Caste no bar

The matrimonial pages are massive here. Clearly fewer people in India than in the States think love will just happen. Arranged marriages are still the norm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriages_in_India, though "love marriages" are on the rise. Just the other night at a revival meeting, a man in his early 20's was telling me about his courtship with his lovely young wife, whose birthday the church was celebrating that evening. "It was a love marriage," he said with some pride.

The Matrimonials page in the Sunday edition of the Hindustan Times is massive. It's organized mostly according to caste, profession and religion. Let's see. Brahmin girl seeks well settled handsome boy from decent family. Reasonable enough. Okay, Delhi-based, fair, slim, b'ful, veg, North Indian SPB/Brahmin girl , Oct75/153, wkg. as Sr. S/W Engg.(SAP) in MNE at Bangalore. Early decent marriage. Hmm. Some figures there I don't quite understand. I suppose that's 153 centimeters and not kilos. Not that it matters. Here's a photographer who describes herself as "smart, B'ful and wheatish." Wheatish? A lot of "Status families" are requested in these pages. A "very smart, confident and charming innocent issueless divorcee" is looking for a smart and educated very well settled issueless boy either in profession or business industrialist family with similar status and refined taste in life. caste no bar. That's going to be one heck of a marriage. Nobody with any issues. Oh I guess that's children. Another lady wants a "clean shaven U.S. resident." Yet another prefers a gentleman "tall, fair and handsome" (me, me ... me). Look how these girls go on. Refined taste indeed. Naked hedonism rather. A more rational perspective is looked for. Naturally, I turn to the Brides Wanted pages.

BEAUTIFUL, v fair, slim, tall, well-qlfd, strictly veg, homely girl with normal eye-sight (no specs nor lenses) for v fair, handsome, tall Goel boy 31 yrs/178 cs, BE, MBA, well-settled in own family business, of high status, philanthropic, affluent, reputed Delhi family, only Son, Caste no bar. Send girls profile, Box #, etc.

A man now who places the proper stress on a good set of eyes, which, as he clearly appreciates, are windows to the soul. Men shallow?