Introductions, love and everything in between.

It isn't easy being a millennial. Being a single Indian millennial actively looking to make a meaningful connection in this age of easy access - even tougher! All the advantages of a shrinking globe lie at your feet, jostling alongside the age-old traditions and beliefs that have been part of your upbringing. A refined education, a great career, and a well-travelled lifestyle define you. Marriage is no longer a compulsion, but a choice to be made with the right partner when the time is right. And yet, despite the world having become a smaller place, the right person appears elusive.

"Arranged introductions and love marriages," says Anuradha , "is the answer to this conundrum." She should know. Anuradha has nurtured Vows For Eternity, a discreet NYC headquartered matchmaking platform that has helped many a discerning single Indian find their soulmate, for over a decade. As a dynamic, well-travelled professional, a daughter and mother herself, Anuradha straddles the twin worlds of the Indian diaspora and her Indian roots with panache. And she understands the dilemma of the single Indian looking for a serious life partner only too well.

The challenges haven't changed!

Anuradha rightly points out, "Access to someone on the internet and being able to find someone you truly connect with are two very different things. This easy increased access often makes it even more difficult to form a meaningful relationship." The conventional Indian approach of finding a partner through traditional matchmakers or through extended family networks has its own shortcomings. The new age single Indian is fairly sure - not just of what they want in a partner, but also what they don't want in a relationship.

Information overload

The dating game has too many choices, too little time, low patience levels and a focus on an instant connect. Most millennials fail to realise that there are no quick fixes to getting to know someone. Conventional matchmaking sites throw up a plethora of choices that often blur the lines between superficial and fundamental.

Marrying the modern with the conventional

Anuradha, who has lived and worked across continents, understands the pulse of the single Indian residing across the world. Her platform enables curated entry into a pool of eligibles, but the actual task of gauging each member's interests and preferences and then shortlisting them for potential partners is entirely offline, one in which she and her team are personally involved. No algorithms are at work here to match you with shortlisted candidates. A staunch believer in compatibility between partners taking top precedence over anything else, she says, "Shared values and wanting similar things in life are non-negotiable. Things like similar interests are nice to have. Personality fit is another very important thing because in marriage there needs to be a certain chemistry."

No wonder, Anuradha does not believe in working with biodatas. "So much of who we are gets lost when we describe ourselves on paper. Biodatas only tell me what you do, not who you are" she insists.

Needless to say, Vows For Eternity sets high benchmarks for eligibility, ensuring that only those serious about getting hitched sign up to the platform. Anuradha’s talented global team, spread through major cities like London, Mumbai and New Delhi, does all the heavy lifting - from getting to know members well, understanding them and their requirements before matching them with potential partners. It's a relatively slow process in which members get acquainted offline and explore the chances of spending a lifetime together. Anuradha asserts that the 35 percent success rate of Vows for Eternity is testimony to the rock solid, happy marriages they have enabled over the years.

Confidentiality and a personal connect

Most of Vows For Eternity’s members  are successful professionals, celebrities and industry leaders ranging in the 25 to 45 age bracket, who value the confidentiality that the service offers. “Confidentiality is non-negotiable! We believe that certain things in life are sacrosanct. Someone places their trust in us and we uphold it. It’s that simple. Vows For Eternity is an extension of what I believe,” says Anuradha. This assurance of confidentiality allows members to open up their true selves to the team, allowing for honest and transparent discussions that help them find the best-suited partner.

A symbol of changing times

Vows For Eternity steps in where the traditional matchmaker fails. The world is changing and stereotypical roles in marriages are getting an overhaul that’s been long overdue. The dynamics between a couple are changing and marriages are getting to be more a partnership, in the true sense of the term. The Vows for Eternity team itself comprises people who live in different parts of the world, are well educated and have had their fair share of experience with life and relationships. This enables members to view them as natural confidantes in their search for a soulmate. There is an ease, a relatability that helps hugely when one is talking about one of the most important decisions that we make - marriage! This unique ability to become a confidante and sounding board for members in their journeys is what sets Vows For Eternity apart. 
 

Anuradha has seamlessly harnessed the best of both worlds, by arranging the introductions to the right people but making sure they marry for love!