On October 25, a high-level committee for social sciences, constituted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recommended significant revisions to the school curriculum. One of the key recommendations was replacing the name “India” with “Bharat” in all school textbooks. The committee, chaired by C I Isaac, also proposed the inclusion of classical history, and the Indian Knowledge System in the syllabus for all subjects, highlighting ‘Hindu Victories’ in various battles within textbooks. The NCERT panel’s recommendation came against the backdrop of a debate on whether the country will be renamed “Bharat”. This was triggered earlier this year after the Centre sent G20 dinner invites hosted by President Droupadi Murmu in the name of “President of Bharat”, instead of “President of India”, triggering a political row.
India, a nation rich in history and culture, has been known by its current name for decades. “Bharat” is often associated with India’s rich cultural and historical heritage, while “India” is a name that has been used internationally and is more commonly associated with the country in English-speaking nations. Both names hold significance for different aspects of India’s identity. The Constitution of India officially recognises both names. Article 1 of the Constitution states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” This means that both “India” and “Bharat” are legitimate names for the country, and the use of either name is constitutionally valid. The discourse concerning the nomenclature of the nation is not a recent development.
The Supreme Court, in both 2016 and 2020, dismissed petitions seeking to rename ‘India’ as ‘Bharat,’ affirming that both “Bharat” and “India” were explicitly referenced in the Constitution. Bharat is an ancient Sanskrit word which many historians believe dates back to early Hindu texts. The BJP has argued that the name “India” is a remnant of the country’s colonial past. According to the BJP, using “Bharat” instead of “India” will instill a sense of national pride and reinforce the country’s rich cultural heritage. The BJP has already renamed cities and places that were linked to the Mughal and colonial periods. Last year, for instance, the Mughal Garden at the presidential palace in New Delhi was renamed Amrit Udyan.
The contemplation of changing the name of India to “Bharat” has sparked significant discussions and debates in recent times. Changing India’s name to only “Bharat” would require an amendment to the Constitution which would need to be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament. Amid all these debates, one thing that was understandable is that the proposed name change is linked to the changed political scenario in the country. In July, leaders from 26 Indian opposition parties formed an alliance called INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) in an effort to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming general election in 2024. Modi is in no mood to let INDIA win the race.
