Ganesh Mulwad

“Work is worship” is what I learnt from Khurshid didi

I hail from Bijapur, Karnataka, where my father worked as a labourer, loading and unloading cotton bundles. In 1991, at the age of one, I moved to Mumbai with my family. Here, my father worked as a labourer at different construction sites. But he had an option. If he wished to double his income he would have to undergo training in plastering, which he readily did, and after upgrading his skills took up the mason’s job. Our family formed a part of the migrant lot and work compelled us to move from one construction site to the other each time the building construction came to an end at that particular site.

It was at the Curry Road construction site that I first met Khurshid didi, who was introduced to me by Fakir Shaikh. He happened to be a construction labourer’s child from a small group of students who sat on the steps of the CRY office and had picked up the alphabets and numbers from Khurshid didi and a few more staff working at the CRY office at Arthur Road. I somehow managed to convince my parents of the need to educate my sister and myself at Sunbeam and there was no turning back.

Over a thousand students have benefited from Sunbeam to date. But I consider myself one of the most fortunate ones among them. Why so? Because I had the privilege to be nurtured directly by Khurshid didi who entered my life in end 1997 and till date continues to be my teacher, imparting lessons in life.

It is at Didi’s house that I spent most of my Sundays, school holidays and summer vacations, especially from the 8th standard onwards. Seeing her at work was an eye-opening experience for me. She never let anything come in the way of her work for Sunbeam to which she had dedicated her entire life.

I remember a period when she lay on a surgical bed at home with multiple rib fractures but the workload at Sunbeam did not permit her the luxury of resting even then. Every single day she managed to get out of bed with someone’s assistance, so I couldn’t bear to see her work alone at home. My summer vacation was on and I decided to lend her a helping hand. Though I couldn’t be of much use to her with her drafting work since I was studying in Hindi medium, I could at least take the printouts of the documents, file them and assist her in admin related work.

I started my studies a little late in life by the time I passed my SSC exams, I was 18 and eligible to take up a job. At first when I broached the topic, the idea of being absorbed by the organisation as an account’s assistant didn’t appeal to didi at all and she was quite hesitant to even consider my request. But as usual, she let her heart rule over her head and decided to give me a chance. Working under her for five long years as a Sunbeam employee, first as an account’s assistant for a year and later on as the main accountant of the organisation for 4 years, has been my privilege.

My college life was the best learning period for me – both at the academic level as well as the practical accounts work that I learnt at Sunbeam. But more importantly, I learnt a number of values in life, also work ethics. Overall, working at Sunbeam moulded me into a much better human being.

Later, after seeking didi’s permission, I made my first move towards the corporate world while simultaneously pursuing my further studies of becoming a CA. I wished to make a career in the field of taxation and auditing. I have completed my CA inter exams but am yet to clear my final year exams of CA. After spending a few years in the corporate world, doing a job did not give me satisfaction anymore and I decided to be self-employed. So, I started working as a consultant and later on launched a Proprietorship firm of my own where my staff took over the day-to-day servicing part of the work, while I got busy getting new clients. Moreover, I chose to pursue a law degree to benefit my career. I am now glad to have completed my LLB and be recognised as an advocate.

During the pre-Covid times, my work flourished. However, with its unexpected entry the world over, it took me unaware too. My business took an unexpected U-turn and my clients left one by one, leaving me shattered. I reached a stage when I had to close down my office and let my staff leave. And I switched over to my old role of being a Consultant. Yet, not the one to give up on myself, soon after the first phase of Covid, I approached a few practicing CAs and became their business partner. However, it wasn’t the most ideal situation since I ended up doing the work whereas the CAs remained the signing authorities.

Since over 4 years now, I have been a tax consultant at Vodafone Idea. In order to give a boost to my income, I work as an SAP trainer in Max Edutech Solutions.

I am still associated with Sunbeam and am grateful to Khurshid didi for having provided me with an opportunity during the Covid period to lend my voluntary services to the organisation that had once given me free education and helped me nurture my dreams. Majority of the parents of our child beneficiaries had lost their jobs, and I, in turn, helped them out by training them on how to register at various sites that offered jobs, where they would be able to apply even for the unskilled ones such as security guards, housekeeping, delivery boys, and the like. I prepared simple step-by-step videos for them to be able to follow the process of registration and formed WhatsApp groups to guide them online.

As on date, I serve Sunbeam as a finance and accounts consultant and will continue to give back to society via this noble organisation.

Ganesh Mulwad