The Marriage Bureau for Rich People
By Farahad Zama Thorndike Press, Large Print Edition (2009)
ISBN: 978-1-4104-1743-5
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by Angela Evans - December 7, 2009
The Marriage Bureau for Rich People is a charming, modern day period piece set in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) a large coastal city located on India's eastern coast. With shades of Jane Austen, this story looks at the manner and mores of modern India, and like Pride and Prejudice, it keenly examines the machinations that go into making the perfect match when it comes to finding a spouse.
As the story opens, Mr. Ali is driving his wife crazy! Ever since he retired, he's been under foot, disrupting the household routine and being a general nuisance. To placate his wife, and to give him something to do with his spare time, Mr. Ali decides to open a marriage bureau, ono that will specialize in making matches for rich people only. In a land where arranged marriages are the norms, there is plenty of opportunity for a man of wit and common sense to do well in such an endeavor, and before he knows what has happened, his marriage bureau is a hit. So much so that he has to hire an assistant, and thanks to his wife's aid, he is fortunate enough to hire Aruna, a young woman who had to drop out of her master's degree program to go to work to support her family after her father's pension was cut and he became too ill to seek a second job.
In short order, Aruna becomes so much a part of the business that Mr. Ali has the confidence to leave Aruna in charge when he needs some time off. A need that becomes dire when his son Rehman, an engineer turned social activist, is arrested after organizing a protest to stop a multinational economic development zone from being built on prime agricultural land and displacing the impoverished farmers.
The Marriage Bureau for Rich People was written by Farahad Zama, who grew up in Vizag and who entered into a very successful arranged marriage when it was time for him to marry. In this book he not only brings to life the hustle and bustle of this important port city, but also the nuances of Indian life. He provides a glimpse at the sometimes contentious interaction between Christians, Muslims, and Hindus, and how these diverse groups manage to live in peace more often than not. Zama also examines the intricacies of the Indian caste, the role that corruption plays in Indian life, and the social and religious dictates that permeate Indian life. Most important, this book provides keen insight into Indian marriage practices, how Muslim and Hindu wedding ceremony's are performed, and how arranged marriages are contracted in India. It also looks at how and why marriages made for love are frowned upon in traditional circles, and the sometimes dire results of marrying without your family's blessing or in entering a marriage that is in contradiction to the norm.
From beginning to end, this was a fascinating book to read and one that will intrigue anyone looking to take a calm journey into an exotic land or to take a look at the vibrant and energetic marriage practices of a multifaceted culture.
Related Reviews:
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.
This is an amusing tale about the five Bennet sisters, and their mother's unrelenting drive to get them rich husbands.
Half a Life, by V. S. Naipaul.
This is a pragmatic coming-of-age tale that follows the life of Willie Somerset Chandran, who grows up in India. Through Chandran's life, Naipaul explores the numerous aspects of injustice that exist in the world.
