My first post from India.

I have been away for almost four months now. And what have I been doing?

In November, I took up an assignment with an NGO in Jodhpur, Rajasthan as Communications Manager. Needless to say, I was super-excited. Jodhpur is a beautiful city, founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha. The city has always been ruled by the Rathore clan of Rajputs. It boasts of the famous Mehrangarh fort, the Umaid Bhawan Palace - Maharaja Gaj Singh's abode and delicious Marwari food.

I enjoyed meeting with the locals, touring the drought-ridden villages where the rurals still owe allegiance to the Rathore rulers at Umaid Bhawan, and checking out rain-water harvesting structures. The infamous Marwar clouds kept ducking us all along my stay. I also got an opportunity to be a part of the" Best Practices on Sustainable Development", a month-long scholar program.

It was good to see corporates and international charities focusing their attention upon relief activities in these far-stretched drylands. Not only UNDP but small time charities are now looking into micro financing; reaching out to the really marginalized ones. Hats off to Rajendra Singh ji, the water man!

Unfortunately I didn't stay long. I observed how difficult it can be for self-styled organization heads to understand the role of a communications department in a big and ever-growing non profit organization like this. I left them to their good luck.

Back in Jaipur, I am visiting non-profits; learning about the communications strategies in place here and musing about how I can contribute to the environment around myself. How can I continue to enrich myself?