2005年NPR美国国家公共电台九月-Speed Dating Makes Inroads in India（在线收听）

This is All Things Considered. I am Melissa Block. And I am Robert Siegel. India is changing fast, but it's still a fundamentally conservative society. Most marriages are arranged, western-style dating is unthinkable for most, which is why it's surprising to learn that the phenomenon of speed dating has made its way to the capital, New Delhi. Here is reporter Mandy Cunningham.

In the art of courtship, this is the equivalent of fast food. You get just three minutes to exhibit your charms before moving on to the next date. Speed dating was begun six-year ago by a rabbi in Los Angeles as a way to help young Jewish singles find romance. Now, it's reached India. In New Delhi's Agni nightclub, suitors are beginning to arrive. They include 29-year-old Mohit Shama.

“I am a software engineer working in US for last five years, I just came to know about this from the newspaper, so I thought let's give it a try, and I, here, I’m here to looking for something serious, that’s marriage …”

Mohit knows his chances of finding a bride are slim. He says his potential partner should be well-educated and from his own Brahman Caste, she must also be prepared to marry in November and return with him to the United States.

Mafia Rura, a Bank executive, is also looking for a long-term partner. She is 31, and came here on the advice of her father.

“To be honest with you ,I don’t think my dad when he saw it, really realized it was essentially a dating site, he possibly believed that it was a marriage site because he was looking out for somebody for me and, I mean, of course I was too. So he said anyway, he saw the same, so it doesn’t make much of a difference. It's a different way of meeting people. So I said, yeah, let me try it.”

Each person has been interviewed by the organizers beforehand. And they pay between 20 and 50 dollars to attend, no small amount in India. As other women wait to come inside, it’s clear that not all are looking for husbands.

“No, not marriage right now.”

Kuja and Funia, both in their early twenties, are studying fashion design. They believe Delhi's young professionals are too busy to find friends and partners, so they hope this speed dating is the answer.

“There's an advantage, speed dating, because you don't have to sit through a boring date and wait for waiter to bring in the check. That is the best thing.”

And do your parents know what you are doing?

“NO.”

“Not really, not in India, not allowed in India, right?”

Social taboos still abound in India, which is why Gary Dullel who works for the company London Nights which runs the event thinks speed dating has a useful role to play.

“Our social scene is very, very, very different in India; you can't just walk up to a girl in the bar and just be like ‘hi, what's up? Can I buy you a drink?’ so a social secure scene like that ,where participants are actually screened, you’re being watched, very classy places where they can meet, I think that's what the India audience is looking for.”

“Are all of you seated, everybody seated, yeah? The rules are, you cannot ask each other's numbers, you can look at each other, let’s chat as much as you want. All right? One, two, three, and the third time, you can talk now.”

Finally, about an hour and half late, the first dates begin.

As the evening wears on, the atmosphere becomes increasingly relaxed; the couples seem to chat naturally.

“All right! All right! All right! Now time is up.”

But after more than a dozen high speed dates, Mohit, the man looking for a bride to take back to America is disappointed.

“Ah, I am not very satisfied here because there were not the type of girls I was looking for, and it was just what, I would say, if you want to have fun, that’s fine. Otherwise, I mean, that’s not very serious.”

Mohit was unlucky in love, but other speed daters seemed happy. The organizers say they have thousands of inquiries since first opening in Delhi. They are convinced India's young are ready for speed dating, and that even in this conservative society, the concept will catch on.

For NPR News, I’m Mandy Cunningham.

  原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/NPR2005/40661.html