XXL charity begins with Size Zero

MUMBAI: Many upwardly mobile Indiansare not just shedding the extra flab but giving away their now-oversized clothesto charity. When writer Pankaj Kapoor discovered he had a problem ofplenty because he had lost 18 kilos in six months, he decided to give his 'fat'clothes to charity.Kapoor, who found himself with a closet full oflast year's size XXL and this year's size L clothes posted pictures of his 'fatboy slim' avatar on his social networking page but felt the pressure that comeswith having more than you need and much of what you no longer need. In hiscupboard, supersize jeans, shirts and suits jostled for space with his newlyacquired slim-fit tees and denims. Kapoor, who had lived in London,decided he wanted to give it all away. "I was certain I didn't want to exchangemy old clothes for utensils," he says, referring to the north Indian practicethat has women going from house to house with large baskets of shiny steelutensils, which they exchange for old clothes. He's not the onlyone.India's new focus on weight loss has gained gargantuanproportions and with it a 'before' and 'after' wardrobe. When Puneet Baijal,F&B director at Hyatt Regency lost 22 kilos in six months, he sent his 'fat'clothes to his maid's village.Puneet Baijal, F&B director atHyatt Regency, lost 22 kilos in six months. Baijal sent his old clothes off toMandi Gaon, his maid's village. Writer Pankaj Kapoor, who had also lost 18 kilosin six months, thought about sending his clothes to UK-based Oxfam, whichre-sells them to raise money for good causes. "Then I thought people in Indiadon't really buy used clothes. So I decided to give them to a charity," Kapoorsaid."I didn't know where I'd end up, so I gave in stages," saysBaijal. Other than a few old favourites that he got altered, Baijal finally gaveaway nearly nearly 20 pieces, including jeans and shirts. "It took me six monthsand I was conscious of the fact that I was losing weight so I didn't buy newclothes," he says. Charity begins at home. So many end up giving to theirhousehold help.