Marriage-Marketing-Madness

** Just because even my parents were worried - I am not looking for a husband - these are just cultural observations! **

For some, getting married just happens. They meet someone, fall in love and then sometime later decide that it's a good idea to get married. Kind of what happened to me long time ago...

Yet this is a very ethnocentric view of marriage. Other cultures have different approaches. In India, many marriages are still arranged. I talked to a few people in India, who have still had their parents or other family members arrange their marriage.

This isn't a post about whichever system is better. This is a post about when neither system works. This is a post about what happens in India when a family is left with an ageing child (or through divorce he/she returns) and what do they do to secure a marriage for him/her. How do they market this marriage 'reject' and finally have the house back to themselves? ;-)

Oh and before you proceed, remember not to take this too seriously... Some of my India posts already resulted in an angry feedback from some (unknown) Indian blog readers.

If you don't like what I write, don't read it.

Newspaper Matrimonials

On Sundays the Times of India newspaper is full of ads. Ads advertising brides and 'boys' of various ages, regions of India and religions. Here's my brief analysis of this phenomena.

FYI - matrimonial ads are divided so:

1. "Wanted Brides" and "Wanted Grooms".

2. Each gender is divided into age groups - 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s.

3. Each age group is divided into religious, locality, social, professional, cultural and other(?) groups, for example: Hindu, Brahmin, Bengali, Cosmopolitan, Green Card, MBA, Doctors...

The list goes on and on...

The ads show the value of a potential partner and from my observation are based on the following (not order of importance):

• educational qualifications - PG (postgraduate), MBA, Medico (medical doctor) and often it is indicated if education was done abroad and where.
• work - wkg (working), world renown MNC (multinational company), professor. Often parents occupations are also included - Fthr Retd Sr Cl1 Ofcr (Father retired senior class 1 officer).
• earnings - 4.5Lpa (Lakhs per annum. Lakh is 100,000 rupees, Cr = Crore is 1 million rupees).
• age and height - 28/6' - 28 years old and 6 feet tall (180cm).
• skin colour - very fair, fair, wheatish (dark) - the lighter the better...
• family - decent status, from respected family, industrialist reputed business family of old Delhi, (family reputation is very important).
• all men no matter what age are called 'boy' - obviously their mothers write these ads...
• and very often an exact birth date is given, including time and location - this is to ensure an astrological match...

So let us look at some examples that I found particularly amusing...

And of course, I focused on the men! ;-)

PS Deciphering these was not easy. I might have made mistakes, so let me know if I'm wrong.

First a few of the "Bride Wanted":

Kumauni is a region of India. Br and Brahmin is a religion. 162cm tall and from March 1975. Masters of Science and a doctorate.

mglk= manglik, which is something from Indian astrology and apparently is bad for marriage.

boy (he will always be a boy to his mother!)

wkg=working (I have no idea what Ggn is) but he earns 11,5 lakhs (=AUD230,000pa).

Seeks beautiful, professionally qualified Kumauni girl with various listed qualifications preferred.

The next ad caught my eye because this 'boy' is seeking specifically a government employed woman.

Agarwal is a community of people in India from the North.

What caught my eye here is the term 'convented', which I think means convent educated...

Does this relate to the potential 'purity' of this 38year old man (according to his mother at least!)?

Notice too the 'early marriage' - I'm still trying to work that one out.

And 'Caste no bar' - meaning a match from a lower caste should not be a problem.

The ad highlighted in pink was just too difficult for me - what l is a 'Farm Fly'??

Here the circled ad got my attention - 'innocent Divorcee with American girl' - yes, I'm sure it was the American girl's fault!

The top left hand ad under Marwaris is also interesting:

Marwari is an Indian ethnic group

SM4 = suitable match for

Separated = only separated, not even divorced yet, mother is fast!

I'less = 'Issueless' or 'without issue' means NO CHILDREN!! And here I thought they were looking for people without problems...

This 54 year old gentleman is one of my favourites because he LOOKS 40 years old (look 40)!! And he also claims he's handsome (h'some) and is a US citizen living in Delhi but is willing to move anywhere else in India!

Maybe he's also one that got corrupted by one of those American girls?





Now this 'boy's' mother really took matters into her own hands!

Suitable match for a Brahmin boy in Canada. Born on 23/01/76 (what a birthday present from mum!), 5'11" tall and had a previous marriage annulled after 7 days (is that a good thing??)

His mother is currently in India and looking for a wife for him...

Lucky boy!

Now this is my all time favourite!!!!

I almost replied to this innocent boy!

Sikh (religion) Boy born on Jan 1980, 5'8" tall, Bachelor of Engineering and MBA educated, earning 10Lpa (=AUD 200,000pa).

Inc (??) Divorced Marriage survived for a few days and was not consummated!!!

Well at least his mother believes his innocence!

:-)

And now for the sake of balance - from the girls, "Grooms Wanted":

Of course all the girls describe themselves a lot more and they are all fair and beautiful!

The first girl certainly knows she likes a man in uniform - Army/Civil officers only!

And in the left column, I wander who insisted in the precise height measurement? 5 feet and 2.5 inches tall?

And then this girl knows exactly what she doesn't want! No widowers, divorcees or dowry seekers!

Interesting this 'no dowry' clause. Apparently a woman is still supposed to bring into the marriage everyday items she uses - like a TV, bed, fridge etc...

Now what would your matrimonial add read like?

Please keep in mind it would be written by your mother or aunts!

And if you're ready to take action, here's who to contact if you've found the one:

PS Please notice I've left the phone numbers and email addresses in these ads visible. I figure this was published in a newspaper so is available to be seen by the public, meaning - you.

But please, leave my innocent Sikh boy alone! He's mine! ;-)