For all those parents despairing that their grown children will never find the right spouse and for all those young Indian-Americans wondering if there is even a wedding in their future – there’s hope! Meet Shailly Agnihotri, modern day matchmaker who’s going about finding compatible partners for people in a very 21st century way.
She knows exactly what young people are looking for because she happens to be the eldest cousin in a big clan with over 31 younger brothers, sisters and cousins. She first realized that the existing matrimonial sites didn’t cut it when her uncle created a profile for her young cousin on a well-known matrimonial site.
“None of the sites reflected the wonderful cosmopolitan person my cousin is,” she recalls. “I really didn’t think she cared what someone’s skin complexion was or what their caste was – this was not her world. Yet she wasn’t ready to do it on her own – she still wanted family involvement.”
She knew her cousin’s story was being repeated in many homes and that many families had the same predicament. So she decided to be the bridge between generations with www.nydidi.com, a very personalized, holistic site with lots of novel features.
She says, “I took the whole idea of matchmaking and put my own spin on it. Instead of separating generations, we try to figure out a common ground where the hopes of the older generation and the dreams of the younger generation merge and we are able to find success.”
Agnihotri herself happily juggles work, family, kids and many different interests. A public defender in the New York courts, she also makes documentary films and is writing a book. She says, “If I didn’t have my creative outlet I wouldn’t be able to replenish myself. I think I am a better lawyer because I have a vibrant life outside of the law.”
Now, as NY Didi, she tries to encourage would-be partners to negotiate all aspects of life because marriage is so much more than just a match of education levels or geographical locations.
