a few occasions, I did not feel the pressure.  Once committed, I stay and stand by it. 

Any thoughts that you would like to share for the CS who have similar (not necessarily in acting or in cinema) on how to nurture such passion

Simple.  Try to be focused and keep planning ahead.  That’s the best way to handle Time and Travel constraints.  I try to make my passion as part of my professional life as well.  Thus, if one wants to stay ahead, we need to innovate and be different from the normal life.

Know Your CS Member – Mrs. Purnima, Bharathanatiyam Dancer

KNOW YOUR CS MEMBER – MRS. PURNIMA, BHARATHANATYAM DANCER

What was your graduation? When did you decide to do CS course?

I did my B Com in Stella Maris College, Chennai. But, what had a greater influence on my career choice was my interest in dance. So, I need to digress a little from your question to explain my academic and career decisions.

I started learning Bharathanatyam when I was in 9th standard, under Guru Dr Lakshmi Ramaswamy. She kindled my interest, and I soon became extremely passionate about dance. My alma mater, Padma Seshadri BalaBhavan- K.K.Nagar, was also very supportive of my extra-curricular activities, to the extent that they granted me a whole month’s leave, missing even my quarterly exams when I was in 11th standard, to be a part of the Cultural Exchange Tour to Sri Lanka, which the Government of Tamil Nadu had arranged. It was a memorable experience for me as we got to dance in the Parliament of Sri Lanka, amongst other places.

I wanted to continue pursuing my interest in dance. However, all around me I saw people commuting hours to reach engineering colleges, returning terribly tired at the end of the day with no energy for anything else. That, to be frank, was the reason I decided to choose commerce as my stream of study. Commerce was offered by most city colleges.

However, it so happened that I had a flair for the subject, and became extremely interested in it. In fact, without any additional tuition, and without taking any breaks from my dance training, I managed to top the school in Business Studies due to my love for the subject.

This was when my uncle Mr. Gopalakrishnan, a Chartered Accountant, suggested that I take up ACS. Since I also wanted to do a basic graduation,I took up B Com first.

Tell us about your CS training and the first job.

I started ACS during my second year of college, cleared my Foundation in the second year and Inter in thethird year. After I completed my B Com, I was ready to take up the training as stipulated by ICSI. My uncle, Mr. T.Ananthanarayanan willingly helped me start my training at Ashok Leyland, Chennai. The staff members there were very thorough in training us. Our training superiors, Mr.V.J.Baalachandiran and Ms. Subhadra under the guidance of Mr.A.R.Chandrasekhar, did an amazing job. The unique feature there was that we were each responsible for a group of companies. Hence, it taught us about accountability and responsibility while at the same time taking us under the wing for any liabilities. I would say that this is one of the best ways to learn. 

This made it easier for me to face the requirements of my very first real job, where I was the Company Secretary at a Hong Kong based MNC called General Nice Group.  I worked there for three years after which I took a maternity break.

From when you have started dancing which is your passion.

Like I said, I started my training in Bharatanatyam at the age of 16. My parents, Mr.T.Balasubramanian and Mrs. B.Vidya were very supportive and always encouraged me, as opposed to the popular belief that parents only want their children to study. My guru, mentor and inspiration,Dr.Lakshmi Ramaswamy is the reason behind who I am today. With all of their blessings and support I carry on dancing even today and I wish my journey continues.

Please tell us about your journey and achievement in dancing.

My first real recognition came when I was chosen to be the President of our college’s Classical Dance Club and eventually I received the Best Artist award from the college. I was chosen by the Iyal Isai NatakaMandram (State Government) under their Youth Talent Promotion Programme and was sponsored to perform in four cities in Tamil Nadu. I am a B-grade artist of Doordarshan and an empanelled artist of the South Zone Cultural Centre. My dance programmes have been telecast in DD Podhigai, Makkal TV and Dheeran TV.

Another interesting aspect of my dance career is being invited to different events as a guest or judge. Recently, I had been to Dubai for judging a dance event and I was also invited by the Meenakshi College for Women as a Chief Guest to inaugurate their cultural fest. Canara Bank also honoured me on Women’s Day as one among five women chosen from different fields. I have also been conferred with titles such as the TarangPadamathat I recently received in Mumbai.

I run my own dance school, Sri Chandra Mudhra, at Ashok Nagar. Many of my students are well-accomplished now, with several laurels to boast of. I also take Skype classes for students from cities like Denver and Raleigh. Last year, we successfully executed the arangetram of one such student, entirely through arrangements made via Skype. Apart from the above, I also anchor a lot of shows on DD Podhigai.

Getting married and having a kid… Did they have any effect on your passion?

Definitely the societal pressure of why should I continue to perform even after marriage was there. But my husband Mr.Sriram did not cause any kind of hindrance to my passion and said I could pursue dance as per my wish. Post child birth, some physical limitations were there, but I worked twice as hard on my body to get back on stage. It was truly very hard to get back to dance after a C-section but again, my parents and Guru were very supportive.

Will you continue your CS career at some point of time?

Definitely yes! I studied CS only because of interest and not because of compulsion. My daughter has started going to school and very soon I will be restarting my career after equipping myself with the changes in the Act.

What would you like to share for women on career and passion?

The best examples to kids are their parents. When you do something with passion,be it your career or anything else, your child is bound to do whatever he/she does with passion too. I know it is very compelling at times due to societal, familial and physical pressure to give up your career or passion but strive for it constantly and untiringly, you will never feel sorry. A life of no regrets is a life best lived!