Starting with my name, thank god 3 Idiots was not released by then, you never know where your parents take inspiration from !!! To be named Phunsuk Wangdu or Chatur Ramalingam or Circuit and many such names. Wonder if it’s these names that bought in good luck at the box office for these movies.
In the field of entertainment names and surnames are tweaked to bring in good luck. But what about the common man. My name has got tweaked many times depending on who calls me but no good luck !!! Apart from the fact that I may have been a ray of light in the otherwise dull life of my parents this name game puzzles me no end.
So each of our names has a meaning apart from astrological significance. Equally interesting is the surname business . It’s no mean task for 25 years I belonged to a particular lineage and that it’s all gone, here comes my new lineage post marriage. I need to adopt a new approach completely for the rest of my life. What was I thinking when I decided to change this lineage?
There is obviously the other perspective why is it that a man gets to keep his one and only lineage for his entire lifespan? Why don’t I hear men adopting a woman’s surname !!! Exceptions may be there .
As per jurisprudence, it’s not mandatory to change name post marriage it’s optional.
Now the legacy the children get to carry forward, could be purely simple just put in your father’s surname what is so complicated? So the lineage of the mother, to begin with, is not important in the patriarchal scheme of things so that’s solved. No further debates on this.
The bottom line is don’t want to sound like a feminist but some things just don’t make sense anymore. The thought itself is so redundant. Some practices need to change with time and not get stuck. Both name and family name though indicates one’s family, tribe, or community it should in today’s times truly reflect the purpose in giving that name …..an identity to identify with. Not just to be followed blindly because tradition demands.
Reflections 