Some say use of ‘Bharat’ is move to finally throw off colonial chains, others call it disastrous Narendra Modi vanity project
India or Bharat? As the history books show, this is a question that goes back centuries.invitations sent to world leaders using the word “Bharat”
In 1947, when British rule was finally overthrown, India ostensibly had three coexisting names, each with its own history, connotation and legitimacy. Police stand outside the Bharat Mandapam stadium, the main venue for the G20 summit in New Delhi, India.– written around 1500BC – which mentions the Bharata clan as one of the principal tribes occupying an area now known as north India. It is also the name of a legendary king that appears in the Sanskrit epic the Mahabharata, who Hindus claim was the father of the Indian race.
As it stands today, the opening line of India’s constitution, which was written in English, states: “India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states.” While various legal and parliamentary petitions have been raised requesting that Bharat be the only legitimate name, citing the name India as a colonial hangover, they have been duly dismissed.for a dinner being hosted for the G20 leaders’ summit, being held in Delhi this weekend, referred to the “President of Bharat” in English.
The push for Bharat to be India’s official name has strong support in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , the hardline rightwing religious nationalist group from which the BJP originated. “At times we use India so those who speak English will understand. But we must stop using this. The name of the country will remain Bharat wherever you go in the world,” said RSS’s chief Mohan Bhagwat, speaking last week.invitations provoked strong support from within the BJP.
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