All you need to know about the IIT-IIM matrimonial website

People on social media have just become aware of a matrimony website, and not in a good way.

IIT IIM Shaadi (dot) com is a website created particularly for alumni of IITs, IIMs, and other famous Indian institutes. With a photo of brand ambassador Karan Johar, the slogan says “Alma Mater Matters,” which also happens to be the company’s registered name.

So, what exactly has ruffled the netizens’ feathers? Why are people criticising the idea and the founder in the same twitter thread?

Despite the fact that the matrimony website has just recently gained popularity due to internet outrage, it has been there for quite some time.

It was launched in April 2014, according to the website’s ‘About Us’ section. “Exclusive lounge to explore matrimonial alliances among alumni of premier educational institutions,” according to Alma Mater Matter Pvt Ltd.

The website claims to stand out from the crowd by verifying each profile “on the basis of education by screening their institution’s degree, ID-card/mark sheet, etc.” It has members from India and 50 other countries.

“Fundamentally, we invite registration from alumni of top few Indian and Global Institutions irrespective of the topic of study,” reads the eligibility criteria on the same page.

“Engineering, Management, Architecture, Medicine, Finance, Law, Fashion Design, Theater, Media Communication, Psychology, Sociology, Music, Dance, Culinary Arts, Historic Preservation, Animal Psychology, and you name it,” the matrimonial service says.

It also shows an “indicative list of institutions” that is “by no means exhaustive,” while praising prominent government officials.

The website says that the service has over 1,50,000 registered users in response to one of its frequently asked questions. It has approximately 30,000 active and verified members.

Why is it facing backlash?

From brand ambassador Karan Johar’s message in a video, in which he states the service’s goal is to match people who are “mentally” compatible, to the website’s entire concept, the internet is irritated.

 

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A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar)

Taksh Gupta, the company’s founder, is not an IIT or IIM graduate, which adds a layer of comedy to the concept. Gupta graduated from the SP Jain School of Management, according to his website.

This Twitter debate was initiated by a user with the handle @verysanskarii, and it has nearly 6,000 likes.

People were ready to mock Gupta and Johar for not having attended IITs or IIMs.

Some have also suggested that conceptions like these merely serve to further divide society by prioritising institutional compatibility above mental compatibility when it comes to tying the knot.