Losing out

Alert: a narcissist post follows ...

After my one and a half month long time-away when I came back to Bangalore, many people complimented me about my losing weight. Although my weighing scale had shown me that I'd shed some kilos, I assumed that these people were saying such things as I'd been away for too long for them to remember how I really looked. But when I saw a photo that was taken exactly 4 months ago & compared it to a recent one, I was pleasantly surprised.



I know this is nothing close to the before and after photo routine by slimming centers, but there is some difference. At least as much to keep me motivated to aim for bigger goals.

PS: And just in case someone misses to notice which is the before photo and which after, the one in blue dress is before and that in pink one is after :)

Bihar Floods - An Appeal for Contribution

When I read in my Geography textbooks in school that Kosi river was also known as The Sorrow of Bihar, little did I know that I would be able to understand the full meaning of this nickname years later and how! The river has wreaked havoc in hundreds of villages in Bihar, affecting millions of people. Hundreds have died in these floods and many more are on the verge of death due to starvation and epidemics that break out as an aftermath of floods. Those who have survived have witnessed their family members and their entire life's savings getting washed away in a matter of minutes.

The Government is trying to control the damage - although it's way too late to do so. I don't understand why there was no disaster management plan in place in spite of many occurrences of flood in Kosi in the past. But then, we always have something or someone to blame for any mishaps on our part (and when it comes to Bihar, even that is not required I guess). more on this probably later. Right now since the Indian Navy and Air Force are actively manning the rescue operations, I see some hope for the flood victims. They can do with as much help as possible from all of us at this time. So please contribute to make these relief operations possible - no contribution is small.

There are multiple avenues of making the contributions. But the easiest one so far I have found is on ICICI Bank's website here. It takes less than a minute to make the contribution online. Alternatively, you can send a cheque or draft in favor of Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and mail to:
Prime Minister's Office
South Block
New Delhi - 110101

You can make the contribution at branches of any of the leading banks (SBI, Central bank of India, Corporation Bank, Citi Bank, Canara Bank, UCO Bank, HDFC Bank, HSBC Bank, Vijaya Bank, ICICI Bank, standard Chartered Bank, Vijaya Bank etc).

You can also send your cheques or drafts in favor of Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Bihar. A/c # 10839124928, SBI Patna Secretariat Branch, Patna. Put your name, phone number and address at the back of the cheque/draft and drop it at the nearest SBI drop box. And if it is of any help - all contributions made towards Bihar flood relief are tax deductible under section 80G.

Images courtesy:
http://www.boston.com/
http://www.daylife.com/