New Delhi, Oct 17 : A sub inspector of police, a detective agency owner, a 5ft-10inch tall basketball player - they are all contenders for this year's Mrs. India contest.

The contest for married women was started four years ago by Maureen Wadia, one of Mumbai's best known socialites and wife of textile baron Nusli Wadia of Bombay Dyeing.

"The Indian woman, after marriage, does the toughest task of playing mother and housekeeper," Wadia told IANS on the sidelines of the selection screenings for contestants in New Delhi late Saturday night.

All day she has been meeting women, many with kids, who have been streaming into the Hyatt Regency Hotel, lured by the hope of fulfilling their dreams.

"We are the only contest that allows women to walk into the selection process," said Wadia, in a green sari.

"I realize that married women must have little time - running a household is really a difficult thing. But they too have dreams, dreams that remain unfulfilled and my job, I've always thought, was to fulfill them," said Wadia, whose pageant allows women up to the age of 50 to apply.

The screening process is spread over Kolkata, New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. The finalists would participate in the main pageant to be held in Mumbai in December.

"It's, what shall I say, a good break from what I usually do," said Sunita Chauhan, a sub inspector of police from Lucknow. "My husband is also a sub inspector and he really encouraged me to participate.

"This is easier than catching thieves. But what is most difficult is keeping everybody happy at home," said Chauhan, a mother.

That is something Manjeet H. Bansal, another aspirant knows too well. Manjeet, who runs a detective agency in Jaipur and has been married for around 15 years, said: "Too many wives keeping track of their husbands all the time."

"They are very suspicious of their husbands. There is lots of hanky-panky going on."

Sachin, who brought his wife Kookie to participate at the contest, spoke of the time they had met at a management institute.

"The first time I saw her, I was floored. I knew I had to get to know her. So, to impress her, I quickly picked up an Economic Times and pretended to be reading it."

Added Kookie: "And I was very impressed. I was like, here's a guy who has the looks and the brains. And today he has taken off time to bring me here to this contest - I'm thrilled."

The winner of the India contest goes to participate in the Mrs. World competition, which was last won by an Indian in 2000 by Aditi Govatrikar Lakdawala.

And Gargi Sen, a 5ft-10inch tall, professional basketball player, wants to win the title. "I'm a tall girl, and I married a tall guy, he is 6ft-2inches and this pageant is one place where my height is an advantage."

The winner of the India event would get what Wadia, one of the country's richest persons, said she has not been able to manage in all her married life - a long holiday all by herself.

"I have always dreamt of taking a holiday all by myself but Indian married women learn to live with their dreams. But at this contest, the winner would live that dream - we would send her to an all expense paid holiday to Mauritius."  (IANS)



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