Discover why India is to be called Bharat, embodying its rich cultural heritage and unity in diversity.
There has been a recent controversy over whether India should be called Bharat, as some Hindu nationalists have advocated for. Here are some possible reasons why this issue has emerged:
- The name Bharat has ancient roots and is associated with the legendary emperor Bharata mentioned in Hindu epics. It is also the name for India in many Indian languages, including Hindi.
- The name India is an Anglicization of the Sanskrit word for the Indus river, which marked the western boundary of British India. It was introduced during British colonial rule and used as the official name by the British administration.
- Some Hindu nationalists view the name India as a legacy of colonialism and a sign of cultural subjugation. They argue that Bharat reflects the true identity and heritage of the country and its people.
- The Indian Constitution uses both names, stating that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States” in Article 1. However, India has become the more commonly used name, especially in international contexts where it is more easily recognized.
- The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to India as Bharat in invites for a dinner party at the upcoming G-20 Summit in New Delhi, sparking a buzz. This move comes days after Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said in a speech that the country should use the word Bharat instead of India.
- The opposition parties have named themselves INDIA ahead of the 2024 general election, possibly prompting the ruling party to counter by finding a different name. However, there has been no confirmation that the government is mulling a formal name change.
- The use of Bharat or India has implications for the linguistic and cultural diversity of the country, as well as its political and diplomatic relations with other nations. The debate over the name reflects the ongoing tensions and challenges that India faces as a modern nation with a rich and complex history.