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New Delhi: In a groundbreaking move that has captured the attention of the international community, India has rebranded itself as “Bharat” on the global stage. India officially introduced the change in nomenclature in an invitation to foreign leaders attending the G20 summit, marking a significant shift in the country’s identity as it hosts world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
President Droupadi Murmu’s invitation to G20 foreign leaders and Chief Ministers for a dinner on September 9 now reads: “President of Bharat” instead of the traditional “President of India.” This marks the first instance of India’s nomenclature being altered for an official event.
India’s history deeply roots the term “Bharat,” which is enshrined in the country’s Constitution. Article 1 of the Constitution states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” Observers view this change as a reaffirmation of India’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
REPUBLIC OF BHARAT – happy and proud that our civilisation is marching ahead boldly towards AMRIT KAAL
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 5, 2023
Furthermore, the G20 summit has presented foreign delegates with a booklet titled “Bharat, The Mother Of Democracy.” The booklet seeks to emphasize India’s enduring democratic traditions, spanning thousands of years. It opens with the words: “In Bharat that is India, taking the consent of the people in governance has been part of life since earliest recorded history.”
The move has garnered mixed reactions within India’s political landscape. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed pride in the name change, hailing it as a bold step towards a bright future for the nation. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan echoed similar sentiments, stating that this change was long overdue and a significant statement against colonial mindset.
जन गण मन अधिनायक जय हे, भारत भाग्य विधाता
जय हो 🇮🇳#PresidentOfBharat pic.twitter.com/C4RmR0uGGS
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 5, 2023
However, the alteration in India’s nomenclature has stirred political controversy. Opposition parties have seized upon this change, linking it to the name of their alliance set to challenge the BJP in the 2024 elections – INDIA, or the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
कांग्रेस को देश के सम्मान एवं गौरव से जुड़े हर विषय से इतनी आपत्ति क्यों है?
भारत जोड़ो के नाम पर राजनीतिक यात्रा करने वालों को “भारत माता की जय” के उद्घोष से नफरत क्यों है?
स्पष्ट है कि कांग्रेस के मन में न देश के प्रति सम्मान है, न देश के संविधान के प्रति और न ही संवैधानिक…
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 5, 2023
RJD leader Manoj Jha remarked, “It has just been a few weeks since we named our alliance as INDIA, and BJP has started sending invitations with ‘Republic of Bharat’ instead of ‘Republic of India.'”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), questioned whether the BJP would change ‘Bharat’ if the INDIA alliance altered its name to ‘Bharat.’
The ruling party, BJP, had previously criticized the adoption of the acronym INDIA by the opposition alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the opposition of attempting to hide their past actions by misusing the name, stating that the name change was not a display of patriotism but an intention to undermine the country.
As the debate over ‘Bharat’ versus ‘India’ continues to intensify, the international community watches with interest as India, now ‘Bharat,’ navigates this significant shift in its global identity.
