Bharat to India: A Discourse on Names
Recently, there have been witters regarding changing India’s name to Bharat. These might be rumors that arrived due to the invitations to G20 featuring the phrase, President of “Bharat” instead of India. However, it is observed that people on social media platforms like X (previously known as Twitter) are being misinformed about the name India.
Historical Odyssey of India: Meanings and Monikers
The term “India” was actually not established due to colonization. It’s a common misconception that pertains to the Indian population. This name actually precedes the British even setting foot in India. This name is actually based on the Sanskrit term, “Sindhu” which actually was the name of the Indus River. This term was adapted in Old Persian and they called it “Hindu”. These terms were used to refer to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. The name “India” came from the Greeks and Romans when the term came from the Persian denomination “Hind”.
Bharat: The Oldest Name
The childhood of Bharat certainly consists of various religious phases and is deeply rooted in the Hindu culture. The name Bharat is associated with the Bhārata people. They are described as the descendants of Dushyanta’s son Bharata in the Mahabharata. The name is derived from a Sanskrit term, which has appeared in ancient Indian texts such as the Rigveda (one of the 4 Vedas). It is also mentioned in the Puranas in which the country is known as Bhāratavarṣa after Bharat, the son of Rishabha.
The Very Well Known 3rd Competitor
Hindustan, another name with a similar origin, is derived from the Sanskrit appellation “Sindhu.” The term “Hindustan” shares much of its history with the present-day name India. However, this name was mostly used by the Persians who referred to the name as the region where Hindu culture and civilization were dominant.
Rivalry Between Nationalists and Exonyms
Exonyms have always been an issue for nationalists. Just recently, the name of Türkiye(previously Turkey) was changed. It was changed to be more attached to the roots of its culture. Nationalists in any country do not want the name that has been given by outsiders of the country to be in any way related to the country. Colonialism, which made the name “India” popular, just incites them more for it to be changed.
Complexities of Renaming a Nation
A major issue with changing a country’s name is taxpayers’ money. People want to make sure that their money is being used in a productive manner such as to lift people out of poverty and in getting jobs for unemployed people. Currently, millions of people in India are in poverty and are unemployed.
The Bharat name might have its values deep-rooted in our culture. However, we should hold the thought of changing the name for a while until the situation of the country improves. Not only does the government but companies, like Google India, Microsoft India, etc. would have to change their names and spend money on changing various of their documentation and legal matters which they might be reluctant to do.
The India and Bharat name debate is a riveting one. However, it is meant for another time when the country improves and is at a time when the climate is stable enough to sustain these debates instead of worrying about the basic necessities of its citizens.
