By Ari Schaffer
The country of India, located in the southern region of Asia, has recently become the most populated nation on earth, even surpassing China. Though the massive growth is notable due to the possible ramifications it may entail, India has been a topic of global news as of late for a different reason. In the beginning of September, controversy erupted regarding the possibility of its name being adjusted. The dispute originated from the G20 Summit meeting which occurred between September 10th and 11th in the Indian capital of New Delhi. The organization, consisting of nineteen countries, united in an effort to discuss economic issues across the globe. While the event may seem unimportant to common society, uproar transpired when Prime Minister Narenda Modi referred to the country as Bharat, an alternative name to India. The common name was thus dismissed throughout the session, solely being referred to by the new title.
The name “Bharat” derives from the Sanskrit word for India, with many of its citizens using the terms interchangeably. The Constitution further utilizes both, as evident through statements such as, “Bharat, that is India, shall be a Union of States.” If both “Bharat” and “India” have existed for centuries, why are government officials suddenly advocating for the use of only one? Many supporters for the adoption have referenced British colonization as the reasoning. India was formerly ruled by the English Empire for about eighty-nine years. During this time, not only was there racial discrimination, but nearly 35 million Indian individuals died of starvation during famines with the British refusing to assist. Therefore, the name of the country, which was likely imposed by the British, has developed an immense amount of opposition due to the negative history it represents. The current political party in power of India also greatly desires change. The BJP, also known as the Bharatiya Janata Party, has been known to promote the use of Hindi within the country to destroy the remnants of their past. Names of cities, towns, and even schools have been adapted to promote nationalistic pride within the people. However, minorities feel as though the BJP is doing injustice through encouraging the name Bharat as it creates prejudice. There are many contrasting cultures within India, yet the party is known to push forth an agenda favoring Hindi beliefs. It is argued that if legislation passes to officially change the name, it will result in many feeling unrepresented and outcast.
Though there are no official laws which have proposed the idea of a name change, there will likely be advancements on the topic in the upcoming weeks.