Matrimony & Matriarchy

Today morning, my mom returned from her visit to some relative when I was still trying to forget sleep and proceed for shower. She broke morning silence, “According to them, you are not educated enough for her.” she was referring to feedback from some gal’s family whom my parents are in touch without my knowledge. I forgot my sleep and asked, “What does she do?” My clueless mom said, “She is into computers.” I sought clarification with resentment, “Is she some virus?” My elder sister who was listening to our conversation from kitchen intervened clarifying that the gal is working in some IT firm in Bangalore. “We are first matching stars (Kundali/Janmakshar) so yet to find out her back ground,” she added.

I slammed bathroom door with a funny comment, “Gal’s family must be thinking I must be some hawker since I am in newspaper as I think she is virus since she is in computers.” But lamented over present matrimony system in changing world where people are changing even faster.

I poured hot water on my head and tried to clean my thoughts. But ended up pondering further over our traditional society, specially conventional match making practice. Fixing arranged marriage is so complex that majority of the couples don’t take risk of passing through the same tedious course of action. And that is why arranged marriages have longer shelf life. Interestingly, society gives credit to our tradition and culture for long lasting marriages.

Fortunately, my parents are ‘liberal’ when it comes to fixing my relationship with marriage. Only issue is they are ‘little’ choosy, specially my mom. She don’t want me to marry with a gal from minority community and prefer a Gujju (again, preferably from the cast at least equal to us if not upper) gal who can take care of the family on their occasional visits to me and retain our (Gujju) traditions. There is one more clause and you can blame it for me being single at the age of 30 and liability for the relatives. She doesn’t want me to marry without matching stars with that of potential bride. Particularly this last clause has restrained me from getting into any serious relationship. My mom probably believes I should ask for my eligible friends’ Kundali while before proposing.

No wonder why online match making portals gaining popularity! Welcome to the world of matching pics, profile and most importantly Kundali, before hearts! But I thank my stars for not making me net savvy, I am open for gamble :-)