Since times immemorial, man has struggled for survival in
forbidding natural conditions against all odds. Adversities
come in various forms and hence the human solution also
varies accordingly. Jodhpur, located in the state of Rajasthan,
near India’s western frontier close to the Pakistan border, is
one of the last places of civilisation before the Thar Desert
takes over. In Jodhpur, nature has been contributing to
adversity with heat and dust from the rocky Thar Desert and
the Aravali mountains. There is very little rain and very little
green cover. But even here, Man, with his resourcefulness,
has managed to convert the negatives into positives. The
very elements have worked for the locals as a protection
against enemies. In addition, since Jodhpur was on the trade
route joining Arabia and India, it offered a place of respite –
and yes, money from taxes and excise.