In a recent G20 summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a placard bearing the Hindi name for his nation, ‘Bharat’, instead of the commonly used English name, ‘India’. This move is seen as an attempt to assert the nation’s identity. The country, according to its constitution, recognizes both English and Hindi as official languages. While the nation is referred to as ‘India’ in English, it is called ‘Bharat’ in Hindi.

Proposal to Change the English Name:

There have been reports from Indian media that the government may suggest an official change to the English name of the country from ‘India’ to ‘Bharat’. This proposal is to be brought before a special session of the parliament. ‘Bharat’ is an ancient Sanskrit term that many historians believe dates back to early Hindu texts. The term also signifies ‘India’ in Hindi.

The proposal to change the official English name of India has sparked outrage among opposition parties. Critics of the government have accused Modi’s government and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of planning to change the name to only ‘Bharat’. Opposition parties have voiced their objection to the proposed change, stating that ‘India’ has “incalculable brand value” that has been built up over centuries and is recognized around the world. Disputes over ‘India’ versus ‘Bharat’ have escalated since opposition parties announced a new alliance called ‘INDIA’ to unseat Modi and defeat his party ahead of the national elections in 2024.

The Indian government has called a special parliamentary session, but it has not announced any agenda, leading to speculation that it will be used to rename the country. However, some government officials have dismissed the idea as rumors spread by the opposition. The controversy over the potential name change is rooted in the intolerance shown by Modi’s government and is a key factor in the ‘India’ versus ‘Bharat’ issue. The opposition has warned the BJP against doing away with the name ‘India’, suggesting that the nation should continue to use both names rather than relinquish its claim to a name redolent of history.