THE VADHERA family of Moradabad is a microcosm. There are Hindus, Christians and Muslims living under one roof. Rajinder Vadhera, the head of the family, married Maureen, a Roman Catholic. His eldest son Richard married Saira, a Muslim: Saira's mother is a Roman Catholic and a father a Muslim.
And now Rajinder's youngest son Robert weds Priyanka-whose mother Sonia is a Roman Catholic. Said a Vadhera record-keeper: "All the mothers in our family are Christians."
But there is a convention in the Vadhera family that any marriage is performed according to Hindu rites.
"There is a baptism, but you get a Hindu name which is meant mainly for the marriage ceremony," said a member of the Vadhera family. "After the marriage one is free to follow one's own religion. maureen goes to church. Saira observes Muslim festivals."
Some of members of the household answer to both English and Indian names: Maureen in Mohini, Richard is Ravi, Michele is Minu. Robert prefers his English name and has no pet name.
Known for its hand-crafted brassware, Moradabad is communally sensitive. Most of the traditional craftmen are Muslims and most of the businessmen, Hindus. There is mutual suspicion.
Richard's marriage to a Muslim girls was a sort of trendsetter in the business circles of Moradabad. "So many youths have now got the guts to go to theri parents and say they want to marry girls outside their caste or religion," said another Vadhera family member.
The Vadheras are very enterprising people. Rajinder's father Hukumant Rai Vadhera migrated to India at the time of Partition. He left behind his fledgling sports goods business in Sialkot and settled in Bangalore with his wife and six children.
After spending several years there he moved to Moradabad and set up the Mysore Electroplating company in 1954. Business prospered and Hukumat Vadhera acquired property and built a sprawling mansion in the exclusive civil lines. His two sons, Rajinder and Suraj, and their families still live in separate portions of the bungalow.
Towards the end of 1980s the brother went in for separate business establishments. Rajinder now owns Solid Brass, a medium-sized brassware exporting company with an office in Moradabad. About 150 people work for him and Richard helps him run the business. The company, with a modest turnover of Rs 3 crore, exports candle stands, ashtrays, cutlery and statues to the West, especially the US, Italy and Spain. The designs are usually Indian and the products are all hand-crafted and made to order.
Some time ago the Vadheras shifted part of their business operations to Delhi. Rajinder now divides his time between Delhi and Moradabad. He owns a house in New Friends Colony which doubles as his office. His wife Maureen, daughter Michelle and Robert live there.
Though the relationship between Robert and Priyanka is six years old the decision to marry came all of a sudden. "They (the Nehru family) planned it and it was basically their decision. We did not have anything to say about it," said a family member.
The family is delighted about the marriage but well aware of its responsiblities. "Everybody is happy of course, " said a family spokesman. "It is the last marriage in the family (Robert is the youngest). But there are tremendous responsibilities in future. It is not like any other marriage; you are noticed.... everybody will be noticed. We are a business family, we have to tread cautiously now."
A decade ago Rajinder received trophies from Rajiv Gandhi for excellence in export and in billiards, a game he is passionate about. Now he is receiving another precious gift from the Nehru family.

N.V. MOHAN

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