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The Marriage Bureau for Rich People
Farahad Zama
2009, 293 pages
Setting: Southern India
After Mr. Ali retires he decides to open a marriage bureau in his town in Southern India. He sets out a sign, advertises and begins matchmaking. Finding the right match in India can be a complicated affair. His clients come in and tell him how tall, young, fair, wealthy and what social class their spouse must be. It is a different culture, where arranged marriages are the norm, and love comes after marriage, not before.
Mr. Ali’s poor assistant Aruna falls for a client named Ramanujam. Ramanujam loves her and proposes, but he is very wealthy and both families disapprove. Can Mr. Ali convince the families of this young couple that this match really is a good one?
This book gives you a glimpse into life in modern India, including Indian politics, religion, castes and arranged marriages. It also describes a Brahmin wedding ceremony in fascinating detail. Give this unusual love story a try!
