Important Step for Women's rights

I woke up this morning to the wonderful news that single moms in India can now confer their surname on their child (whether biological or adopted) as their only official, legal last name. Finally, a positive step moving away from the 'no questions asked' patriarchal system that recognises only a father as the legal guardian even in cases where the Dad has dissappeared from the scene.

I feel proud that although we keep berating the Indian state as being regressive and stuck in the past, every now and then, quietly a law gets passed thats puts us right on top along with the most civilised, liberal modern societies of the world. Every now and then our supreme court summarily dismisses and squashes stupid cases like those against Khushboo for saying there's nothing wrong with pre-marital sex, reminding us that in a country with lots of crazy, regressive opinions, our apex court has got its act together and we are actually in good hands!

Eventually, as Gandhi said, be the change you want to see. Today, as a citizen, I ask myself, how much do I do to actually create transformation in society? And i remind myself that the privilege of living in a vibrant democracy like India must never never be taken for granted..

Cheers to all the single Moms out there, you all make us proud and your kids will value and acknowledge your amazing contribution to their lives when they are older...for now, go get all their paperwork changed to reflect the name of the person who's actually bringing them up...