Sahasranam Kalpathy
This is the story of every parent in India and the author portrays the woes of a concerned parent in this ’Autobiographical fiction’.Once a daughter reaches a marriageable age, it is the duty of the parents to find a suitable bridegroom for her. This is the tradition in Hindu culture. Certain sects of Hindus have rigid rules regarding marriage and choice of a bridegroom. The author, himself a Tamil Brahmin, thought-provokingly chronicles the not-so-pleasant experiences encountered while searching for a suitable boy for his daughter.The book describes the dilemmas of an ’arranged marriage’ which is the norm in most of the communities in India.The various rituals connected with the marriage ceremonies of Tamil brahmins are described.The interesting exploits experienced when the boy interacts with the girl or when the parents of the prospective bride and groom meet are interestingly portrayed.The demands put forth by some parents of the boys and the conditions they laid down read like a fairy tale.The narrative reflects the genuine attitudes of a few individuals in society today and the reasons why the marriage proposals were dropped would mortify anyone’s mind.The rigid rules regarding matching of horoscopes are featured in the book.How the parents of the bride must blend diplomacy with shrewdness in searching for a suitable boy for their daughter is recounted in the words of the author.The author also clarifies the importance of bringing about a change in the mindset of the public to revise the institution of marriage in the community. Some of the anecdotes in the book stimulate the reader to ponder on what society today is coming to.The subtle deceptions that the author had to face during this quest are also interestingly sketched in the book.
