Single In New Deloo

On the few occasions I’ve had the pleasure, I’ve found Bhaichand Patel affable, but nobody’s fool. From his columns, I find him very sound on cocktails and booze in general, a quality which can’t be recommended highly enough in a person, whether they be single, double, married, divorced, straight or gay. Slightly disappointing, then, to see him at the editorial helm of this strange little compilation purporting to map the landscape of ‘single-hood’ in India.

Bhaichandbhai gives the game away early in his introduction, when he more or less defines the book’s contributing group: "We...meet often for pot luck, have drinks at the India International Centre, and go dancing at the Delhi Gymkhana on Saturday nights." And, "Our lifestyles have changed for the better...thanks to more spending money at our disposal." Translated, this means ‘comfortable’ to wealthy South Delhi residents.