Kshan - a 24x7 service which connect patients in need of blood to volunteering blood donors using smart SMS technology.

Few of us have been working on Kshan a concept that was initiated about 3 years back by a bunch of motivated students and young professionals in Mumbai. Kshan is now envisioned to be a 24x7 service which will help connect patients in need of blood during emergencies to a large group of volunteering blood donors using smart SMS technology.

smsGupShup, India fastest growing mobile community platform is supporting us in our SMS technology needs.

There are 3 beliefs driving this initiative:

1. Cutting edge SMS technology can be used effectively to help connect volunteering blood donors directly with patients in need of blood
2. There is a pressing need to support patients who need blood transfusion throughout their entire lives e.g., thalassemics, haemophiliacs, anaemics
3. In an ideal world, patients should not be required to pay for blood that has been donated.
   

We are addressing all these points in our effort and are currently operational in Mumbai with reasonable success so far. (http://www.kshan.org/images/times_of_india.jpg)

But the mission is to get this model to work across India - in major cities. We need your help to spread the word on this. Following are the 3 ways you can get involved and make a difference.

1. If you are based in India, would be much appreciated if you could register as a donor HERE. You will receive a SMS request every time someone close to your location is in need of blood. We will provide the patients contact information to you and you will touch base with them directly, only if you have the time to volunteer. We are only "connecting" a potential donor to the patient in need of blood. Nothing more! Visit www.kshan.org to read more.

2. Click on this LINK to share Kshan's donor registration page in your Facebook account and encourage your India network to register as donors there.

3. We are looking to engage student bodies/societies. We need a lot of active blood donors to make this a success and we will find such volunteers only in colleges. So let me know if you have any ideas/introductions you can help me with please!

Follow Kshan on Twitter
Become a Kshan Fan Facebook Fan Page
Follow Kshan on Facebook Causes

Thank you for your support.

Kashmir 2009 - Motorbike Trip Pictures.. Will write about it soon.

Kashmir 2009 - Motorbike Trip

Phir Dekhiye..

So I have been hooked to this song for 2 days. Just uses an acoustic guitar (and a bit of piano). Strumming pattern and chords unchanged through the song. Simplicity at its very best. Check it out if you have not heard it yet!

Phir Dekhiye - Rock On!

Go Pakistan!

1. Over the last 6 months, this nation has seen thousands of innocent people being "murdered" and millions rendered homeless due to a series of suicide bomb blasts and the Swat Valley operation. Cricket is as big a religion in Pakistan as it is in India. Pakistan needs to celebrate something. Anything. Why not win the T20 world cup which they lost to their biggest rival on and off the cricket field 2 years back?

2. In recent times, India has dominated Pakistan in cricket. The India-Pak cricket rivalry is no longer as big as it used to be. Indians would still love to see a Shoaib Akhtar run into Sachin Tendulkar as compared to a Bret Lee. Pakistan has talent, but so many times have they given us a feeling that they lack the desire. A win here, will help fuel that desire... and make India verus Pakistan a much more enjoyable affair.

3. And lastly, England, not Pakistan was the reason for India being out of the T20 World Cup. So I dont really care if Pakistan win this one!

.. Go Pakistan!

AMS

The biggest challenge (I thought) was riding a motorbike on these "roads". Call it ignorance, but I completely underestimated Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), until I read a few articles on the web after tonight's dinner with Vince & co - where we spent a lot of time discussing this topic.

http://www.ismmed.org/np_altitude_tutorial.htm

I will still go. But at the back of my mind, I know that I need to be extremely careful and not be over enthusiastic.

Riding a Pulsar/Splendor is fine. I am confident of managing it on any terrain since I have pretty good control. But any serious symptoms of AMS, and I will be heading back down right away. Unfortunately, the problem, as I understand from Vince, is that one cannot just "head down right away". Due to the nature of the terrain, if struck by AMS, I might need to go up another 1000meters, before I can actually start heading down again.

We'll see.... need to read more about this!

Operation Kashmir

If you are still strong and energetic but don't wish to be an old balding man driving a red Ferrari several years down the line regretting having spent your youth banging on a keyboard and staring at a Bloomberg terminal instead of whizzing past picturesque landscapes at 15,000 feet, then this trip is for you.

Mission codename: "Operation Kashmir"
Objective: To drive from Manali to Leh on a motorbike crossing several passes at 15K feet and to enjoy spectacular views of the placid Pangong lake at 15,000 feet. We may then do the Nubra valley circuit riding across Siachen glacier and Khardungla pass..
The squad:
- You have to be Indian citizens (we need special permits only issued to Indian citizens) with exceptional motorbiking skills and a license to drive in India
- So long as you are confident in your driving abilities, there is no need for you to have driven at high altitudes before
- You have to be adjusting, accommodating and should possess a good sense of humor and a spirit of adventure
Leaders:
- Prashant Kukreti
- Vince Natteri

The Plan: (tentative)
June 26th 2009:
Leave from Hong Kong or wherever you are for New Delhi, India

June 27th 2009:
Reach Manali and get the bikes. Kukreti and I will see if we can talk to the bike shops beforehand and get 5 Pulsars ready

June 28th 2009:
Drive from Manali to Keylong and chill there

June 29th 2009:
Drive from Keylong to Sarchu and chill there

June 30th 2009:
Drive from Sarchu to Pang and chill there

July 1st 2009:
Drive from Pang to Leh and get all the permits sorted out

July 2nd 2009:
Give Pang Gong lake a visit (350KM back and forth)

July 3rd 2009:
Rest

July 4,5,6 2009:
Nubra valley circuit

July 7,8,9 2009:
Reserve days

July 10th 2009:
Return from Leh to Delhi

July 11th 2009:
Return to Hong Kong

Risk assessment:
1) Do not underestimate AMS. These altitudes will give anyone a headache even if you are hulk Hogan. Please Google online
2) Weather is unpredictable: It can literally change overnight. If Rohtang pass is closed, this trip will be off and we will plan a new trip on the spot
3) Roads are used by crazy, drunken Sumo drivers who drive like maniacs and the Indian armed forces. You need to have good driving skills
4) Your boss might fire you for taking 10 days off but this is not as big a risk - you will still survive.

This trip does involve risk which you will be taking on your own accord. We will all help each other out and share all costs equally.


Original Source: http://hikeinhongkong.com/?p=528

2009...

2009 has started off on a fairly "active" note. We did Sharp Peak last weekend and today we did Plover Cove in New Territories. (Hike reports and pics will be put up soon.) Other than that, I have been out literally every night last 2 weeks!

Anyways, so its times to celebrate Dikra's engagement (13th Feb!).. and Sari's wedding (14th Feb!) in Mumbai.. which means I need to get my tickets booked out this week to avoid paying a bomb.

....and did I mention 15th Feb also happens to be my birthday? Ok Ok.. now these are "slightly" more important than my birthday.. but I do deserve some attention ok?