One of my favourite reading items on Sundays is the matrimonial section of 'The Hindu'. We sisters used to go through the malayalam section of the matrimonial especially, having read the whole thing and found that this part is the most amusing. No, it was not for searching for grooms for ourselves. It was read for time pass, to see what people wanted for their children or for themselves and how they put it in the open domain. I have continued this habit to date. My husband, every time he sees me opening that section, jokes if I am on the lookout for a new groom for myself. Then comes the next question, what new am I looking for.
All the time, he knows what exactly I am looking for. I am looking for those matrimonials that make me laugh, make me pass a remark and make me angry. It gives me a idea of how men and women give advt either for themselves or for their children. Some of the most hilarious ones I have come across are as follows:
1. A prospective groom had given his age, qualifications and that he was living abroad. Added at the end was HIV -ve. That was the age when AIDS was in the news and it was talked about as being more among those living in foreign countries.
2. Nair groom from aristocratic family - this is one that is found very often. Aristocracy existed in Kerala, yes. It was abolished long ago. But there are so many people still living in the past. Nair families whose ancestors served under kings continue to think they are past of aristocracy. We have to ask what job these ancestors did ? But two three weeks ago I found an advt where someone from lower in the caste hierarchy called himself from an aristocratic family. This when members of this caste should not cover their torsos and their shadows should not fall on a person of the higher caste. How come he is part of aristocracy ?
3. A bridegroom, Kama from Hyderabad (I remember the details because he advertised in such big columns repeatedly for two weeks and my friend told me that Kama was a caste in Andhra) needed a wife. He was 45 and above living in one of the posh areas of Hyderabad. He was outgoing, broadminded, rich and so on and needed a wife who would look after his child and be someone who would stay at home.
4. A man above 40 looking for a bride in her late 20s. What was he thinking ?
The one that got me wondering this sunday was from a prospective bridegroom looking for a girl who was family bonded. That is a nice quality to expect from a girl. That she be attached to the family. But, did he mean she should be bonded to her family, meaning her parents ? Would he like that in the long run if she loved her family more ? Or did he expect her to become bonded to his family on marriage. Bonded - bonded in what sense ? Bonded out of love ? Or is it bounded by labour ? Made me wonder.
All the time, he knows what exactly I am looking for. I am looking for those matrimonials that make me laugh, make me pass a remark and make me angry. It gives me a idea of how men and women give advt either for themselves or for their children. Some of the most hilarious ones I have come across are as follows:
1. A prospective groom had given his age, qualifications and that he was living abroad. Added at the end was HIV -ve. That was the age when AIDS was in the news and it was talked about as being more among those living in foreign countries.
2. Nair groom from aristocratic family - this is one that is found very often. Aristocracy existed in Kerala, yes. It was abolished long ago. But there are so many people still living in the past. Nair families whose ancestors served under kings continue to think they are past of aristocracy. We have to ask what job these ancestors did ? But two three weeks ago I found an advt where someone from lower in the caste hierarchy called himself from an aristocratic family. This when members of this caste should not cover their torsos and their shadows should not fall on a person of the higher caste. How come he is part of aristocracy ?
3. A bridegroom, Kama from Hyderabad (I remember the details because he advertised in such big columns repeatedly for two weeks and my friend told me that Kama was a caste in Andhra) needed a wife. He was 45 and above living in one of the posh areas of Hyderabad. He was outgoing, broadminded, rich and so on and needed a wife who would look after his child and be someone who would stay at home.
4. A man above 40 looking for a bride in her late 20s. What was he thinking ?
The one that got me wondering this sunday was from a prospective bridegroom looking for a girl who was family bonded. That is a nice quality to expect from a girl. That she be attached to the family. But, did he mean she should be bonded to her family, meaning her parents ? Would he like that in the long run if she loved her family more ? Or did he expect her to become bonded to his family on marriage. Bonded - bonded in what sense ? Bonded out of love ? Or is it bounded by labour ? Made me wonder.
2 comments:
oh, it is a great post! I really like it!^_^
Nice post
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