Sri RP Trivedi (1939-2017)
RP Trivedi. The name that became synonymous with Accounting textbooks for a whole generation of career-seekers in the 80s and 90s is no more. After a brief illness, Mr Trivedi passed away at his home in Barkatpura on November 3, 2017. He was 78 1/2 and survived by his wife and two sons, Pankaj and Manoj. Except as an obit in Hindi Milap, most of the newspapers missed covering one of the most popular Accounting gurus in the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh and easily one of the best-known teachers in the faculty of Commerce. Having known Trivedi uncle and his illustrious family for over three decades, I wanted to illuminate aspects of his exemplary life and contribution to Accountancy subjects for the benefit and nostalgic value of folks who breezed through their degree and professional exams in those times. Though the family believes in keeping low profile, the world must know and acknowledge the scale of a subject legend who devoted all nerve and sinew to furthering the subjects of Accounting.
Mr RP Trivedi's father was a fourth-generation scholar settled in Hyderabad and expert having been enlisted in the Nizam government for looking after the Treasury, so numeracy and bean-counting was always in the genes. Born in 1939, and married to a Hindi Lecturer - Gulab Devi Chand, Mr Trivedi was academically bright - Gold Medallist in M.Com and Gold Medallist in LL.B, so doing CA would have been a walk in the clouds for his academic rigor but the family financial pressures got the better of him. Between the choice of CA and higher academics, he chose teaching and joined Vivek Vardhani College of Commerce where he rose to become the Head of Department, Commerce. Yet, he continued working tirelessly to supplement incomes to support a large family, wife and kids. At one time, he was working in four different teaching assignments, at VV College (Day) and (Eve) and two other colleges. Even the Principalship of the college beckoned him several times but Mr Trivedi politely stayed away from temptations and pressures of an Administrator job. He used to say,"I want to be a teacher and not an Administrator." But touching more lives through teaching was not so easy and that is when he got the idea of starting publications. Pankaj Publications, named after the first-born, was born thus circa 70s.
The idea of low-priced and affordable Accounting text books was a revolution those days for the baccalaureate programs of B.Com course. Students were in duress due to lack of simple textbooks in Accountancy and Cost Accounting that came at high prices then. To navigate the world of accounting, one had to either go to elephant-sized tomes like Shukla and Grewal or try to decode India-relevant theory and problems from the ever-complicated but seminal book - Accountancy by Pickles or that monster of the book called Accountancy by Chakraborty - all of them priced at princely rates. The B.Com syllabus was comprehensive but for students just starting off in Accountancy, there has to be gradation in problem-solving. Mr RP Trivedi sensed that the market was ripe for his style of teaching and easy-to-follow instruction manuals n the form of a book that was simple, handy and yet measured and graded for acing up the tricky subject of accounting. In bringing out a book that meets with all these expectations, it also has to be affordable to a student who is living on pocket money from parents - a situation that Mr RP Trivedi is well familiar with as a student. The first book of Financial Accounting brought out by Pankaj Publications was priced at Rs.1.25. Today, after completing 44 years in existence, the range of publications has expanded and won universal acclaim and adulation of both students and teachers of Accountancy alike. Fundamentals of Accounting, Business Organization, Cost Accounting, Management Accounting, Business Organization, Advanced Corporate Accounting, Business Statistics, Financial Accounting, Advanced Accounting - today, students have now Trivedi-style textbooks covering the entire gamut of core Commerce subjects that still come in editions priced below one hundred rupees.
What started off as a way of imparting easy format accounting textbooks has become a fledgling publications business capturing the top slice of the academic market, sweeping the entire commerce market in the two states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and even some states beyond. The other thing that helped airlift teaching of accountancy subjects thanks to Mr RP Trivedi's books was the efficiency factor. The theory part and the problems part were well-graded and sometimes made the textbooks bifurcated or combined as it suited the students, but always strictly as per syllabus, both in English and Telugu. Before his books came, the subject of Accountancy as it was taught in those days was twice longer - because the lecturer had to carry bulky books to the class, first dictate the whole accounting problem in the class which itself took forty-five minutes and solve the problem in the next class! That changed fortunately once the portable books of Mr Trivedi hit the bookshelves making graduates shine brighter and even take to higher pursuits in CA/CMA/CS courses. Ever since, both lecturers and students of Accountancy were literally, on the same page! Pankaj Publications, it is no exaggeration, would be single-handedly responsible for a surge in craze for BCom graduates in the 80s and 90s and must have helped many cross the mental blocks or phobia in accounting. Of course, many who have settled in India and abroad would vouch for the contribution his books played in mastering the subject of Accountancy.
