CA Chirag Chauhan
CA Chirag Chauhan was born on 22nd March, 1985 in Mumbai, India. He is a practicing Chartered Accountant by profession and has received his certification from the renowned Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in the year 2009. He is the proprietor of CA Chauhan & Company Chartered Accountants and a mentor in various organizations. He is also a trustee and has opened a Trust “Arvind Foundation” in memory of his late father Arvind Chauhan. At the early age of 21, he has been the victim of the serial bomb blast across railway stations on the 11th of July 2006. This blast completely changed Chauhan life and left him to be a paraplegic.
Early life and Education
Chirag Arvind Chauhan was born on 22nd March 1985 to a Gujarati Hindu family in Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra. His father Arvind Chauhan was a manger and a very hardworking man who worked two shifts to keep up to his responsibilities, his mother Anjana Arvind Chauhan is a homemaker. Chauhan was the youngest of three sisters in his family. There was no such ancestorial business but by the time Chirag was born things seem to be a little better. He belongs to the Gujarati Darzi community. The Drazi caste are mainly Gujarati Hindus found in India. The Darzi are a community of tailors, numbering around more than 3,24,000 families in India. They are also known as Kshatriya Darji in Hindus. As a young boy he was fortunate to attend an English medium school as by then the family could afford it.
In his school years Chauhan had average grades but had keen interest in Mathematics and science. After completing his schooling at Dhanamal High School, Kandivali, Chauhan went to Nagindas Khandwala College, from where he graduated in commerce. He then enrolled himself with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and became a Chartered Accountant by profession. While completing his professional career he associated himself with M/s A. J. Shah & Co. for his articleship, which is a mandatory part of the CA profession. His senior partner Mrs. Nandita Parekh has been his motivation and was impressed with Chauhan work on various projects handled by him with his team.
The Serial Bomb Blast- Chauhan turning point
On the 11th of July, 2006 the Mumbai local trains faced a series of seven bomb blast over a period of 11 minutes. The bombs were set off in pressure cookers on trains plying on Western Line Suburban Section of Mumbai Division of Western Railway. This blast took the life of 209 people and caused injuries to more than 700 people. The first blast took place at 6.24 pm and the explosions continued for about eleven minutes until 6.35 pm. All the bombs had been placed in the first-class compartments of the western railway line. The explosions were in the near vicinity of the suburban railway stations of Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali.
Chauhan had boarded the train travelling north from Churchgate as he was returning back from an Audit from his client’s office. The Blast took place between Khar Road and Santacruz around 6.24pm and Chauhan became a victim of this bomb blast. He could barely gain conscious as all the victims were loaded in vehicles that lead a helping hand to be rushed to Hospitals. The Hospital were overloaded with casualties from all over. Chauhan was taken in a Truck with some other victims to KEM Hospital and he some how managed to share his landline contact in half consciousness and his family was informed about the unimaginable event of their life.
He somehow regained consciousness miraculously for couple of minutes and saw his mother and brother-in-law standing in the hospital and fell unconscious again. Three days after he came into completely consciousness and was treated in KEM Hospital for ten days. Apart from all the injuries and brunt’s incurred during the course of treatment, he was diagnosed with major damaged caused to his Spine.
He was then shifted Hinduja Hospital for further treatment. It was brought to notice there that a foreign particle a screw like element had entered into his body which had caused the spinal cord injury as it had hit the spine during the explosion and that particle was very close to the heart. It was a 50-50% chance of Chauhan retaining life if the particle was removed by a surgery. His mother did not approve the same and so that particle was capsuled so that it does not cause any harm and still remains in his body. In Hinduja he also underwent two surgeries for his eardrums as the explosion had completely caused damage to his ears. He was discharged after 3 months from the hospital. But the coming back had changed Chauhan life completely, right from his physical appearance to doing his daily chores everything seemed to be like a very big challenge. He became a paraplegic. Initially he was even unable to sit for an hour but with a positive attitude he kept continuing his physiotherapy as the doctor had informed him that maximum progress would happen in the initial two years only.
