software engineer seeks alliance from good-looking working girl

From the Infinite Thought blog:

One of the hardest things to understand in India is the way in which caste and class relate, and how caste, in particular, still holds sway over the way in which individuals are perceived and treated. India is currently enormously optimistic, despite the world economic crisis, and aggressively aspirational posters for MBAs, English and computer classes adorn lampposts in even the smallest of beach towns. The immense gap between even basic infrastructure, religious tradition and cutting-edge technology seems to have been bridged with remarkable ease, so that it is not uncommon for places without clean drinking water to have broadband, and for trainee Brahmin priests to pray in temples while texting on their mobiles.

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If collective public projects are impossible, then it's every aspirational young man and woman for him or herself. Nowhere is this better reflected than in the astonishing organisation of the personal ads (or rather, 'Matrimonials', as marriage/alliance is the desired outcome rather than romantic distraction) in Indian newspapers. In the Sunday Times of India, appear the following categories, a mix of modern outlooks ('Cosmopolitan'), health conditions, jobs, qualifications, marital status, religion, eating habits, age and, above all, caste

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WANTED BRIDES

Cosmopolitan

- 36 Years old Vegan IIT mathematics professor with boyish good looks who hates dairy products seeks a suitable vegan girl (vegetarian who avoid milk products). Caste No Bar

- At 41 with one marital experience I trace the destined one proposing that I am discreetly on my conviction of serving best inclusive cause of humanity amid vice and virtue of ever mingling global values! Is it thou disposed so? Respecting element of secrecy I am at ... on Sundays (10-5)

- Prominent Industrial Hindu Family looking for very fair, extremely attractive only, convent educated girl, from cultured family with good values, for their '78 born, never married, 5'9" non-smoker, teetotaller, fair, very slim, good featured, Ivy League educated son.

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