Chetan Bhagat’s writings always have a strong human angle to them - after all, his books are all about people. To be able to do that, you need to meet different people and understand all that you can about their lives. And so it was for Chetan - he embarked on a quest in Gujarat, calling upon the state’s inhabitants, to know them better. We travelled together shooting for the MyEndeavour alterrain series being produced by Ford India and the National Geographic channel; Chetan was hoping to find the setting of a new book. Besides others, he certainly wanted to visit homes in rural areas; according to the author, the real India lives in villages while he writes in English. And he wanted to know more about two communities in particular - the Siddhis and the Maldharis, both to be found in and around the Gir National Park. Driving a Ford Endeavour alterrain edition (http://www.india.ford.com/suvs/endeavour), we sure met a diverse set of people - all with their own unique societies, cultures and lifestyles. Did you see it all on the National Geographic channel in India on July 7, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.? Whether you did or not, join me on the journey from another vantage point - through images. I am not telling you what you will get to view on the show. But here is a curtain-raiser; watch this space for more. You can also view more images at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151353070315770.1073741837.108449295769. Watch the trailer on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d56cs0yocYg.

1. Around Gujarat with Chetan Bhagat
THE EPISODE ROUND-UP
The show was telecast on July 7, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.,
India Standard Time
All photographs and text by Ajay Jain
ajay@ajayjain.com / http://kunzum.com
Monday 8 July 13

2. Chetan Bhagat warmed up for the journey ahead by testing the Ford
Endeavour alterrain in some empty fields near Ahmedabad
Monday 8 July 13

3. Always wanting to meet new people and understand their lives, Chetan
went calling on some families in a village near Ahmedabad
Monday 8 July 13

4. The family was very hospitable and welcoming of Chetan - offering him
tea for starters
Monday 8 July 13

5. Chetan waiting to head out to the next destination
Monday 8 July 13

6. The driver of the Chakkra, an improvised motorized cycle rickshaw seen
commonly in Gujarat, cannot seem to help eyeing the Endeavour
Monday 8 July 13

7. Community radio is an important agent of social change in Gujarat - and Chetan decided to drop in
at the studios of Community Rudi no Radio Station (CRS) in Manipur near Ahmedabad. Run by the
NGO, SEWA, it is broadcast on 90.4 Frequency and reaches 40 villages within 10 kms radius. The
programme is broadcast from 9 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm daily.
Monday 8 July 13

8. Chetan Bhagat live on community radio in Gujarat
Monday 8 July 13

9. Such things also happen: Chetan met Udaybhai Jadav who operates an auto rickshaw -
but asks his passengers to pay-what-their-heart tells them to in an envelope. Beat that!
Monday 8 July 13

10. The Endeavour went calling to a work of art called the Amdavad ni Gufa
(cave), an underground art gallery in Ahmedabad
Monday 8 July 13

11. Inside the Amdavad ni Gufa
Monday 8 July 13

12. Chetan dropped by to meet Manshuk Lal Raghavjibhai Prajapati, inventor of a clay
refrigerator that supposedly keeps its contents cool and runs without electricity. Want to
know more and order one? Visit http://mitticool.in.
Monday 8 July 13

13. Another MittiCool product - pressure cookers made of clay
Monday 8 July 13

14. Driving into Wankaner, the home of MittiCool
Monday 8 July 13

15. It was hot when we were travelling - Chetan chose to cool off with a
Chuski (a ball of crushed ice topped with colourful flavours of one’s choice)
Monday 8 July 13

16. We all stopped for dinner at a langar (community free kitchen) in a
temple along the way
Monday 8 July 13

17. The landscape changed as we approached the Gir National Park, home
to the last of the Asiatic Lions on this planet
Monday 8 July 13

18. Chetan dropped by to meet members of the Maldhari tribe, who have traditionally lived
in the forests - peacefully with the animals. Of course, over time, many have been
resettled by the Government in villages around the reserve
Monday 8 July 13

19. We sure were lucky to have spotted the big cats inside the forest
Monday 8 July 13

20. This dancing peacock was a delight to watch
Monday 8 July 13

21. What is Chetan doing with all these kids? They are all watching a performance of
traditional dances and music by the Siddhis, a tribe with origins in Africa
Monday 8 July 13

22. The Siddhis painting their faces for the dances
Monday 8 July 13

23. That’s a lot of energy and passion going into the Siddhi dances
Monday 8 July 13

24. Atop a hill in Gir
Monday 8 July 13

25. A panoramic view of Gir on the last evening of the shoot
Monday 8 July 13