Chauhan reaction on being a Paraplegic
Chauhan was not directly informed in one go about his condition as sometimes with physiotherapy things could improve. He was informed that his condition may become better as for now he had become wheelchair bound. He therefore was in a dilemma as his health, career, financials were all at stake. But, Chauhan with his patience and positive attitude made a decision of overseeing the past and moving ahead in life. He divided his time and gave six hours to his health by rigorously dedicating himself to his physiotherapy and six hours to his ca studies. He was able to eventually increase the time he could sit and now manages to easily sit for over 12 hours. He has a modified hand driven car and is independent enough to drive himself to his office. With his hardwork, perseverance and never give up attitude Chauhan uplifted himself and became an example and motivation for many other who look up to him.
Career as a Chartered Account- Struggles and Challenges faced
Chauhan cleared his CA final in the year 2009 and received his certification as the member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. After becoming a Chartered he felt life would be easier but there were many challenges awaiting his way. Chauhan applied for jobs and realized that most of the places were not wheelchair accessible. Further, the employers preferred an abled body person over him while recruiting. This did disappoint him but he continued to try and succeeded to achieve his dream of working in a Big Four Organization. Chauhan always wished to be associated with a big four organization once he cleared his Ca studies. He fulfilled his dream in 2009 by joining Deloitte as a professional consultant in the field of enterprise risk management. He then did not have his own vehicle and would therefore travel 50 kms daily to reach chembur, by an autorickshaw with his attendant. He worked with Deloitte approximately for a year and thereafter joined Kotak bank of India in 2010 as senior manager. He worked in Kotak bank for 3 years and he now is an owner of his practice CA Chauhan and Company Chartered Accountants. He has also mentored a many startup.
Statement on forgiving the terrorist
Chauhan was once asked in an interview by a journalist about what punishment would he want the terrorist to undergo. His reply did astonish the journalist and all those who read about his opinion. Chauhan stated, “that the terrorist who were involved in the explosion have themselves been a victim of an unfortunate upbringing by being brain washed and therefore I do not hold any grudge or revenge against them instead I have forgiven them and I wish they get proper rehabilitation so that they can have a good life and be of some good use to the society”.
Personal life
Chauhan is the youngest of four siblings, the eldest of whom is his sister Mrs. Sheetal Sachala followed by two elder sisters Mrs. Vandana Gohil and Mrs. Kavita Chowhan. He is extremely close to his mother and also shares a good relationship with all his extended family members. He himself is a bachelor with a charming personality. He is also blessed with good friends who have been with him in his thick and thin. Chauhan is noted for being an inspiration and motivating lives of people who look up to him. He believes in overall growth and is in the habit of rising at around 6.am and sleeping by 11.pm. He maintains a discipline lifestyle by starting his day updating himself with daily news followed by exercise and thereafter drives himself to his workplace. He also maintains a healthy balance in work and personal life.
Religious and spiritual views
Religion and spirituality are an important part of Chauhan life. He follows Hinduism but also believes that God is omnipresent. He respects all religion and has read Bhagwat Gita, Bible and is willing to read the Quran. He also follows the practice of the art of true light and divine principles taught by sukhyo mahikari organization which has its headquarters in Japan.
Awards and Honours
He was awarded and congratulated on completion of his professional degree by the then Chief Minister and present Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in the year 2009 in Mumbai. Social Media Presences & Public Figure Chauhan has more then 30000 followers on his twitter account and has 33000 followers on linkedin.
Links
1) At 21, I Lost My Legs in the Mumbai Blasts. But My Story Isn't ... https://www.thebetterindia.com - 23-Feb-2021
2) The-survivor-of-train-Blasts---CA-Chirag-Chauhan- - Startup CA https://www.startupca.co - 01-Sep-2020
3) Wheelchair-bound CA goes places 15 years since 11/7 blasts https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com -12-Jul-2021
4) CA Chirag Train Blasts Survivor and Entrepreneur - The ... https://www.thefinancestory.com - 23-Mar-2021
5) A long journey for blast survivor - The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com- 10-Jul-2011
6) CA Chirag Chauhan: A bomb could put his legs on injuries but ... https://srccwingsoffire.wordpress.com- 15-Jul-2017