Whats in a name...?

Over the weekend I saw 'My name is Khan'. It was a good movie considering a Karan Johar standard, though little too dramatic in the second half. The female protagonist in the film Mandira (played by Kajol) is a divorcee with a son who marries Rizwan Khan (played by Shahrukh Khan) and hence adopts the title Khan by marriage, though a Hindu by birth. Her life changed for the name that she carried with her then and post 9/11 she loses son to a communal fight that happens in his school. Had she kept her maiden name would life be different for her was a question she had in her mind.

And thats the topic I have been wanting to write for a while now. Is it really that important for a girl to adopt her husbands name after marriage. Who decides the importance and why? A name given at birth becomes the identity of the person and changing that overnight is it not like changing one's true identity?Is it legally required or socially neccesary?

Recently an employee who has been married for 2 years came up to me with a request to change her name to that of her husbands, because her husband has been insistent about it. I mean, get a life Man! Are you really that insecure? How does it matter to the man whether his wife takes up his title or not. But It definitely matters to the girl . Would it be that simple for a guy to do the same if required?

My parents haven't quit even after 6 years of my marriage reminding me to change my name (Which of course i haven't done, incase you haven't figured that out yet). All the women who actually have their name changed, am sure would not have done it if there was no compulsion or social obligation. I just fail to understand how it matters to anyone how I want to write my name, but it definitely matters to me. My name is what I identify myself with and I want the world to identify me with. So while I get to hear Whats in a name all the time from my folks, I would like to tell everyone with the same school of thought that Everything is in the name!
My name is Paal, Tithee Paal!

Maktub!

I believe in a power which guides the world. Born an Indian, and raised a Hindu in a house full of theist, I know the power, as God. For couple of years and a few good books later, I am trying to come to terms with another power. Maybe they are opposing forces,maybe collaborative or maybe parallel.
Our religion strongly talks about karma which basically means that what you sow, so shall you reap. The scientific world is strongly based on the cause-and-effect relationship. How different are these two concepts from each other?
Synchronicity,which does not share the cause-and-effect relationship, explains the guiding force in the universe.Psychics play the role of understanding the meaning of these guiding energies and predict the paths and patterns based on this principle of synchronicity.Quantum Mechanics explains the relationship of particles and their random interconnectivity with behaviors being probabilities rather than certainties.Therefore the phenomenon of synchronicity could be explained through Quantum Mechanics.

Things we might see as coincidence are actually signs that can help us make decisions and guide our lives -- if we recognize them. The decisions that we take become our destiny. So are we creating destiny or is it written  and so shall happen? I believe whatever path we choose the forces affect the reality of the physical objects. The wake up call from the beginning of time comes from the same source of energy and the God of all religions throughout time- Ra! The way I see it seems like simply common sense, that both these forces are just merged into one, waiting to be realised. Or maybe I am so highly enlightened that I am merged with God thyself and see all as one and one in all?

Well,I'd like to believe I am getting there!