Mr Trivedi's teaching was not didactic. He gave illustrations that stuck on, had concept clarity and yet was highly entertaining. He had a self-deprecating sense of humor and remained humble throughout his life, always respectful of what the other person can teach that he can seek despite his being a nonpareil teacher. He believed in the virtues of integrity, hardwork and bloody hardwork for every course be it B.Com or CA. His methods of study, methodical approach to tackling examination anxiety and diligent note-taking and skillful revision -all these set his teaching apart. Some of the most iconic teachers of professional courses who sprung up in the 80s - Mr Buchi Reddy, Mr Mani, among several others openly acknowledge even today that Mr RP Trivedi was the original guru who inspired them. Several qualified Accountants from the professional courses and even MBAs occupying corner offices today attribute their success to the influences of having worked out the crisp problems in Trivedi textbooks at some point before plunging deep into the subject. As long as you lay your hands upon a Trivedi textbook, Accountancy was accessible and appeared less intimidating than those Sultan Chand and S Chand tomes looking down at you from the higher shelves.
For a person who gave lifelong service to commerce, Mr Trivedi kept the candle of learning burning throughout. Never lost touch with the bulging legislations in Companies Act or shifts from the horizontal format of Financial Statements to the Vertical formats. His legacy of textbooks was equalled by his real legacy, his offspring. Eldest son, Pankaj Trivedi is a qualified CA and a prominent office-bearer in the Hyderabad chapter besides a flourishing practice. His wife, Mrs Mamta Trivedi, a fashion designer and a beautician recently just won the first Mrs India beauty pageant and is well-poised to represent India at the world stage (coming up next). Their children, Preksha and Pravekh are equally luminous in their pursuits. Preksha is pursuing her passions in scriptwriting and has published her first book already. Pravekh, a Maths Olympiad champion all through his teens is preparing for a third-generation career in Accountancy courses like father and uncle.
Of all, the one who is poised to carry on the legacy of Mr RP Trivedi is my good friend and younger brother of Pankaj, Manoj Trivedi. After bagging State 4th in Intermediate, and completing his CA and ICWA courses in merit rankers list, Manoj went on to finish PGDM in IIM Bengaluru and weave a successful career in Satyam Computers before becoming intrapreneurial as a world-class trainer in banking and financial markets with Stratadigm Consulting and now, with a new fintech firm. Of course, throughout his hectic streams at work, Manoj has made copious contributions as a co-author in most of the textbooks brought out by Mr Trivedi - revising them in tune with the changing times. The baton is with Manoj Trivedi, as a worthy successor to to carry on the legacy of publications started by Mr Trivedi.
What a life well-lived by Mr Trivedi! Striving for excellence without expectations of fruits or rewards, for the sake of action only. Creating an institution called Pankaj Publications for outlasting his own mortal self in the subjects of Accountancy. Gifted two generations of loving children and grandchildren who blossomed into fine human beings and finer intellectuals in their own rights. Always smiling, with malice towards no one else and believer in learned optimism, Mr Trivedi has given charity to hundreds of students in his lifetime including taking care of the running of charitable trust unbeknownst to many. Even in his last days, it seems he was learning the nuances of net banking and Debit Card pin usage in order to beat his children to pay up the bills on his own. He never used a vehicle of his own, always preferred to walk, loved his students and mentees as much as he doted on his family and remained low-key but in high energy mode till the last breath - a true Karma Yogi. If you google for Mr RP Trivedi, you may not find many gushing tributes and linked-in recommendations or pen portraits, but you will surely find messages in job sites that recommend browsing through Trivedi textbooks for cracking technical interviews in Accounting. That speaks a lot for a gifted teacher and author who gave new context and simplified approach to a subject of Accountancy first created by Luca Pacioli (Father of Modern Accounting) and inspired many to either master it for an in-demand career or a high-paying teaching job. I wish the family of Trivedis more strength to come out of this phase and emerge stronger.
