The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Charting a course to success

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 03, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Charting a course to success

Swathi Shivanand

Disability did not stop him from a mention in Guinness Book

R.C. Ganguly

BANGALORE: In a modest home in a sprawling apartment complex at Yelahanka, a 70-year-old man lives out his twilight years. His days revolve around his wife and grandchild, his friends and regular trips to the doctor. Just another senior citizen, you might think.

But Ramendra Chandra Ganguli is much more than that. He holds the Guinness World Record for the World’s Youngest Chartered Accountant and has been awarded the National Award for being a role model among the disabled.

When we meet for an early morning interview, he presents a set of papers — a note enlisting his achievements in first person and another with his achievements in third person, complete with emotions he felt on receiving recognition for his achievements. Everything is there in these notes, he says.

But after some persistent questioning, this sprightly septuagenarian, permanently disabled in his left hand and leg, starts answering, often pausing to say that his carefully prepared notes say it all.

Mother’s persistence

“Those days the only CA exam centre in the State was in Allahabad. So my mother and I went from our hometown in Kanpur. I wanted to go back home after my accountancy paper because I had not done well. But my mother took me out for a walk and convinced me that I should write the other papers. When I got my results, I was glad I gave in to my mother’s persistence,” says Mr. Ganguli.

So when did his fascination with numbers begin?

“My father was a doctor and I wanted to become one too, so initially I took up science. But I could not hold the test tubes because of my weak left hand. One day my professor saw my hands shaking while holding a test tube with acid in it. He reprimanded me and said that I could harm myself and I could never become a doctor because I could not administer injections.”

Upon his professor’s suggestions, Mr. Ganguli started chartered accountancy classes. Studying in the early morning hours, articleship training for CA course and attending B.Com. classes at night, he literally burnt the midnight oil.

A long satisfying career later, Mr. Ganguli says he was enjoying his retirement when his younger son suggested that he approach the Guinness World Records. A few months later, in July 2000, he was awarded the certificate by the Keeper of the Records at Guinness World Records limited.

His proudest moment, however, came when he received a call at around 10 p.m. from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment stating that he had been honoured with the National Award for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilties “in public recognition of his outstanding performance as Role Model of Persons with Disabilities.”

“I could not go because of a heart problem. But even now, in the midst of daily routine, that moment is what I cherish the most,” he smiles.

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