India may be renamed Bharat, Resolution expected in Special Parliament Session
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could persist in distorting history and dividing the nation, Bharat, which is a union of states, but they would remain steadfast and undeterred.
India is considering a possible renaming to “Bharat.” This development has emerged following an official invitation sent to the G20 Heads of State and ministers for a dinner event hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, which was addressed using the title “President of Bharat.”
The proposal for renaming India to expected to be discussed during a Special Session of Parliament. This step is being seen as a move to prevent any confusion with the Opposition alliance, INDIA. It’s worth noting that previous invitations used the title “President of the Republic of India.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the Modi government, characterising their actions as an attack on the Constitution. He stated, “Mr. Modi can persist in distorting history and dividing India, that is Bharat, which is a Union of States. However, we remain resolute. After all, what is the goal of INDIA parties? It is BHARAT – Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation, And Trust. Judega BHARAT, Jeetega INDIA!”
Ramesh’s tweet came days after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat last week suggested the use of instead of India. “The name of our country has been Bharat for ages. Whatever maybe the language, the name remains the same,” Bhagwat said at an event in Guwahati.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has voiced similar sentiments. On August 15, 2022, while addressing the nation from the Red Fort, he encouraged citizens to make five pledges, one of which was to free themselves from any remnants of colonial influence. This gesture was widely interpreted as a symbolic step towards embracing the nation’s indigenous identity.
It’s worth noting that the special aircraft utilized for transporting the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister already bears the name “Bharat” prominently inscribed on it.
During the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal had demanded the removal of ‘India’ from the Constitution, arguing that it symbolises colonial slavery.
On the same topic, BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav conveyed to the news agency ANI, “There is a widespread demand across the nation for the use of the term ‘Bharat’ in place of ‘India.’ The term ‘India’ was imposed on us by the British, whereas ‘Bharat’ symbolises our culture. I advocate for a constitutional amendment to officially incorporate the word ‘Bharat’.”
Constitutional Amendment Bill Likely to implement this change in Special Session of Parliament
With the special session of Parliament set to commence on September 18, there is growing speculation that a constitutional amendment bill may be presented to implement this proposed change.
Although the official agenda for the session remains undisclosed, the likelihood of such a bill being introduced cannot be dismissed. Proponents of the name change argue that adopting a single, indigenous name for the nation would foster a stronger sense of national pride and underscore the country’s deep cultural heritage.
Article 1 of the Indian Constitution
Article 1 of the Indian Constitution establishes that ‘India, referred to as Bharat,’ forms a ‘Union of States.’ This pivotal article in India’s constitution further outlines the nation’s territorial boundaries and deals with matters pertaining to nomenclature.
Bharat and India
The term ‘India’ has its origins in the word ‘Indus,’ derived from the Indus (or Sindhu) River, which flows through Tibet, India’s Jammu and Kashmir region, and extends into most of Pakistan.
Historically, the Greeks and Iranians referred to it as ‘Hindos’ or ‘Indos,’ denoting the land located to the east of the Indus River. Following colonial rule by the Dutch, French, and British, this name became associated with the country India.
In an ancient Indian text, the Vishnu Puran, Bharat is mentioned as the land situated north of the ocean and south of the snow-covered mountains.
Up until now, the terms Bharat and India have frequently been used interchangeably, with Bharat being considered an indigenous translation of the word India. Indian passports issued to citizens also feature the official names “Bharat Ganrajya” in Hindi and “Republic of India” in English.
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