Bharat vs India: During the upcoming special session of Parliament from September 18-22, the government is likely to introduce a proposal to change the country’s name from “India” to “Bharat.” Presently, the Indian Constitution refers to the nation as “India, that is Bharat,” but there is an increasing demand to revise it to just “Bharat.” Amid the discussions, the presidential invite for G-20 dinner has stirred up controversy which includes the name “President of Bharat” and not the existing “President of India.”
Call for name change
The push to rename India as Bharat by making amendments to the Constitution has gained momentum, and sources suggest that the central government may introduce a new resolution for this renaming process. A mere two days ago, notable figures, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Mohan Bhagwat, have openly endorsed this renaming initiative. Bhagwat has encouraged citizens to adopt the term “Bharat” in place of “India,” underscoring the country’s historical identification as Bharat for centuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed similar views. On August 15, 2022, during his address from the Red Fort, he called on citizens to take five pledges, one of which was the pursuit of complete freedom from any remnants of colonialism. This gesture was widely interpreted as a symbol of embracing the nation’s indigenous identity.
In a noteworthy development, the term “India” was substituted with “Bharat” on the special aircraft used for foreign visits by the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister.
Name already changed in official letters
In a change from the norm, the official communication addressed to G20 delegates from the Rashtrapati Bhawan bore the title ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the usual ‘President of India.’ The G20 Summit, hosted by India and held in the national capital from September 9 to 10 under India’s presidency, has drawn participation from numerous world leaders, among them US President Joe Biden.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also acknowledged this on X, and wrote, “So the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhawan sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9th in the name of ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the usual ‘President of India’. Now, Article 1 in the Constitution can read: “Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.” But now even this “Union of States” is under assault.”
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