Review – The Marriage Bureau for Rich People

A Fun Debut Novel Indian Marriage Customs and Matchmaking

Mar 18, 2009

Set in the Vizag, India, Farahad Zama's first novel is a fun glimpse into the world of Indian wedding customs, matchmaking and arranged marriages.

Beginning with a quote from Jane Austen and a reference on the back cover to the “pride and prejudice” of the characters in the story, Farahad Zama makes clear his intention to echo Austen’s theme of expectations in relationships based on assumptions and social ranking in his debut novel The Marriage Bureau for Rich People (Abacus, 2009)

The novel begins with the opening day of Mr Ali’s new business, The Marriage Bureau for Rich People. Bored in retirement, Mr Ali begins a matchmaking service for local families, offering the services of his contemporary marriage bureau to find partners for men and women of all ages looking for a traditional arranged marriage in a modern world.

The central characters are Mr and Mrs Ali and Aruna, a young woman hired to help with the marriage bureau paperwork. Engaging characters, their ongoing story serves to give the novel continuity as they are joined by a series of single men and women, or the parents or siblings of these men and women, seeking assistance finding partners for a variety of reasons.

Throughout the novel, Mr Ali offers practical advice to his clients, providing a quality service and quickly building a thriving business. Despite his insights for his clients, he remains oblivious to the emotional struggles of his secretary Aruna and fails to apply his own advice of acceptance and tolerance to his relationship with his son Rehman.

Zama’s descriptions of colourful saris, hot dusty roads, rich spicy food and various other sights, smells and sounds of everyday Indian life in the town of Vizag (Visakhapatnam) provides a sensual backdrop for this light-hearted story about relationships, expectations, families and Indian marriage traditions.

Indian Marriage Customs

Zama offers fascinating descriptions of Hindu and Muslim marriage celebrations as well as a glimpse into the complex Indian social structure dependant on consideration of caste and sub-caste, financial and social standing, and family structure.

Aruna’s statement “Love is supposed to follow marriage, not the other way around. A marriage is not just about two people, it is about two families” is typical of the way characters in the novel approach the subject of marriage, in contrast to the Western view on the subject.

Despite the relaxed style and tone of the novel, Zama draws attention to the role of women in Indian culture, demonstrating the significant place they hold within the household. This, and the details of the marriage and relationship protocols, lifts this novel from the general milieu of general/relationship fiction.

Farahad Zama

Farahad Zama was born in Vizag, India where the novel is set. He moved to London in 1990 where he works as an investment banker.

Matchmaking in India

This enjoyable, well-written novel is a great casual read. The characters are engaging and well-portrayed, the setting and cultural information interesting and the storyline has sufficient depth to hold the interest of the reader.

The copyright of the article Review – The Marriage Bureau for Rich People in Asian Literature is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Review – The Marriage Bureau for Rich People in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.