Well....good luck then

Our local newspapers contain the usual sections: sports, politics, local news, and so on - but my favorite section by far is the classifieds.
Among the standard employment, real estate, and automotive listings is the 'matrimonial' section; something like traditional personals save for the fact that these advertisements are placed with the sole and explicit aim of marriage.
Many marriages in India are still subject to the arranged marriage tradition - brides and grooms selected for young singles by family members or through highly paid matrimonial experts specializing in settling men and women into a successful married relationship.
To those who do not have the luxury of falling in love, or enough money to secure a profitable arrangement, the newspaper classifieds provide a certain means to an end.

Under the section 'Brides Required' one finds the paid requests for available women, organized by religious preference (Including the familar Brahmin, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, as well as lesser known (to me) faiths: Kannadiga, Mudaliar, Naidu and so on.) With the same presentation in the far less populated 'Grooms Required' section. Ads ordinarily offer specs on height, skin color, education, income, and family background.

This week, a number of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes seek their soul mates via newsprint. I find these fascinating, here are just a few:

M. Vasishta 37, 5'8",very light skinned, only son DG Central Government requires qualified employed/unemployed Brahmin bride. Salary Rs.15,000 [This is approximately $350.]

Very handsome, fair CSI Nadir Christian 27/185cm sofware engineer working in Australia seeks fair, tall, good looking doctor/engineer for marriage partnership. Interviewing early 2007.

Brahmin (now in India) 28, 5'8", B.E., M.B.A., (U.S.A.), seeks any (employed) professional girl.

Thulava Mudalair 28, B.E., (ECE), software engineer (IBM Bangalore), Rs. 25,000 per month [This is approximately $600], 5'11", seeks employed doctor/engineer Bangalore and surrounding brides only. [Contact information provided with this ad is the lonelyheart's mother.]

Immediate alliance invited from professionally qualified boys working in U.S.A./UK, age 25-30 years, belonging to educated, broadminded family for good looking, decent girl. Applications with bank receipts and photograph should be sent to Box#___...

Wanted Kannada Mahwa bridegroom for fair girl, 26 years, working in MNC Chennai. Apply to matrimony service directly with salary and family information.

Alliance sought immediately for divorced lady, 43. Available financially secure professional men apply to Box#___...

Quick marriage sought for beautiful, light skinned girl, 34, unemployed, seeks well employed, educated boy from good Bangalore family.