• UGI USER
  • Sep 09, 2023
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India renaming to Bharat ?

Relevance

  • GS 1: Modern Indian History
  • GS 2: Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings
  • Tags: #IndiaOrBharat #BharatOverIndia #G20 #UPSC

Why in the News?

An invitation for a G20 dinner, issued by President Droupadi Murmu as “President of Bharat” rather than “President of India,” sparked controversy and speculation about legislative changes in the upcoming Parliament session.

 

 

A Move to Embrace “Bharat”

  • The Indian government is emphasizing the need to break free from a “Slavery mentality.”
  • As part of this approach, there are discussions about removing the term “India” from the Constitution.
  • Additionally, “Bharat” is being highlighted on the international stage, as seen in a G20 booklet provided to foreign delegates titled “Bharat: The Mother of Democracy,” celebrating India’s democratic values and heritage.

 Origin of Bharat

  • The earliest recorded names for India, namely “Bharat,” “Bharatvarsha,” and “Bharata,” find their roots in ancient texts like the Mahabharata and Puranic literature.
  • “Bharatvarsha” signifies the land of Bharata Chakravarti, a legendary emperor credited with founding the Bharata Dynasty and being an ancestor to the Pandavas and Kauravas.
  • Born to King Dushyanta of Hastinapur and Queen Shakuntala, he is said to have conquered Greater India, known as Bharatvarsha, which extends from the southern sea to the northern snowy regions.
  • According to social scientist Catherine Clémentin-Ojha, “Bharata” denotes the territory characterized by the Brahmanical social system.
  • “Bharata” also serves as the name of a legendary ancient king who is considered the forefather of the Rig Vedic Bharatas, and consequently, the ancestor of all the diverse peoples inhabiting the Indian subcontinent
  • Over time, “Bharata” evolved into “Bharat,” and during the independence movement, “Bharat Mata ki Jai” became a Popular Slogan.
  • Today, many Hindi speakers use “Bharat” in place of “India,” a name originating from the people themselves.
Period of Use Name Origin Meaning
Ancient times Bharata Sanskrit To bear/to maintain
16th Century to 1947 Hindustan Persian Land of the Hindus

 
1947 to present

 

 India Latin Land of the Indus River

 

“The Significance of ‘India’ and ‘Hindustan'”.

  • The name “Hindustan” has an interesting origin. It comes from “Hindu,” which is the Persian word for “Sindhu,” the Sanskrit name for the Indus River.
  • This term became popular when the Achaemenid Persians conquered parts of the Indus valley around the 6th century BC, which was also the time when Buddha lived in the Gangetic basin.
  • The Achaemenids used “Hindu” to describe the lower Indus basin.
  • Eventually, around the 1st century AD, people started adding the suffix “stan” to “Hindu,” creating the name “Hindustan.”
  • The Greeks, who learned about “Hind” from the Achaemenids, wrote it as “Indus.”
  • When the Macedonian king Alexander invaded India in the 3rd century BC, “India” was already used to refer to the region beyond the Indus River.

Evolution of Names: From ‘Hindustan to ‘India’.

In the 16th century, during the time of the early Mughals, “Hindustan” referred to the entire Indo-Gangetic plain. However, by the 18th century, the meaning of “Hindustan” began to change.

Shift to Mughal Territories

  • Historian Ian J. Barrow noted that in the mid-to-late 18th century, “Hindustan” started to refer more specifically to the territories ruled by the Mughal emperor, which covered much of South Asia.

The Emergence of ‘India’

  • From the late 18th century, British maps began using the name “India” more frequently.
  • This shift led to “Hindustan” losing its association with the broader South Asian region.

Reasons for ‘India’

  • One reason for the preference for “India” might have been its historical use in Europe and associations with Graeco-Roman culture.
  • Additionally, scientific and bureaucratic organizations like the Survey of India adopted the term.

Colonial Impact

  • The adoption of “India” reflected changes in perspectives and marked the subcontinent as a single, bounded, and British-controlled territory during the colonial era.

Incorporating ‘Bharat’ and ‘India’ in the Constitution

  • In the Constituent Assembly debates, the topic of what to call the new country and its territory was discussed on September 17, 1949.
  • When the first article was presented as “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States,” it caused a disagreement among the members.
  • Some members didn’t like the use of the name ‘India’ because it reminded them of the colonial period.

Changing the name of India to Bharat through the constitutional process

It requires amending Article 1 of the Indian Constitution, which defines the name and territory of India. To make this change, the following constitutional process would be followed

  • Constitutional Amendment: An amendment to the Constitution would be proposed in either House of Parliament (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha) as per Article 368 of the Constitution.
  • Passage in Both Houses: The proposed amendment must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament(Special Majority)
  • State Ratification: If the amendment pertains to the name and territory of India, as in this case, it must also be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the states in India, as per Article 368(2) of the Constitution.
  • Presidential Assent: Once passed by Parliament and ratified by the required number of states, the amendment is sent to the President for assent.
  • Publication: After receiving the President’s assent, the amendment is published in the official Gazette of India, and the change is officially incorporated into the Constitution.

Implications of Changing the Name from India to Bharat

Positive Implications

 

 Negative Implications
Cultural Identity: It could reinforce a stronger sense of cultural identity among citizens by using the historical and indigenous name “Bharat.”

 

Historical Relevance: Emphasizes India’s ancient history and heritage, connecting it to its roots in the Mahabharata and Puranic literature.

 

National Pride: Some may view it as a move to assert national pride and break free from colonial legacies.

 

 International Confusion:  India is widely recognized globally, and renaming it could disrupt established diplomatic ties and agreements.

 

Geopolitical Impact: Existing terms like “Indian Ocean Region” (IOR) and “Indo-Pacific” might not easily accommodate the name change, potentially affecting regional geopolitics.

 

Administrative Challenges: Implementing the name change would require significant administrative and bureaucratic efforts, involving revisions to numerous laws, institutions, and documents.

 

Emotional and Cultural Linkages: Changing the name could disrupt emotional and cultural linkages built over centuries, impacting India’s relationships with other nations, especially those bordering the Indian Ocean.

 

Historical Significance: While “Bharat” has historical significance, “India” is a name recognized worldwide, and the change might diminish India’s global identity.

 

 

Changing the name from “India” to “Bharat” presents a complex interplay of cultural, historical, practical, and geopolitical considerations. While it may strengthen cultural identity and historical ties, the challenges of international recognition, geopolitical terminology, emotional attachment, and potential administrative complexities cannot be ignored. Moreover, it has the potential to become a divisive political issue.

Source: Indian Express, Livemint.

Mains Question

Discuss the cultural and historical significance of changing the name from “India” to “Bharat” and its potential impact on national identity?