Over 28 years of his passing away, P. Brahmayya, one of Indias prominent chartered accountants, is being remembered by family, friends and colleagues on the occasion of his centenary year.

P. Brahmayya, fondly known as Brahmayya Garu, was born on October 2, 1908. He had his early education in the remote Nujella village in Andhra Pradesh and went on to graduate from Loyola College. He left for Britain to take up the Incorporated Accounting Course and returned to India in 1932 to set up practice in what was then known as Madras. A Fellow of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and India, Brahmayya built up his firm Brahmayya and Co. by developing practice in diversified sectors.

He was generous, especially towards youth. He is said to have elevated many of his protgs as partners of his firm. Friends remember him as being widely read and as an active participant in the cultural activities in Madras, associating himself with organisations such as Kala Bharathi and Telugu Basha Samithi.

Elected to the Central Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in 1958, Brahmayya served it for five continuous terms from 1958 to 1973 and as its president in 1962-63. His professional competence and adherence to ethics were acknowledged and he was called to represent the Indian National Committee on the Commission on Taxation of the International Chambers of Commerce at Paris; and was chosen as one of the three members appointed by the Government of Madras to review the sales tax structure.

He was one of the first trustees of the Unit Trust of India; a member of the board of directors of the State Bank of India; and a director on the boards of several public limited companies; a member of the Andhra Pradesh State Planning Advisory Committee, the Andhra Pradesh Informal Consultative Committee of Legislators on Industries and the Regional Export and Import Advisory Committee. He also served the Society of Auditors as its president from 1978-80. He died in 1980.

His birth centenary celebrations, organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Southern India Regional Council (ICAI-SIRC) and the Society of Auditors, will be held on Tuesday at the P. Brahmayya Memorial Hall on the ICAI premises at Nungambakkam, Chennai.