Guests of the upcoming 2023 Group of 20 (G20) summit received dinner invitations from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. But instead of the name India, invitations featured the name Bharat. Experts say the switch is part of an effort to remove what Modi’s party views as offensive names.
Names are important in God’s world. The Bible records numerous name changes: Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul, Simon to Peter—the list goes on. Sometimes these name changes were intended as fresh blessings. Sometimes they reflected life events. Today, people still give great thought to the names of babies, businesses . . . or countries.
India, or Bharat, is a nation of more than 1.4 billion people. Bharat is an ancient Sanskrit word. Many historians believe it dates back to early Hindu texts. The word also means “India” in Hindi. India is the more common name, both in the country and around the world.
The G20 summit invitation refers to Indian President Droupadi Murmu as “President of Bharat” instead of “President of India.” The group of 19 countries plus the European Union is holding its summit in India for the first time on September 9 and 10. Members will discuss global economic issues.
Officials of Modi’s political party support a full name change. They say the name India was introduced by British settlers and is a “symbol of slavery.” The British ruled India for about 200 years until the country gained independence in 1947.
“Another blow to slavery mentality,” tweeted Pushkar Singh Dhami. He is a leader of Modi’s governing party. Dhami shared an image of the invitation in his post.
Modi’s party has long tried to erase names related to India’s Mughal (Muslim) and colonial past. In 2015, officials changed the name of a famous New Delhi street. Aurangzeb Road, named after a Mughal king, became Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road. Last year, the government renamed a colonial-era avenue in New Delhi. Rajpath, meaning “King’s Way,” became Kartavya Path (“Path of Duty”).
Modi’s government says the name changes are an effort to reclaim India’s Hindu past. But other parties criticize the moves.
“There is no constitutional objection to calling India ‘Bharat,’ which is one of the country’s two official names,” says opposition lawmaker Shashi Tharoor. But he adds, “I hope the government will not be so foolish as to completely dispense with ‘India,’ which has incalculable brand value built up over centuries.”
Tharoor says Indians should “continue to use both words.” He does not want the country to give up the “claim to a name redolent (evocative) of history, a name that is recognized around the world.”
Disputes over India versus Bharat have recently gained ground. Opposition parties in July announced a new alliance called INDIA, or Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. INDIA hopes to unseat Modi and defeat his party ahead of elections in 2024.
