Rumors are swirling that India may be changing its name to an ancient Sanskrit word: Here’s whyBy Chloe Whelan, News.com.au
Published Sep. 7, 2023
A single word on a dinner invitation has sparked frenzied speculation that India is changing its name and has picked a highly controversial alternative.
Earlier this week, Indian president Droupadi Murmu was referred to as the “President of Bharat” on an invitation to a state dinner for leaders attending the G20 summit in Delhi this weekend.
Sambit Patra, the national spokesman of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), added to the speculation when he shared an image of an official card that referenced Narendra Modi as “the Prime Minister of Bharat.”
That single word — Bharat — which appeared on both invites has ignited rumors that India may be in the process of officially changing its name.
Why might India change its name?Bharat is an ancient Sanskrit word that has long been used to describe India.
Generally, the word India is used when referencing the country in English, while Bharat is used in Hindi.
Both names — as well as a third, Hindustan, which means “land of the Hindus” in Urdu — are used interchangeably by the public.
But it was exceptionally unusual to see the word Bharat on the dinner invitations, which were otherwise in English — and the word is highly politically loaded.
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Source:
https://nypost.com/2023/09/07/india-may-be-changing-its-name-to-bharat/