Post-script by Manoj Trivedi, s/o Shri R P Trivedi:
Dear Sridhar,
Only a family member could have provided the insights that you have so beautifully captured in your rich homage, and thank you for being a part of our family! 50 plus years of history flashed through in front of my eyes as I read and re-read it again and again, leaving me completely overwhelmed! Thank you seems such a hollow and small word for writing his “mini biography”. On behalf of my mother, brother, sister in law, the children Preksha and Pravek, and the extended Trivedi family, our sincere gratitude for immortalizing the life of #RPTrivedi through this glowing tribute!
My father was a “disruptive” entrepreneur of his times, driven by service motive, a distinguished academician who could find a way to handle different and difficult practical situations through application of simple concepts, a master who towered way above professionals in the understanding of the subject, but at the core, was a simple teacher. One could always learn not only from his books or by attending his classes, but by simply observing or listening to him. He led by example and continued to mentor two generations of teachers, many years after his retirement. He has encouraged and motivated several achievers to pursue their dreams. He was always open to criticism as he believed that it was a great way to improve and even in his last days in the hospital, spent time revising the latest book on Corporate Accounting. He never gave up on learning even days before he breathed his last, discussing with the Doctor about his treatment and its pros and cons.
For people who are unaware but interested, my father was suffering for the last few years, people who interacted with him could not even imagine him being unwell and it was shocking for them to know that he was terminally ill. He always believed in being independent and did not wish to ask for a helping hand under any circumstances. The one thing that rattled him was the thought of people feeling sorry for him due to his age, illness or disability. Such was his fighting spirit that the Doctor treating him described him as a “miracle man defying science”.
As rightly described by you, his books were an idea that was ruthlessly criticized, grudgingly accepted and then lavishly praised and recklessly replicated over the last 46 years. The idea of a small sized book on Accounting has now been adapted all over the country by various publishers. While he always believed in keeping the price as low as possible so that the poorest of poor can afford it, he did not compromise on the quality and content of the subject. The books were and continue to be handy, convenient, examination oriented, simple with graded problems, but comprehensively cover the subject a notch above the standard expected at the Graduation level. Pankaj Publications, for all its success and market leadership for whatever it is worth, always remained “not for profit” in spirit and will continue to be so, as we remain committed to his vision and values. His are giant sized shoes to fill, and I can only commit my best efforts to carry forward the illustrious legacy.
- Manoj Trivedi
#RPTrivedi #SriRPTrivedi #Accounting #AccountingTeachers #PankajPublications
RP Trivedi. The name that became synonymous with Accounting textbooks for a whole generation of career-seekers in the 80s and 90s is no more. After a brief illness, Mr Trivedi passed away at his home in Barkatpura on November 3, 2017. He was 78 1/2 and survived by his wife and two sons, Pankaj and Manoj. Except as an obit in Hindi Milap, most of the newspapers missed covering one of the most popular Accounting gurus in the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh and easily one of the best-known teachers in the faculty of Commerce. Having known Trivedi uncle and his illustrious family for over three decades, I wanted to illuminate aspects of his exemplary life and contribution to Accountancy subjects for the benefit and nostalgic value of folks who breezed through their degree and professional exams in those times. Though the family believes in keeping low profile, the world must know and acknowledge the scale of a subject legend who devoted all nerve and sinew to furthering the subjects of Accounting.
Mr RP Trivedi's father was a fourth-generation scholar settled in Hyderabad and expert having been enlisted in the Nizam government for looking after the Treasury, so numeracy and bean-counting was always in the genes. Born in 1939, and married to a Hindi Lecturer - Gulab Devi Chand, Mr Trivedi was academically bright - Gold Medallist in M.Com and Gold Medallist in LL.B, so doing CA would have been a walk in the clouds for his academic rigor but the family financial pressures got the better of him. Between the choice of CA and higher academics, he chose teaching and joined Vivek Vardhani College of Commerce where he rose to become the Head of Department, Commerce. Yet, he continued working tirelessly to supplement incomes to support a large family, wife and kids. At one time, he was working in four different teaching assignments, at VV College (Day) and (Eve) and two other colleges. Even the Principalship of the college beckoned him several times but Mr Trivedi politely stayed away from temptations and pressures of an Administrator job. He used to say,"I want to be a teacher and not an Administrator." But touching more lives through teaching was not so easy and that is when he got the idea of starting publications. Pankaj Publications, named after the first-born, was born thus circa 70s.
