Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
In the Indian constitution, the world’s most populous country is known as India and Bharat. Hindustan (“land of the Hindus” in Urdu) is another word for the country.
The three names are used interchangeably officially and by the public. However, around the world, India is the most commonly used name.
At the G-20 Summit, Draupadi Murmu is referred to as “President of Bharat” instead of the usual “President of India”. Controversy and debate have gripped India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government referred to the country as Bharat on official invitations, leaving many wondering whether the name will be changed.
Historical Aspect of the name India and Bharat
Since ancient times our nation has been termed as Bharat (Sanskrit original name). There are some stories of various historians that fascinate us and explain How got the name Bharat.
- According to Rig Veda and Battle of Ten Kings:
According to the History of India’s Geography; the land of seven rivers, Rig Veda’s 18th hymn of the seventh book describes the terrible war which is known as ‘Dasharajna’ or battle of ten kings.
The war was fought between ten powerful tribes who plotted to overthrow King Sudasa of the Bharata tribe of the Trtsu Dynasty. This battle took place on the river Ravi in Punjab.
As a result, Sudasa achieved a great thumping victory over the confederacy of ten kings. This further led to the popularity of King Sudasa and people eventually started identifying themselves as members of the Bharata tribe. The name ‘Bharata’ stuck in the mouths of people and ultimately named as ‘Bharat Varsha’ meaning the land of Bharata.
- According to Mahabharata and Bharata Chakravarti:
According to Mahabharata, the popular story states that it was called Bharatvarsha after the king named Bharata Chakravarti. Bharata was a legendary emperor the founder of the Bharata Dynasty and an ancestor of the Pandavas and Kauravas.
He was son of King Dushyanta of Hastinapur and Queen Sakuntala. Also, a descendant of Kshatriya Varna. Bharata had conquered all of Greater India, united into a single political entity which was named after him as “Bharatvarsha”.
- According to Vishnu Purana
उत्तरं यत्समुद्रस्य हिमाद्रेश्चैव दक्षिणम् ।
वर्षं तद् भारतं नाम भारती यत्र संततिः ।।
Uttaraṃ yatsamudrasya himādreścaiva dakṣiṇam
varṣaṃ tadbhārataṃ nāma bhāratī yatra santatiḥ
This shloka means: “The country (Varsam) that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bharatam; there dwell the descendants of Bharata.
Therefore, it is also said that the name Bharata is derived from the ancient Indian texts, the Puranas which refers to the land that comprises India as Bharata Varsam.
They used this term to distinguish it from other varsas or continents.
- According to Sanskrit, the origin of Bharat:
Bharata is the official Sanskrit name of the country, Bharata Ganarajya. The Sanskrit word Bharata describes Agni. This term has the Sanskrit root bhr means “to bear/ to carry” i.e. “to be maintained” (of fire). It also means “One who is engaged in search of Knowledge”.
Constitutional Aspect
On September 18, 1949, the Constituent Assembly debated various suggestions for the country’s name, including Bharat, Hindustan, Hind, Bharatbhumi, and Bharatvarsh. When the question of naming India in the Constitution arose, ‘Hindustan’ was dropped from consideration.
The Constituent Assembly debated whether to use ‘Bharat,’ ‘India,’ or a combination of both. Some members believed that ‘India’ was a reminder of the colonial past and suggested alternatives like “Bharat known as India also in foreign countries.”
After much deliberation, the Assembly resolved with Article 1.1 of the Constitution, which states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.
Why has ‘Bharat’ caused controversy?
Since the G20 invitations were delivered, government critics have accused Modi’s government and his Hindu nationalist BJP of planning to change the name to only Bharat.
The name is a Sanskrit term found in scriptures written about 2,000 years ago. It refers to an ambiguous territory, Bharatavarsa, which stretched beyond today’s borders of India and may have extended to include what is today Indonesia.
The BJP has already renamed cities and places that were linked to the Mughal and colonial periods. Last year, for instance, the Mughal Garden at the presidential palace in New Delhi was renamed Amrit Udyan.
Critics said the new names were an attempt to erase the Mughals, who were Muslims and ruled the subcontinent for almost 300 years, from Indian history.
The ongoing debate as the official name of our nation highlights the struggle for balance between tradition and modernity, colonial history, and cultural heritage. While 'India' remains the internationally recognized name, 'Bharat' carries profound cultural significance.
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