Chicken Tikka Masarah: Riding in Cars with Mobile Naukri

On Tuesday, Mobile Naukri tried out a new marketing strategy. We were going to do it bigger, better, and more expensive. It wouldn't involve a helicopter or fire-breathing camels, but it would incorporate a loudspeaker, a microphone and a cherry-red jeep. The Jeep Operation involved Pankaj, Deepak, Meg, Siler, Harsh and myself piling into the car/on the roof and cruising around 18(!) different villages, shouting things into a microphone. I was pretty incredulous as to the success of this campaign; it cost a lot more money than tabling, and the majority of towns we drove through were farming villages that seemed to be entirely inhabited by children. We spent a lot of time throwing business cards and posters out the windows as though we were at a Mardi Gras parade, and then driving away from Husein Bolt-fast kids who demanded more cards.

But, it actually turned out really well. Nearly 30 people registered that were from one of the villages we passed through. Because we were safely locked inside a car, or in some cases, on its roof, we were well out of the reach of creepy men. What we were not out of reach was the torrential monsoon downpour. Maybe I'm just spoiled, but I'm used to cars being water-proof. You know, like where the windows and doors and things close and protect you from the elements. This jeep had those plastic-y zipper windows, that just kept flap-flapping in the wind. Naturally none of the zippers worked, and we showered in this ill-constructed Noah's Ark for the majority of the afternoon. I have very little recollection of what actually happened during this marketing outing; the combination of sweltering humidity, bumpy terrain, cold rain and massive headache brought on by all three of these things clouded my memory. Luckily I took pictures, and new to this blog, a video! That may or may not work- I apologize for any technical difficulties; since GDL has a minimum amount of internet broadband, I can't actually view this video online...

Pankaj Spreading the M.N. Gospel:

Somewhat loud speaker