The idea of low-priced and affordable Accounting text books was a revolution those days for the baccalaureate programs of B.Com course. Students were in duress due to lack of simple textbooks in Accountancy and Cost Accounting that came at high prices then. To navigate the world of accounting, one had to either go to elephant-sized tomes like Shukla and Grewal or try to decode India-relevant theory and problems from the ever-complicated but seminal book - Accountancy by Pickles or that monster of the book called Accountancy by Chakraborty - all of them priced at princely rates. The B.Com syllabus was comprehensive but for students just starting off in Accountancy, there has to be gradation in problem-solving. Mr RP Trivedi sensed that the market was ripe for his style of teaching and easy-to-follow instruction manuals n the form of a book that was simple, handy and yet measured and graded for acing up the tricky subject of accounting. In bringing out a book that meets with all these expectations, it also has to be affordable to a student who is living on pocket money from parents - a situation that Mr RP Trivedi is well familiar with as a student. The first book of Financial Accounting brought out by Pankaj Publications was priced at Rs.1.25. Today, after completing 44 years in existence, the range of publications has expanded and won universal acclaim and adulation of both students and teachers of Accountancy alike. Fundamentals of Accounting, Business Organization, Cost Accounting, Management Accounting, Business Organization, Advanced Corporate Accounting, Business Statistics, Financial Accounting, Advanced Accounting - today, students have now Trivedi-style textbooks covering the entire gamut of core Commerce subjects that still come in editions priced below one hundred rupees.
What started off as a way of imparting easy format accounting textbooks has become a fledgling publications business capturing the top slice of the academic market, sweeping the entire commerce market in the two states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and even some states beyond. The other thing that helped airlift teaching of accountancy subjects thanks to Mr RP Trivedi's books was the efficiency factor. The theory part and the problems part were well-graded and sometimes made the textbooks bifurcated or combined as it suited the students, but always strictly as per syllabus, both in English and Telugu. Before his books came, the subject of Accountancy as it was taught in those days was twice longer - because the lecturer had to carry bulky books to the class, first dictate the whole accounting problem in the class which itself took forty-five minutes and solve the problem in the next class! That changed fortunately once the portable books of Mr Trivedi hit the bookshelves making graduates shine brighter and even take to higher pursuits in CA/CMA/CS courses. Ever since, both lecturers and students of Accountancy were literally, on the same page! Pankaj Publications, it is no exaggeration, would be single-handedly responsible for a surge in craze for BCom graduates in the 80s and 90s and must have helped many cross the mental blocks or phobia in accounting. Of course, many who have settled in India and abroad would vouch for the contribution his books played in mastering the subject of Accountancy.
Mr Trivedi's teaching was not didactic. He gave illustrations that stuck on, had concept clarity and yet was highly entertaining. He had a self-deprecating sense of humor and remained humble throughout his life, always respectful of what the other person can teach that he can seek despite his being a nonpareil teacher. He believed in the virtues of integrity, hardwork and bloody hardwork for every course be it B.Com or CA. His methods of study, methodical approach to tackling examination anxiety and diligent note-taking and skillful revision -all these set his teaching apart. Some of the most iconic teachers of professional courses who sprung up in the 80s - Mr Buchi Reddy, Mr Mani, among several others openly acknowledge even today that Mr RP Trivedi was the original guru who inspired them. Several qualified Accountants from the professional courses and even MBAs occupying corner offices today attribute their success to the influences of having worked out the crisp problems in Trivedi textbooks at some point before plunging deep into the subject. As long as you lay your hands upon a Trivedi textbook, Accountancy was accessible and appeared less intimidating than those Sultan Chand and S Chand tomes looking down at you from the higher shelves.
For a person who gave lifelong service to commerce, Mr Trivedi kept the candle of learning burning throughout. Never lost touch with the bulging legislations in Companies Act or shifts from the horizontal format of Financial Statements to the Vertical formats. His legacy of textbooks was equalled by his real legacy, his offspring. Eldest son, Pankaj Trivedi is a qualified CA and a prominent office-bearer in the Hyderabad chapter besides a flourishing practice. His wife, Mrs Mamta Trivedi, a fashion designer and a beautician recently just won the first Mrs India beauty pageant and is well-poised to represent India at the world stage (coming up next). Their children, Preksha and Pravekh are equally luminous in their pursuits. Preksha is pursuing her passions in scriptwriting and has published her first book already. Pravekh, a Maths Olympiad champion all through his teens is preparing for a third-generation career in Accountancy courses like father and uncle.
