Dateline, 08/03/16

INDIA’S LOVE DETECTIVES

REPORTER:
Catherine Scott and Calliste Weitenberg



NIJEEL, BRIDE:  So my fiancé has reached… so now my mum is like hurry, hurry, my son has come.

It’s wedding season in India, a time when couples everywhere embrace its most auspicious ritual and Nijeel and Agnelo are one of them.

AGNELO, GROOME:  Dad, can you come and look at this for a minute?

Every detail is steeped in Hindu ritual and brings to life an ancient past. But love in India is a modern battlefield, where old and new worlds now collide.

NIJEEL:  Most of the marriages in India are arranged but we are having a love marriage. The families are not involved and the girl and guy and meet and decide themselves.

Millennials like these are embracing new freedoms of a socially mobile middle-class. Questioning arranged marriage, they're forcing change on inherited traditions and even though this bride's father is enthusiastic, their new age union still causes a stir.

NIJEEL:  He's Christian and I'm Hindu. I did not think it would work out like the families would never agree, but we became very serious about each other and now they're OK with it.

This shift means a world of uncertainty for parents. So I've come to explore how traditions around marriage are evolving in the age of social media and why it's creating a curious new career.

RAJANI PANDIT, DETECTIVE (Translation): My name is Ranjani Pandit and I am India’s first lady detective.

Rajani Pandit is about to go undercover as one of India's thousands of love detectives.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): Disguises are necessary, like a mad woman or a blind woman or even a deaf and dumb lady. This is my best disguise because no one knows who is behind the burqa. It makes it easy for me to follow them.

Rajani steps in to do what families still feel is their job - investigate whether the match is a good one.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  I have solved over 7,500 cases, it is mostly parents who come to me, they really care about making sure that their children are not taken advantage of. Nobody knows anything directly about anyone.

From the street, Rajani keeps a low profile because technically this work isn't legal here. Her office acts as a modern day confessional for clients who arrive on word of mouth alone. Every client through her door brings the love troubles of a distinctly 21st century India.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): Social media is affecting life a lot. What is shown is not necessarily the truth and many girls and boys get caught up in that.

Rajesh is visiting Rajani on behalf of his parents. They're worried because his younger sister has met someone online.

RAJESH (Translation):  She is on Whatsapp and Facebook all day… on chats. The minute I go near her she shuts it down.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  the internet is damaging people’s lives… it’s easy to mislead.

RAJESH (Translation): I feel she is involved with some guy.

But Rajesh's sister is already engaged. It's an arranged marriage to a man selected by her parents.

RAJESH (Translation): When we ask her to get married she asks us to wait.

Her family's become suspicious of the delays.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): What is her age?

RAJESH (Translation): Around 20, 25.

Social media is making dating across ethnicities or casts possible with the click of a button, leaving family members anxious of repercussions.

RAJESH (Translation): I have to look out for my sister’s life.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  You’ve gone ahead with her engagement ceremony…

RAJESH (Translation):  It could be bad for the boy, our honour would be ruined.

Breaking from a marriage that's already been arranged can lead to serious social stigma.

RAJESH (Translation): What other information will you provide?

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  His details, where he is from, what he does, what his caste is…if he is married…because these days men just entrap…

RAJESH (Translation):  Rajani is a lady detective, so she will deal with the case as if it is her own daughter. She will find out the truth which is the best thing for us.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  Don’t tell your sister.

RAJESH (Translation):  No, no.

Today Rajani is straight on to Rajesh's case and invites us along for the stake out. Her skills have evolved alongside the need of Indian society. She's never been formally trained.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): There are many cases like this these days where people show a different face. They lie about their caste and about their assets.  My work is important because people can learn the truth early.

Rajesh's sister has been missing for days. Rajani has a lead. His sister is attending a job interview at a local hospital but Rajani suspects it's a cover story and the girl could be meeting her online lover.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): If she is meeting a man, then I will find out everything about him and report to the client.

Rajani must enter through a security gate, so we can't film inside. We wait with her driver Kalim, to see what she uncovers. After 30 minutes, she's back. We wait until we're all safely inside to find out what happened.

REPORTER:  Rajani, what have you found out?

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):   She was sitting there and I spotted her. So I started thinking of ways to sit next to her. I told her I was feeling dizzy and could I rest a while, that I was very thirsty.  So I did a bit of acting.

