Appalled!!! I just ran thorugh the \"Matrimonials\" section on this website and I could not believe the fact that there are advertisements with details I would only disclose with my closest. I have been trying to think why we have matrimonial columns in the first place. You can\'t tell me it is difficult to find partner (in a population of 1 billion with an equal ratio of sexes) on our own? Do we lack self-determination, is it social stigma, or the fear of being outcasted by our own families? I personally think it is a product of all three in addition to the absolute fear to make our own decisions. People of this generation need to understand that in order for us to move ahead we need to \"move forward\" not backwards. There is always going to be a gap between generations and the only way to bridge it is to go with the flow. I guess it is also important for parents to recognize the fact that they need to bridge their own gaps to help bridge their childrens\'. The second fold to the issue I believe is the fact that we in the 21st century are still so immersed in this \"caste\" - pardon my french \"bull@#$%\". An ad. reads \"Bride needed - Brahmin 5\"8\"+ - must be living in USA\". Holy cow, what the heck do people think? Any one that is 5\'8\", Brahmin, and educated in the States is good enough for them to give their daughters away to? Has anyone thought about how traumatic it is to be moving away from home for the first time, to a new country with no friends except for this guy/girl she/he met for a few hours? Give it a break folks! Wake up and smell the coffee! Here\'s the classic uncertainity theory - one too many variables and indeterminate factors for things to fall into place. Even the probability that she\'ll have a good life is based on the probability that the guy is half as decent - mathematically, the chance is a fraction and figuratively, what we have is a sitting duck. There\'s only two people that can make decisions on such a relationship...not the families, the brothers, the starts or lines on the palms, so why is it so darn difficult to understand? The three noble truth, my friends - selection based on caste will cut down your best prospects by a 1000th; not everyone that is in the United States is rich and smart; and not everyone that is fair skinned is fair.
The third fold: I am amazed that people actually do not think twice before advertising their entire family histories on websites. How ignorant is it not to realize the extent of access the internet has - now, every street corner sociopath on the prowl now has even the address to track down an innocent bride (or groom, as the case maybe). Life goes on in our country - nothing will change unless we do. Unless we tell our friends, and families with resolve, the direction we want to set and follow, the stigmas are here to stay to impede mental and social development of our people.