Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s recent reference to herself as the “President of Bharat” in a dinner invitation instead of “President of India” has ignited a heated controversy. Critics argue that this shift in nomenclature distorts the identity of the nation.
President Murmu is preparing to host a reception for G20 leaders during the upcoming summit this Saturday, and the invitations, bearing the name “Bharat,” were dispatched from her office.
In Indian languages, the country is also referred to as Bharat, Bharata, and Hindustan, which were its pre-colonial names. These names have been used interchangeably by the public and in official contexts.
Traditionally, high-ranking officials in the country have adhered to titles like President of India, Prime Minister of India, and Chief Justice of India when communicating in English.
However, in recent years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has embarked on a campaign to replace colonial-era names. Their goal is to help India shed the remnants of a colonial mentality.
Supporters of this name change in the invitation argue that the British colonial rulers had coined the name “India” to overshadow “Bharat” and establish a British legacy. “Our country’s name is Bharat, and there should be no doubt about it,” emphasized Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a federal deputy minister.
Hindu groups affiliated with the BJP see the G20 summit as the ideal platform to divest India of its colonial baggage.
However, opposition leaders have voiced their criticism of this change. Some argue that it aims to overshadow their two-month-old political alliance, also named “INDIA.” Mamata Banerjee, a prominent opposition leader, remarked, “We all say ‘Bharat’; what is new in this? But the name ‘India’ is known to the world… What has suddenly prompted the government to change the country’s name?”
This shift in nomenclature from “India” to “Bharat” has sparked a profound debate about identity, history, and the nation’s path forward. Whether this change will endure or fade away remains uncertain, but it has undeniably ignited a fervent discussion about India’s name and its historical significance.