India, Aug. 2 -- In my book, Being Indian (Penguin, 2000), I quote a startlingly interesting matrimonial ad that appeared in one of the country's leading newspapers. It read:

'Wanted FAIRY LOOKS, Slim, Very Tall Educated MODERN Extremely Beautiful Bride from Industrial Family For 27/187, Slim Very Handsome Only Son of Affluent, High Caste Hindu, Presently Most Liked, Senior Cabinet Minister of India. Boy is Vegetarian Having Clean Habits And Well Settled In London in his Own Business.'

There are few documents that compress so much relevant information into so few words as the matrimonial advertisements in our newspapers. They are ostensibly about marriage. In reality, they are miniature sociological treatises. In a few lines, they discl...