KNOW YOUR MEMBER – CS ABHINAYA

  1.       Please tell us about your student days – in CS

 

I decided to take CS after completing B.Com. It was a challenging decision for me as I was playing professional cricket at that time and CS demanded diligent work, it was like trying to ride two horses at a time. I joined Blue Dot Academy, T.Nagar for my CS inter preparation. I was one of the first batch of students of Mr.Srikanth’s CS inter classes there. He was an excellent guru and motivated us throughout. I later joined CS final classes with Late Mr. Desigan Balaji at Bharatwaj Institute, Nungambakkam. Dedicating time for studies was hard as I was juggling with both cricket and CS. One was physically exhausting and other was mentally demanding. Luckily I had very supportive teachers and my parents always stood with me. I played professional cricket for 6 years. It helped that I had practiced a mental partition of sorts which allowed to switch over from the cricket ground to classroom, switch off one while concentrating on the other. It was tiring but still enjoyable. Without the encouragement and support of my gurus I wouldn’t have completed my CS successfully.  

 

2.       We understand you are a sports person. Tell us about your journey in sports

 

The interest in sports started much earlier during my childhood. Participating in sports and game gave me opportunity to skip classes in school and so it started. I would participate in all games and sports which our school offered. My professional journey in sports started when I was at 18 years of age.  I started playing professional cricket from my 11^th std. I studied in Shri Ahobilam Math Oriental School, West Mambalam where they had a women’s cricket team. I was selected to captain my school team by Mr. Muralikrishnan our Physical training instructor and he was one who spotted my talent and wanted me to captain the team. I am indebted to him for his help. We participated in a inter-school cricket tournament with 7 other schools. Our school did not win the tournament but I was appreciated by cricket coaches from other schools.  This cricket tournament was organized Mr. Prakash Bangara and Mr. Iqbal ex-cricketers. They noticed my talent and wanted me to join their Cricket club for further coaching. First I did not believe myself to become a cricket player but it was my father and my uncle who supported and pushed me to take up the coaching classes. I was hesitant as I was thinking how to manage my studies if I started taking the classes, especially with the 12^th Std. Board exams coming up. With the support of my parents, I attended cricket coaching classes.

 

After a month, I went to the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) selection process for the Under 19 State Team. To my surprise I was selected in the State Team as a bowler. I started my cricket career as a medium pace bowler. After the selection, the coaching for the state team started which lasted for 15 days. After 15 days of practice, we headed to Anantapur for my debut in professional cricket at Ranji Tournament kick starting my cricket career.

 

I also represented my college cricket team – “Ethiraj College for women” and was well supported by Mr. Ramesh, the Cricket team coach.

 

I represented the Tamil Nadu in both Junior and Senior level for 6 years. I have travelled many places across India and had an excellent experience and a great learning from the game which I apply in my CS career and in my life till today.

 

3.       Are you in anyway connected to Cricket now? Are you just following it in TV?

 

I just follow the game in TV. But, in future I have plans to become a BCCI and ICC approved coach.

 

4.       Are you following the fitness mindset and procedure you learnt .

I am following the fitness mindset and procedure till today. I always want to be fit. There have been times where I was not able to follow my complete fitness regime but I definitely hope to do better.

 

5.       Please tell us about your CS – corporate experience

 

I completed my CS training in Cooper Bussmann India Private Limited, Pondicherry. I worked in CS firm for 2 years. I was also into practice but due to COVID, I was forced to leave practice and join a company as CS. Currently, I am working as a Company Secretary in Andhra Pradesh Power Finance Corporation Limited (APPFCL), Vijayawada. APPFCL is a Government Non-Banking Finance Company registered with the Reserve Bank of India with a paid up capital of Rs. 348 Crores. This is my first independent stint as CS and has given me an exposure to the workings of top echelons in Government sector.

 

6.       What is your future plans

 

My future plan is very simple to chase my dreams. One of them is to become a Cricket coach. On the professional front I wish to move up the corporate ladder, handling much more complex and critical responsibilities.

 

7.       What is your views on CS Course and the way forward.

 

Among the professional course I think CS is unique as it involves elements of secretary ship, acts as a statutory wind chute and exposure to navigating the corporate world.  I have read that in World War II bombers the navigators were more important than pilots themselves as where we are determines how we are, we are those navigators of the corporate world I think. With digitalization and social media world of companies are open to more micro scrutiny and CS as a professional will become indispensable in this environment.