This is a story. A story that is probably lived out by many secretly, with the helplessness, hopelessness and regrets that comes with everything that is secret.
In these present days, as against "Once apon a time", there exists a Mr. X and his Mrs. Y X. Mrs. Y X was once Miss Y A. Upon her marriage to Mr. X, she reluctantly became Mrs. Y X. She believes that she does not have to change her name to prove her loyalty, her love to Mr. X. However, Mr. X, believes differently.
In the ensuing argument, he blames her for being "Narrow minded". Now to her sensibilities, it is a ridiculous notion. She is outraged. She, who has always thought "out of the box", done "out of the ordinary". How can it be? "She cannot be narrow minded!!!!!".
She was an educated modern day woman. Earns her own independance and also manages to build a harmonious home for her family and husband. She demands her husband to explain himself.
According to his viewpoint, he believes she should consider it an honor that he is giving her his name and title. There are many of them tribe there who consider women as a use and throw item. As against them, he wants her to be known to the world as his and vice versa. Also it automatically entitles her to everything that is his and will do away unnecessary paperwork if anything happens to him. Consider the same sentiment shared by a great many number of women out there who also feel the same way in taking up her husbands name/surname. Why should she, Miss Y A, feel so differently about the whole issue? Isn't she being "narrow-minded" in thinking only about her pride, ego and her principles?
Fair enough you say. And so is her point.
Now who is fairer, is the question? Is there a right answer for this? And how many women before us in ancient times also asked this same question. I am sure even in those times there were women who thought "out-of the box". Wanted to do things differently than the traditional ways. Just finished reading a retelling of the Mahabharatha, from Draupadi's perspective. It amazed me that Miss Y A a.k.a. Mrs Y X and she shared a lot many in common. She was not too keen on the name of Draupadi, a direct reference to her father. She was named Paanchali by Vyasa later. However, Draupadi was the harbinger of the greatest war in our history. So will Mrs. Y's attitude lead to the same destructive forces? So is this what dharma is after all? Is this the ways the Gods deemed us to live? Is Mrs Y X narrow-minded because she is thinking only about the way she wants things to be? Or is she broad-minded for thinking of the many possibilities that exist outside the boundaries of rules and norms?
Who is fairer? Who is narrow, broad and many more in between........?