She was able to borrow the girl's phone, secretly call herself and store its number. In a short amount of time she's uncovered both a new mobile number and address.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): Now half my job is done!

AUNTY (Translation): You see everybody works these days. When we lived in the slum we used to visit each other and gossip. We ate and spent time together. But now in society everyone’s doors are locked.

To Western society, arranged marriages may feel like less choice, but here families believe it can lead to stronger, more lasting relationships, that build over time.

AUNTY (Translation):  Every parent wants their son or daughter to be happy. They must know this.
We are old, we are here today, may not be here tomorrow. Her whole life is in front of her. What will she do? Who will support her?  That is why a detective is really necessary now.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  Did you find my address easily?

AUNTY (Translation):  Yes.

Like Rajesh, 65-year-old Auntie what's Rajani to ease her worries about the man who has stolen her daughter's heart.

AUNTY (Translation):  I have a daughter, she goes out, she has a little job but I have my doubts about her, I think she is seeing somebody.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  Give me her photo and I will find out who she is seeing and let you know.

AUNTY (Translation):  we forbade her several times but she does not listen. She says if she marries it will be to him, we do not approve at all. It is rumoured that he is married but we don’t know for sure.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  So you want to find out?

AUNTY (Translation):  Yes, and what are his intentions?  Does he love her or not? We have no clue. So if you help me, it will be good…

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  Absolutely, there is no need to beg… just don’t stress too much about this.

AUNTY (Translation):  We have no idea what we should do…

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  crying won’t help. We have to fight with courage. There is a lot to do… I will find out all the details and give them to you. Who knows what problems may arise later, if he is married her life will be ruined, she will be left with nowhere to go.

AUNTY (Translation):  thank you.

Rajani has invited me to lunch with her family. She can't help but bring her work home. Everyone in her family is aware of the big shifts taking place when it comes to love and marriage.

ADITYA VAIDYA, NEPHEW:  I was very scared to get married before because being with her it was difficult experiencing the problems of people that have faced and especially when I have grown up in this atmosphere. We especially get scared. "There are so many problems in this world and so many problems after marriage."

A generational divide Rajani’s clients confront is playing out amongst her very own family. Her nephew, Adi, is about to get married. It's the very first union in the family that isn't arranged.

ADITYA VAIDYA:  Also the majority of people here believe in arranged marriage than love, so I am alone out here with love and I hope I'm not wrong after a few months.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): Arranged marriages are better than love marriages. In arranged marriages the facts about the girl are known, her character and how she will adjust in the family. Love marriages are blind, they are in the dark and when you learn the truth many are in for a shock.

SHOBHA VAIDYA, SISTER (Translation): I had an arranged marriage but even then I got divorced. Love or arranged…it makes no difference. Fate prevails.


REPORTER:  What's your feeling on love marriages versus arranged marriages?

ADITYA VAIDYA:  Love marriages are more comfortable I guess with the new generation nowadays. Because we get to see people, we get to meet that girl and we get to know that girl.

RAJANI PANDIT: Hello.

Rajani has seen so many people tell lies. She let slip that she's secretly investigated Adi's future wife.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): I found out about the girl. I wanted to know all about her and her family. So I checked all that out and only then I said yes.

REPORTER:  You didn’t know that?

ADITYA VAIDYA:  I didn't know that. I've just come to know that. She's inquired about my fiancee. So, yeah. Thank you.

But as much as Rajani believes in tradition, her path in life breaks the conventional mould her of Indian women. At 48, she's chosen never to marry.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  I’m not married, I don’t want to marry. I am married to my profession.

REPORTER:  Did you ever want her to get married?

PRAMILA PANDIT, MOTHER (Translation): No, no.

ADITYA VAIDYA:  She doesn't want her to get married.

REPORTER:  How come?

PRAMILA PANDIT (Translation): It is her choice, so how can I force her?

ADITYA VAIDYA:   She's the head of the family today. Normally the head of the family is a man. But today she's the head of our family and we're very proud.

Rajani may be a pioneer in her field but she's no longer alone. Across India, she's inspiring a new wave of younger aspirational lady detectives.