Of all, the one who is poised to carry on the legacy of Mr RP Trivedi is my good friend and younger brother of Pankaj, Manoj Trivedi. After bagging State 4th in Intermediate, and completing his CA and ICWA courses in merit rankers list, Manoj went on to finish PGDM in IIM Bengaluru and weave a successful career in Satyam Computers before becoming intrapreneurial as a world-class trainer in banking and financial markets with Stratadigm Consulting and now, with a new fintech firm. Of course, throughout his hectic streams at work, Manoj has made copious contributions as a co-author in most of the textbooks brought out by Mr Trivedi - revising them in tune with the changing times. The baton is with Manoj Trivedi, as a worthy successor to to carry on the legacy of publications started by Mr Trivedi.
What a life well-lived by Mr Trivedi! Striving for excellence without expectations of fruits or rewards, for the sake of action only. Creating an institution called Pankaj Publications for outlasting his own mortal self in the subjects of Accountancy. Gifted two generations of loving children and grandchildren who blossomed into fine human beings and finer intellectuals in their own rights. Always smiling, with malice towards no one else and believer in learned optimism, Mr Trivedi has given charity to hundreds of students in his lifetime including taking care of the running of charitable trust unbeknownst to many. Even in his last days, it seems he was learning the nuances of net banking and Debit Card pin usage in order to beat his children to pay up the bills on his own. He never used a vehicle of his own, always preferred to walk, loved his students and mentees as much as he doted on his family and remained low-key but in high energy mode till the last breath - a true Karma Yogi. If you google for Mr RP Trivedi, you may not find many gushing tributes and linked-in recommendations or pen portraits, but you will surely find messages in job sites that recommend browsing through Trivedi textbooks for cracking technical interviews in Accounting. That speaks a lot for a gifted teacher and author who gave new context and simplified approach to a subject of Accountancy first created by Luca Pacioli (Father of Modern Accounting) and inspired many to either master it for an in-demand career or a high-paying teaching job. I wish the family of Trivedis more strength to come out of this phase and emerge stronger.
Post-script by Manoj Trivedi, s/o Shri R P Trivedi:
Dear Sridhar,
Only a family member could have provided the insights that you have so beautifully captured in your rich homage, and thank you for being a part of our family! 50 plus years of history flashed through in front of my eyes as I read and re-read it again and again, leaving me completely overwhelmed! Thank you seems such a hollow and small word for writing his “mini biography”. On behalf of my mother, brother, sister in law, the children Preksha and Pravek, and the extended Trivedi family, our sincere gratitude for immortalizing the life of #RPTrivedi through this glowing tribute!
My father was a “disruptive” entrepreneur of his times, driven by service motive, a distinguished academician who could find a way to handle different and difficult practical situations through application of simple concepts, a master who towered way above professionals in the understanding of the subject, but at the core, was a simple teacher. One could always learn not only from his books or by attending his classes, but by simply observing or listening to him. He led by example and continued to mentor two generations of teachers, many years after his retirement. He has encouraged and motivated several achievers to pursue their dreams. He was always open to criticism as he believed that it was a great way to improve and even in his last days in the hospital, spent time revising the latest book on Corporate Accounting. He never gave up on learning even days before he breathed his last, discussing with the Doctor about his treatment and its pros and cons.
For people who are unaware but interested, my father was suffering for the last few years, people who interacted with him could not even imagine him being unwell and it was shocking for them to know that he was terminally ill. He always believed in being independent and did not wish to ask for a helping hand under any circumstances. The one thing that rattled him was the thought of people feeling sorry for him due to his age, illness or disability. Such was his fighting spirit that the Doctor treating him described him as a “miracle man defying science”.
As rightly described by you, his books were an idea that was ruthlessly criticized, grudgingly accepted and then lavishly praised and recklessly replicated over the last 46 years. The idea of a small sized book on Accounting has now been adapted all over the country by various publishers. While he always believed in keeping the price as low as possible so that the poorest of poor can afford it, he did not compromise on the quality and content of the subject. The books were and continue to be handy, convenient, examination oriented, simple with graded problems, but comprehensively cover the subject a notch above the standard expected at the Graduation level. Pankaj Publications, for all its success and market leadership for whatever it is worth, always remained “not for profit” in spirit and will continue to be so, as we remain committed to his vision and values. His are giant sized shoes to fill, and I can only commit my best efforts to carry forward the illustrious legacy.
- Manoj Trivedi
#RPTrivedi #SriRPTrivedi #Accounting #AccountingTeachers #PankajPublications
