India to Bharat (2023): A Controversial Proposal

Some of the arguments in favor of changing the name of India to Bharat are:

• It would restore the original and authentic identity of the country and its people, who have been colonized and oppressed by foreign invaders for centuries.
• It would reflect the diversity and unity of the country, which is composed of various states, regions, languages, religions, and cultures.
• It would boost the national pride and self-esteem of the country, which is emerging as a global power and leader in various fields.
• It would honor the ancient and glorious history and civilization of the country, which has contributed to the world in many ways.

Some of the arguments against changing the name of India are:

• It would be impractical and costly to change the name of the country, which has been established and recognized internationally for decades.
• It would create confusion and chaos among the people and the world, who are used to calling and referring to the country as India.
• It would alienate and marginalize some sections of the society, who do not identify with or relate to the name Bharat.
• It would be a political move and a distraction from the real issues and challenges facing the country.

India to Bharat: A Controversial Name Change Proposal

India, the world’s largest democracy and most populous country, has been known by many names throughout its history. One of the most ancient and prominent names is Bharat, which is derived from the Sanskrit word Bharata, meaning “the cherished” or “the prosperous”.

 Bharat is also the name of a legendary king and the ancestor of the Pandavas and Kauravas in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Bharat is still used as an official name of the country in the Constitution of India and in some languages like Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Kannada.

However, in recent years, there has been a growing debate and controversy over whether India should change its name to Bharat or not. The issue was reignited in 2023 when India received an invitation from the G20 summit to attend as Bharat instead of India. 

The invitation was seen as a gesture of respect and recognition for India’s ancient and cultural heritage. However, it also sparked a heated discussion among different political parties and groups in India, who had different opinions and agendas on the name change proposal.

The Origins and Meanings of India and Bharat

One of the arguments in favor of changing the name of India to Bharat is that it would restore the original and authentic identity of the country and its people, who have been colonized and oppressed by foreign invaders for centuries. 

The name India is derived from the Greek word Indos, which refers to the Indus River that flows through present-day Pakistan. The name was used by the ancient Greeks, Persians, Romans, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Mughals, British, and other foreign rulers who conquered or influenced parts of the Indian subcontinent. 

The name India was also adopted by the Indian National Congress, which led the independence movement against British colonial rule.

The name Bharat, on the other hand, is rooted in the indigenous and ancient history and culture of the country. The name is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures, such as the Rig Veda, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. The name is also associated with a mythical king named Bharata, who is said to have ruled over a vast and prosperous kingdom that stretched from present-day Afghanistan to Bangladesh. The name Bharat also reflects the diversity and unity of the country, which is composed of various states, regions, languages, religions, and cultures.

The Legal and Constitutional Implications of Changing the Name

Another argument in favor of changing the name of India is that it would be consistent with the Constitution of India, which recognizes both names as official names of the country. Article 1 of the Constitution states that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”. However, some legal experts argue that this does not mean that both names are equally valid or interchangeable. 

They point out that Article 1 uses a comma between India and Bharat, which implies that India is the primary name and Bharat is a secondary or alternative name. They also note that Article 343 states that “The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script”, which suggests that Bharat is more suitable for Hindi speakers than for speakers of other languages.

Changing the name of India  would also require a constitutional amendment, which would need to be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament and ratified by at least half of the state legislatures. 

This would be a difficult and time-consuming process, especially given the political polarization and diversity in India. Moreover, changing the name of India would also affect other aspects of the country’s legal and constitutional system, such as its citizenship laws, its international treaties and agreements, its currency and stamps, its passports and visas, its national anthem and emblem, etc.

The Economic and Social Impacts of Changing the Name

A third argument in favor of changing the name of India is that it would boost the national pride and self-esteem of the country, which is emerging as a global power and leader in various fields. 

Changing the name would also honor the ancient and glorious history and civilization of the country, which has contributed to the world in many ways. Some supporters of the name change also claim that it would attract more tourists and investors to the country, who would be curious and interested in learning more about its culture and heritage.

However, some critics argue that changing the name of India to Bharat would have negative economic and social impacts on the country. They contend that changing the name would create confusion and chaos among the people and the world, who are used to calling and referring to the country as India. 

They also warn that changing the name would alienate and marginalize some sections of the society, who do not identify with or relate to the name Bharat. They cite the examples of other countries that have changed their names, such as Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Iran, and Thailand, and claim that they have not benefited from the name change in terms of economic growth, social harmony, or international reputation.

The Political Motivations and Agendas behind the Name Change Proposal

A fourth argument in favor of changing the name of India is that it would be a political move and a distraction from the real issues and challenges facing the country. 

The name change proposal has also been linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist ideology and vision, which aims to promote and protect the Hindu culture and values in India. Modi’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been accused of trying to impose a Hindu identity on the country, which is secular and pluralistic by nature. Modi’s critics have also claimed that he is trying to divert attention from his failures in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, the farmers’ protests, and the border tensions with China.

The name change proposal has also been opposed by some regional and minority parties and groups, who fear that it would undermine their rights and interests. 

For example, some parties in Tamil Nadu have objected to the name Bharat, which they say is derived from the Sanskrit word Bharata, which means “the cherished” or “the prosperous”. They argue that this implies that only those who speak Sanskrit or Hindi are cherished or prosperous, while those who speak other languages are not. They also point out that Tamil Nadu has a history of anti-Hindi movements and protests, and that imposing the name Bharat would violate their linguistic and cultural identity.

The Public Opinion and Sentiment on the Name Change Issue

The public opinion on the name change issue is also divided and varied across regions, religions, languages, and generations. According to a survey conducted by YouGov, 41% of Indians support changing the name of India , while 33% oppose it. 

The survey also found that younger Indians (aged 18-24) are more likely to support the name change than older Indians (aged 55+), and that Hindus are more likely to support it than Muslims.

The survey also revealed some interesting insights into how Indians perceive their country’s name. For example, 45% of Indians said that they prefer to call their country India when speaking in English, while 37% said that they prefer to call it Bharat when speaking in Hindi. 

Moreover, 49% of Indians said that they feel more proud when they hear their country being called India by foreigners, while 35% said that they feel more proud when they hear it being called Bharat by foreigners.

The name change issue is not new or unique to India. Many countries around the world have changed their names for various reasons, such as independence, decolonization, unification, or rebranding. Some examples are Myanmar (formerly Burma), Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), Iran (formerly Persia), Thailand (formerly Siam), Indonesia (formerly Dutch East Indies), Vietnam (formerly French Indochina), Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan), Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Cambodia (formerly Kampuchea), Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia), Czechia (formerly Czech Republic), etc.

The name change issue is also not likely to be resolved or settled anytime soon. It will continue to generate debate and controversy among different stakeholders and groups in India and abroad. The question remains: What’s in a name? Is it just a label or a symbol, or does it have a deeper meaning and significance? How does it affect the identity and image of a country and its people? How does it influence their relations with other countries and cultures? These are some of the questions that need to be considered and answered before making any decision on changing the name of India.