There has been a proposal to change the official name of the country from India to Bharat. This proposal has sparked a lot of debate and discussion among the people of India and the political parties. The proposal to change the name of the country was brought up by the government during a special session of Parliament.
The demand for changing the name of the country from India to Bharat has been raised several times and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has also supported the idea. The proposal gained momentum when images of the official invitation to a G20 dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu surfaced, which mentioned ‘President of Bharat’ instead of 'President of India’.The reactions by political parties to this proposal have been mixed. Some parties have welcomed the move, while others have criticized it. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on September 9 in the name of ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the usual 'President of India’. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked if BJP would change the name of Bharat if INDIA alliance changes its name to ‘Bharat’ alliance.
The names Bharat, Hindustan, and India all have historical origins. The name Bharat is derived from the name of an ancient tribe called Bharatas who are mentioned in the Rigveda as one of the original tribes of Aryavarta. Aryavarta, also known as Āryāvarta, is a term used in ancient Hindu texts such as Dharmashastras and Sutras to refer to the area of the Indian subcontinent settled by Indo-Aryan tribes and where Indo-Aryan religion and rituals predominated. The name Aryavarta means “abode of the Aryans” in Sanskrit. The limits of Āryāvarta extended over time, as reflected in the various sources, as the influence of the Brahmanical ideology spread eastwards in post-Vedic times. According to some sources, the land lying between the Himalayas and the Vindhyas is called Āryāvarta.
The Puranas describe the word Bharat as a geographical entity that lies between the oceans in the south and the Himalayas in the North. The name Hindustan was coined by Persians for people living around the Sindhu River (Indus River). The name India is derived from the name of the river Sindhu (Indus River) and has been in use in Greek since Herodotus (5th century BCE).
It is important to get rid of our colonial baggage because it represents a time when India was not a free and independent nation. The colonial era laws and practices were imposed on India by foreign rulers and do not reflect the values and traditions of the Indian people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has said that the Prime Minister is committed to shedding colonial baggage that has passed its utility, which includes outdated colonial laws and practices.
India is unique in that it is known by three different names: India, Bharat, and Hindustan. Each name has its own historical significance and represents different aspects of Indian culture and heritage. While some people prefer one name over the others, all three names are widely used and accepted.
Another reason for the widespread use of “Bharat” by the citizens of India is that people feel that the name “Bharat” sounds significantly more secular than Hindustan. On the flip side, another reason why people often shun the word “Hindustan” is that Pakistan usually calls India “Hindustan”.
Some people also believe that the name India is a symbol of slavery, oppression, and despotism given by dictatorial wealth plundering colonial British Government who inhumanely ruled Bharat for several centuries. Millions of nationalist people of Bharat consider the name ‘’India’’ a horrific relic of British Empire.
In conclusion, here are 10 reasons why some people believe that Bharat is the best name for India or Hindustan:
Historical Significance: The name Bharat has a deep history and cultural significance. It is derived from the name of an ancient tribe called Bharatas who are mentioned in the Rigveda as one of the original tribes of Aryavarta.
Secular Nature: Some people feel that the name Bharat sounds significantly more secular than Hindustan.
Association with Colonialism: Some people believe that the name India is a symbol of slavery, oppression, and despotism given by dictatorial wealth-plundering colonial British Government who inhumanely ruled Bharat for several centuries. Millions of nationalist people of Bharat consider the name ‘’India’’ a horrific relic of the British Empire.
Spiritual and Sacred Land: Bharat is considered a sacred and spiritual land, and is often associated with the Hindu religion and culture.
Formal Contexts: The name Bharat is often used in formal contexts, such as in the Indian constitution, and it is considered to be the proper name for India in Hindi.
Mythical Founders: The old Sanskrit name derived from the mythical founders of the race.
Freedom Struggle: The name’s popularity in modern times is also due to its sustained usage during the freedom struggle in slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’.
Puranic Literature: Its roots are traced to Puranic literature, and to the Hindu epic, Mahabharata.
Cherished Name: The word ‘Bharat’ means ‘the cherished’ and it is a name that has now stuck around for ages.
Land of Bharat: According to Hindu scriptures, after King Bharata conquered and set up his dynasty in the Indian subcontinent, his descendants started living in the region. This is why the subcontinent was named ‘Bharatvarsha’, meaning the ‘land of Bharat’.
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