AKRITI KHATRI, LOVE DETECTIVE:  I tell everybody if you have confidence you can do anything. Experience and knowledge comes later on.

Akriti Khatri is known as the capital’s Nancy Drew. Raised in Delhi, she sees big business in in India’s urban transformation.

AKRITI KHATRI:   The peak season for us is Christmas, New Year, Valentine's. We charge sometimes twice, sometimes thrice from the normal price and people are paying it too.

AKRITI KHATRI (Translation): What happened with that pre-marital case?

MAN (Translation): His business has made money in the last 2-4 years but not enough for his office to do well in America.

AKRITI KHATRI (Translation): So it is a cooked up tale?

MAN (Translation): Yes, it’s a cooked up tale.

AKRITI KHATRI:   Infidelity is going on a very high rate. It's like every next house you can find it out. It's now more of a business instead of a profession.

At just 29 years old, Akriti runs and manages her very own agency - Venus Detectives.

EMPLOYEE:  Good morning.

Where she directs a slew of agents in the field.

AKRITI KHATRI:  Let's discuss about honey-trapping today.

She also dreams of creating training schools where recruits can learn her original techniques.

AKRITI KHATRI:  There are females coming to us that wanted to know whether their boyfriend or their fiancés are loyal to them or not. So for them, we have to do this honey trap. If their boyfriends, husbands, fiancées got trapped by us, obviously they are not loyal.

TRAINEE:  OK. What is some guy finds something suspicious about us like some camera, some recorder?

The honey-trap technique is, to say the least, controversial. No longer bound by rules or customs, it's revealing to see how even love detective work is evolving with the younger generation.

AKRITI KHATRI:  I want to get the information. This is my passion. I wanted to do it.

In India, Ganesh is the god who can remove all obstacles. Tonight veteran detective Rajani Pandit  needs this old world onside.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): I have to bring the truth to light.

As she heads out to investigate, the man Auntie's daughter is secretly dating.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): Just like a doctor can treat a disease once he knows what it is, a detective must find out the truth, and help you find a way to handle it.

Thanks to a phone bill unearthed through her sources, Rajani has the address of the unknown man. It's somewhere in the maze of Mumbai's back streets, but with so many people around, Rajani worries she can't get inside. Finally, she spots what she thinks is the mystery man's building.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): All I need to know is whether he’s married or not. I’ll go to his house and ring the bell, I’ll pretend to be thirsty, ask for water and try to gain entry.

It's amazing to watch Rajani work. She's totally unfazed as she walks inside.

REPORTER:  So what happened?

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): I went upstairs and I rang the man’s doorbell. A woman answered the door. Two children were also there and they asked me who I wanted. I said his name and they said he lived there. So he has a wife and two kids. And he does live there.

Rajani now has news that will devastate Auntie. The man her daughter is seeing is already married with two children.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): When it’s time to deliver the truth I wonder how to tell them. How will they react?

Rajani invites Auntie back to her office where she gets ready to deliver the bad news about her only daughter. There's an uncomfortable feeling as she goes to sit down.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): What you feared turns out to be true.

AUNTY (Translation):  Oh god.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): That man is married. His wife had a one-year-old child in her arms and there was another 5-6 year old boy or girl.

AUNTY (Translation):  My god …two kids

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  But the man was not home.

AUNTY (Translation):  It’s beyond our imagination.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  He must have misled her and said he doesn’t live with his wife. Or that he’s not married or some such lie. I’ll try my best to bring her back to you.

Rajani knows the impact on Auntie's family will be heart breaking. It will likely get worse before it gets better.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation):  Love detectives can bridge the gap between the old generation and the new generation.

Love in India's future is a murky world. But as night falls across Mumbai, two things are sure - millions will meet and Rajani's phone will continue to ring.

RAJANI PANDIT (Translation): However hard you try, you can’t hide behind a fake face, Your face always shows what is in your heart.

video journalist
CATHERINE SCOTT

story producer + second camera
CALLISTE WEITENBERG

local field producer
SIMI CHAKRABARTI

story editor
RYAN WALSH

additional footage
MARK GOULD

translations
ASH RAO
SIMI CHAKRABARTI
PADDY SAKAR

editors
MICAH MCGOWN
DAVID POTTS
RYAN WALSH

title music
VICKI HANSEN

8th March 2016