Ever since Adam and Eve started dating (due to lack of entertainment options in BIGG BOSS and Ishant Sharma), they nurtured two dreams.
Beyond the immediate need to cover themselves up with Armani products, they wanted to get out of the stigma of a live in relationship and get married with Hawaiian flora and fauna in attendance. After all they also had a mandate to be the trendsetters for millions of people worldwide and billions of Indians. It (marriage) would happen in due course of time and it is alleged that they also received a wedding gift.
It was a dinner set.
Elsewhere at around the same time (OK - maybe a million years here or there), in a different part of the world, Sri Ramchandra was growing up to be the king in waiting. Guru Vashisht had taught all the four brothers the noble and purposeful ways of leading life and also how to blow away the CAT and get into IIM-A in the first attempt. Armed with killer looks, charming manners and knowledge of the format of 'Bachelorette India', he entered Sita's syamwar. And much to Sita's delight, breaks Lord Shiva's bow rather nonchalantly. (Will not digress into Lord Parashuram's anger management issues here). They are then bound in holy matrimony by their high profile relatives. Their marriage ceremony expectantly witnessed a lot of other upmarket people come over to bless them. As a token of their good wishes, they bring along with them gifts.
Credible sources from those days report that those gifts were all La Opala Dinner sets.
Cut to Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachhan's wedding in modern times. Another big fat wedding where stars (and gatecrashers in disguise) descended upon the reception venue - all carrying dinner sets as gifts. The Bachhans were reportedly so deeply peeved at the sameness of the gifts that they gave them right back to their guests as return gifts (but after retaining the glossy wrapping papers).
What is with weddings gifts and dinner sets? And is it predominantly an Indian phenomenon? Let us invoke the RTI.
It is not that people decide in advance. I suspect in most of the cases, this is what happens -
After suddenly discovering late afternoon that your best friend's d-day is today, youdrag your unwilling spouse into a gift shop solicit your spouse's help selecting something 'nice and unique'.
You: Bhaiya - "I need a nice gift to give away in a wedding"
Shopkeeper: "What kind of gift do you have in mind? I mean we have toasters, tea sets, cutlery, iron boxes, Archies cards, fake Rolex watches, pirated DVDs, Dollar under wears and more........."
Y: "It has to be imaginative. She is a special friend."
S: Scratching his forehead (or butt depending upon his degree of confusion)..."Which means?"
Y: "Something which is useful....you see gifts need to be practical."
S: "Hmmmm....How about a Hawkins pressure cooker?"
Y: "I did not say 'unsophisticated items'. It has to have a degree of refinement."
S: "I suggest Titan Raaga."
Y: "She already has a couple of them. What else? I mean also needs to be substantial"
S: "You mean BIG?"
Y: "Yes. That would be kinda nice."
S: "I know where this is going. I suspect you would also like it to be available in floral prints and bright colours."
Y: "Holy cow!"
S: "Mam/Sir - That section on the left has DINNER SETS. The range starts from Rs. 800."
Y: "Oh my God. This is downright quirky. We completely outdid ourselves with the planning. There is so much uniqueness to this unique present. High five!"
Except that all of the 275 invited guests were appreciating their respective dinner sets in different parts of the city at the same time.
Now guys never get wedding gifts (for that matter, we never get any gifts). Gifts in general and wedding gifts in particular are always selected with the lady in mind, and the closest we guys ever come to sharing the proceeds is on the 'With best compliments from' card.
So the point is, since we guys do not have any expectations, it does not matter to us. But think about the lady. On certain instances in our black and white past, women also used to be given sarees, footwear, jewelry, cosmetics etc. Where have they all gone?
May be this could some day be a part of a national debate played out in the TIMES NOW studio.
Beyond the immediate need to cover themselves up with Armani products, they wanted to get out of the stigma of a live in relationship and get married with Hawaiian flora and fauna in attendance. After all they also had a mandate to be the trendsetters for millions of people worldwide and billions of Indians. It (marriage) would happen in due course of time and it is alleged that they also received a wedding gift.
It was a dinner set.
Elsewhere at around the same time (OK - maybe a million years here or there), in a different part of the world, Sri Ramchandra was growing up to be the king in waiting. Guru Vashisht had taught all the four brothers the noble and purposeful ways of leading life and also how to blow away the CAT and get into IIM-A in the first attempt. Armed with killer looks, charming manners and knowledge of the format of 'Bachelorette India', he entered Sita's syamwar. And much to Sita's delight, breaks Lord Shiva's bow rather nonchalantly. (Will not digress into Lord Parashuram's anger management issues here). They are then bound in holy matrimony by their high profile relatives. Their marriage ceremony expectantly witnessed a lot of other upmarket people come over to bless them. As a token of their good wishes, they bring along with them gifts.
Credible sources from those days report that those gifts were all La Opala Dinner sets.
Cut to Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachhan's wedding in modern times. Another big fat wedding where stars (and gatecrashers in disguise) descended upon the reception venue - all carrying dinner sets as gifts. The Bachhans were reportedly so deeply peeved at the sameness of the gifts that they gave them right back to their guests as return gifts (but after retaining the glossy wrapping papers).
Image courtesy: wholesalemart.com
What is with weddings gifts and dinner sets? And is it predominantly an Indian phenomenon? Let us invoke the RTI.
It is not that people decide in advance. I suspect in most of the cases, this is what happens -
After suddenly discovering late afternoon that your best friend's d-day is today, you
You: Bhaiya - "I need a nice gift to give away in a wedding"
Shopkeeper: "What kind of gift do you have in mind? I mean we have toasters, tea sets, cutlery, iron boxes, Archies cards, fake Rolex watches, pirated DVDs, Dollar under wears and more........."
Y: "It has to be imaginative. She is a special friend."
S: Scratching his forehead (or butt depending upon his degree of confusion)..."Which means?"
Y: "Something which is useful....you see gifts need to be practical."
S: "Hmmmm....How about a Hawkins pressure cooker?"
Y: "I did not say 'unsophisticated items'. It has to have a degree of refinement."
S: "I suggest Titan Raaga."
Y: "She already has a couple of them. What else? I mean also needs to be substantial"
S: "You mean BIG?"
Y: "Yes. That would be kinda nice."
S: "I know where this is going. I suspect you would also like it to be available in floral prints and bright colours."
Y: "Holy cow!"
S: "Mam/Sir - That section on the left has DINNER SETS. The range starts from Rs. 800."
Y: "Oh my God. This is downright quirky. We completely outdid ourselves with the planning. There is so much uniqueness to this unique present. High five!"
Except that all of the 275 invited guests were appreciating their respective dinner sets in different parts of the city at the same time.
Now guys never get wedding gifts (for that matter, we never get any gifts). Gifts in general and wedding gifts in particular are always selected with the lady in mind, and the closest we guys ever come to sharing the proceeds is on the 'With best compliments from' card.
So the point is, since we guys do not have any expectations, it does not matter to us. But think about the lady. On certain instances in our black and white past, women also used to be given sarees, footwear, jewelry, cosmetics etc. Where have they all gone?
May be this could some day be a part of a national debate played out in the TIMES NOW studio.
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