PVLF 2025

Interview with Aseem Chawla, author of 'Finding a Straight Line between Twists and Turns'

on Nov 15, 2021

Aseem Chawla is the Practice Leader at ASC Legal, Solicitors & Advocates in New Delhi. Aseem is a Member of the Bar Council of India, and Fellow Chartered Accountant, and certificate holder of Comparative Tax Policy & Administration from Harvard Kennedy School & “Vienna Certificate in Double Tax Treaties” from WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria. He is a certificate holder from National Insurance Academy, Pune for participation in the Orientation Programme for Independent Directors for General Insurance Companies in February 2020.

Aseem is the Vice President of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF). Recently, he has been nominated as Co-Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Committee of Ph.D. Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHD). Aseem is the Former Regional President & currently the Chairman of the Audit & Finance Supervisory Committee of the Indo American Chamber of Commerce (IACC). He has been nominated as the Co-Chair of the Sub Committee of Taxation constituted under the Task Force for Legal Services of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Here is the Interview with Mr. Aseem Chawla –

Ques 1. How did you come up with the idea of writing this book?

Ans: Since the advent of my professional practice over two decades, I have been regularly dealing with tax and broader fiscal issues, and with the passage of time, having sufficient international exposure and after completing specialized formal courses in “Comparative Tax Policy & Administration” from Harvard University and “Vienna Certificate in Double Tax Treaties” from Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria. I felt that I was rightly placed to be able to put my thoughts together in the form of this book. Not very many tax policy-related books had broad coverage and I felt the need to fill this vacuum. The wide exposure to various facets of taxation (both domestic and International), fiscal policy, corporate affairs, and active participation at a Board level, as an advisor also and very recently, shepherding the affairs of State-Owned Enterprise, in the capacity of Independent Director, has enabled me in being able to appreciate business situations/realistic challenges in a holistic & realistic manner.

Ques 2. Share something about your latest book – ‘Finding a Straight Line between Twists and Turns’?

Ans: The outstanding feature of the book is catalogue of a variety of contemporary themes relating to the Indian tax landscape tampered with an international flavor and provides a narrative of key milestones of the last 10 years of Indian tax policy and regime.

Ques 3. How did the Indian Tax System change after the global financial crisis due to pandemic?

Ans: The silver lining of the pandemic was the Government initiative to look at the entire fiscal landscape afresh. Realizing the need and acknowledging that tax policy, which can act as a catalyst in sprucing the business sentiments, significant reforms have been announced, including the bold move of rolling back the retrospective tax amendment, which was introduced to tax indirect transfer of assets viz. Vodafone, Cairn, et al.

Ques 4. What taxation issues have you discussed in your book?

Ans: The book is an easy-to-read narrative highlighting the key milestones and notable events, which have influenced and have had an indelible impression on the Indian tax landscape. The book simultaneously also traces the dynamic evolvement of the international tax landscape. The layout of the book is a thematic representation of other topical subjects viz. Money Laundering laws, Exchange of Information and the contentious discussions surrounding cryptocurrency.

Ques 5. Do you really think readers will be influenced by the Indian tax landscape that is addressed in this Book?

Ans: I am quite confident that the book should have a persuasive influence on the readers, considering the lucid language employed in explaining complex topics. The book comprises 17 Sections and each Section is a theme in itself, which makes reference to the book very handy.

Ques 6. Why did you choose Matrix Publishers as your Publisher?

Ans: Matrix Publishers, a known name & lately emerged, have had a good catalogue of books showcasing the legal fraternity.