Wedded To Excess

The Big Fab Indian Wedding (IE, November 2005) was top-class stuff. Indian weddings are perhaps the most ostentatious and expensive affairs on earth. Parents vie with each other to create a wedding affair that people will long remember. Though there’s no evidence to suggest that Indian weddings were less lavish in the past, it’s clear that the new-found prosperity is partly responsible for such spending. Though little can be done about such reckless extravagance, people need not to step into the realm of tastelessness. Also, people should be encouraged to go for court and simple weddings. 
Pankaj Malhotra
New Delhi

The big fat Indian wedding should not be considered such a bad thing at all. After all, it provides jobs to thousands of caterers, artisans, waiters, cooks, tent suppliers, and sundry others. Look at the money that is put back into circulation. Clearly, a lot of this money is black, so it is only on these occasions that it is distributed.
Sulabh Suri
New Delhi

The government should slap a ban on such spending. People copy the rich who can afford to spend millions on their weddings. However, the middle class gets into the competition business and gets carried away, ending up in debt. 
Rajesh Malhotra
Chennai

Great Show!
Your magazine is totally useful to people from all walks of life. The information in sections like Pravasi Corner, India Corner and Travel & Tourism is appreciated. Why don’t you give the full details of operators in the Travel section. Keep up the good show. Best wishes.
M. Yunnus Kunju
Trivandrum

Item Numbers is interesting but who in India can afford all those fancy cars that you list each month? Also, some of the items may not even be shipped to India because of customs rules.
RS Ahluwalia
Ludhiana

Indians are now willing to pay top dollar for luxury because the carmakers are introducing the latest and the best in India. Remember the Merceded E class? Back in the early nineties, the company introduced this range in India, sure that Indians would lap up this outdated model. But,instead, sales failed to move into higher gear and the model was withdrawn. Today, Diamler-Benz has brought the latest SL class to India, and even the Rs 60 lakh tab doesn’t deter customers. 
Rohit Mishra
Mumbai

The arrival of hot new cars like the Hummer, Ferrari and Maybach is a good thing. Not only will Indian carmakers have to pump up their quality, Indian state governments will have to improve the quality of roads. It’s because of the shoddy state of our highways and streets that somebody like liquor baron Vijay Mallya has to keep his two Maybachs in New York and London. Also, the components industry will get a leg-up.
Ramesh Jayaram
Kochi

If Australians — who rarely venture into ethnic Indian terrain—are being seduced by all things sartorial and Indian, there has to be a very special reason why these clothes are flying off the shelves in Melbourne. The ‘trend’ is confined to just a street in the city, but Indian stuff is all the rage and the trend will surely widen in scope. 
Adil Sumariwala
Ahmedabad

Your Pravasi section is too brief. Since the diaspora is a happening thing, I’m sure there are lots of people and action overseas that who would be covered by India Empire. That would really add to the sections that NRIs look forward to.
Kapil Dev
Mumbai

December 2005