December 11, 2020
Those Were The Days...
Back in the 1960s and the ’70s, young couples would have only a limited say in marriage. A brief glance was enough to fall in love, and guests would be happy being served
Goldspot! Brylcreem epitomised grooming for men. Vignettes of four such weddings.
SHYAM SUNDER & MANORAMA SHARMA
Mr Shyam Sunder, belonging to Lutyens’ Delhi, dreamt of becoming an actor at the age of 19. His mother, Bhabho, feared that he might leave them all for Bombay, and thought the only way to deter him would be to get him married. She came to know of the beautiful, 16-year-old Manorama through a friend. On 1 May, 1960, she saw Manorama, and on May 13, they got married, without the couple having set eyes on each other! All their life, they ate their meals from the same plate. Shortly after they were married, Bhabho gently rebuked them for PDA. Mr Sharma had to tell his mother: “But I am married, she is my wife”.
Text: Akriti Bhardwaj Singh
CHAUDHARY RIAZ-UR-RAHEEM & MUNAZZA RIAZ
This match had to go through a test before they could be together! The bride’s family said they would consider the proposal only if the groom had a degree in Law. Mr Raheem enrolled into Law school, and got a gold medal. The groom’s mother went again with the proposal, only to be told that the girl’s marriage had been settled elsewhere. The mother then prayed for a miracle. Fate was not going to have the hard work and prayers go in vain, and due to some reason, the engagement was broken off, and the two got married, on May 5, 1970. They have been married for 48 years, and have five children and 13 grandchildren.
Text: Nawal Aamer
KORRAPATI ANIL & GOLLA JYOTSNA
Love blossomed while the two were studying for MBBS at Kurnool Medical College. The parents didn’t approve the inter-caste union. However, the wedding took place on October 11, 1986. Mr Anil’s father hit him in front of his colleagues, wife and superiors. The family never accepted their marriage, but reconciled when their son was born in 1991. This year, as they celebrate their 33rd anniversary, they hope that love is celebrated and not punished. Much water has flown down since then, but have things really changed?
Text: Anuhya Korrapati
RAJNIKANT KESHAVLAL & RASIKA SHAH
It was a love marriage, circa 28 March 1962. Mr Shah met Mrs Shah at his friend, Gunu bhai, her cousin’s place. Since the family hails from the lineage of the Durbar of Bhrugupur Bhadakwa in Gujarat, the bride’s family ensured that all was up to the mark at the wedding. Mr Shah wore a three-piece suit, and ordered for a pocket square to match with the bride’s sari gharchodu). The welcome drink served to guests was Goldspot, a big deal at that time. The wedding was a melting pot of modern and traditional cultures of a typical Gujarati family. The groom’s family was way too modern, and the men wore shirt, trousers and tie, and the women looked resplendent in chiffon saris. Knowing Mr Shah’s love for his styling, his bride had secretly gifted him Brylcreem hair cream, to maintain his slicked back look that kept his hair perfectly in place during the wedding.
Those were simple days.