Farahad Zama Books In Order

Publication Order of The Marriage Bureau for Rich People Books

Publication Order of Collections

Farahad Zama is a general fiction Indian author best known for his Marriage Bureau for Rich People series. He was born in Vizag, India, in 1966 and attended the Indian Institute of Engineering near Kolkata, where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. Zama moved to Mumbai to start a career in the corporate world in an investment bank. He would later get married to a Vizag girl through an arranged marriage. His career saw him travel to Zurich, New York, Luxembourg, and finally, London. Zama is still in South London a decade and a half later with his wife and their two boys. He still works in the corporate world and writes during his commutes.

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People is a perfect summer reading debut novel by Indian author Farahad Zama. It’s a highly recommended read for the fans of the Number One Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. It’s a story that will transport you to India, where you will be introduced to Mr. Ali in his garden.

We meet a recently retired Mr. Ali, who decides to venture into a small business to keep himself busy. Since marriages in India are often arranged, creating Marriage Bureau, a matchmaking service in the country, would result in a booming business. The business is so successful that Mr. Ali neglects his core duties, with the telephone so busy that she has difficulty making or receiving calls. Ali’s wife is concerned that her husband is working too much, too much for a retired man of his age, and she requests him hire an assistant. Aruna takes up the job opportunity, working close to home, and she finds herself suited for this position.

Mr. Ali is a fantastic character, his arranged marriage is a happy one. He and his wife live a peaceful life enjoying their union in their home and garden. The only cause of concern is the welfare of their only child Rehman who gets involved in a protest against the displacement of the local farmers by a famous company. As the protests rage on, the danger of beatings by the cops and arrest become a serious concern for the family. There is no compromise as Ali argues with his son, much to the distress of Mrs. Ali.

Mr. Ali buries himself in his business; he has grown incredibly busy with several families seeking appropriate spouses for their children. Mr. Ali will accommodate all religions, castes, and wealth levels, which are vital to the candidates. Some of the conditions are rather amusing, such as the desire for the future bride or groom’s family to be small – the less sisters to be wed, the better. Also, if the bride-to-future be mother-in-law has died, she will not have to compete for the love of her future husband.

Mr. Ali is both intelligent and practical. He feels that a precise match will lead to a successful marriage. Mr. Ali and Ms. Aruna take all of these factors into account when advising a match in India, where there are several religions and castes. Their expertise and meticulous attention to detail contribute to the business’s success and profitability. According to Mr. Ali, many fathers believe their daughters will be contented if their son-in-law is a successful officer or software developer in California. Not necessarily accurate. You must find a man of high moral character who respects his wife. If you have it, any woman would be happy even if finances are tight. If a spouse comes home intoxicated or chases other women, she will be sad no matter how large their home is or how many servants they have.
He encourages a young woman with a demanding professional who is thinking of marrying a man whose mother is tough to “ignore any snarky remarks” and make sure she has time to dedicate to her husband. Aruna’s father says, “Money is not important if you have enough.” The money set aside for Aruna’s dowry has been drained by misfortune and ill health. Aruna is resolved to assist her family, pay for her young sister’s college education, and to accept the possibility that she might never marry. She does not hesitate to provide this advice to a prospective groom: “If you desire a happy marriage, you need to recognize what your lady is wearing and compliment her, even if you believe what she is wearing is inappropriate.” They both chuckle but acknowledge the truth.

When presented with a love match, Aruna vehemently asserts, “Love should follow marriage and not vice versa!” Marriage involves more than two people. It focuses on two families.” The people in this story are charming, and their culture fascinates us as we settle into the warmth of India and Mr. Ali’s house. This is the ideal book to begin your summer reading with.

As Mr. Ali steers us through the thorny concerns of social-political intrigue of the Indian culture, we cannot help but assume that choosing the ideal match is almost inconceivably complex. Through Mr. Ali and his match assistant, you learn that even the strictest requirements might be met and how some obstacles to marriage (divorce being the worst and lack of cash a close second) could be overcome. The author allows us to attend weddings with Mr. and Mrs. Ali and listen to his counsel – for example, he advises one guy without family to bargain on his behalf. He encourages him not to discuss his employment in the “valves” industry with his prospective in-laws and to showcase what he has to give in the best possible way. Simply said, it is a delightful and cheerful short story.

People commonly worry that a story set in India may include language they cannot understand. It is important to note that books of this type have a glossary of local words in the back, but there is no need for one here. There are obviously many intricate caste and sub-caste names, some of which you won’t know or recall, but honestly, they won’t make you feel like you’re missing out on anything by not knowing them.