Slice Of Life: ‘Parents trust me with the future of their kids’

I am from Tambaram. I have a son and a daughter and they are married now. I started as a construction labourer nearly 35 years ago. I worked hard and used the savings from that to start a sand business. That is when I noticed that many parents found it difficult to find a suitable life partner for their children and I decided to help them. 

I opened a marriage bureau in 1980 and I did not charge for my services. I used to help everyone who came to me without any discrimination. That was the riskiest job I did in my life. The parents who come to me trust me with their children’s life and I had to be totally committed to the service that I am doing. It was the matter of future of a young generation. I used to be extremely careful while accepting someone’s profile. 

I go through it several times and make enquiries and check it myself before suggesting the profile to prospective bride/groom. I am proud to say that I have helped more than 3,000 people in the past 30 years. 

As far as I know, all of them are happy. It’s really fulfilling to see the happy couples. Meanwhile, my sand business is now slacking due to several regulation in State. So, I started to take a little money, whatever they offer, from matrimonial customers. I had to do it to make ends meet.