Jaishankar addresses ‘India-Bharat’ debate amid speculations of name change

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, has waded into the ongoing ‘India-Bharat’ nomenclature debate, emphasizing that the term ‘Bharat’ holds a significance deeply embedded in India’s Constitution. His statement comes in the wake of recent developments where invitations issued by Rashtrapati Bhawan for a G20 dinner on September 9 referred to the ‘President of Bharat,’ sparking widespread speculations about a potential shift from the country’s English name, India.

As the government remains discreet regarding its legislative plans for the special session of Parliament scheduled later this month, there have been media reports suggesting that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament may propose a special resolution to prioritize the use of the name “Bharat.” This move has generated mixed reactions, with both support and opposition to the idea.

Jaishankar, in response to questions regarding the reactions of opposition parties and whether the government intends to rebrand India as Bharat coinciding with the G20 Summit, urged individuals to delve into the Constitution for clarity. He stated, “India that is Bharat, it is there in the Constitution. Please, I would invite everybody to read it.” The minister underscored that ‘Bharat’ carries a particular connotation, meaning, and understanding, all of which are enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

Over the years, the government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has actively worked to shed vestiges of British colonial rule by renaming places and entities. This move is aimed at fostering a mindset that is not rooted in India’s colonial past. It is noteworthy that India is interchangeably referred to as ‘Bharat’ and ‘Hindustan’ in various Indian languages, both in everyday use by the public and officially.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, in response to the ongoing debate, emphasized that his party is committed to working for both India and Bharat. He contrasted this with the BJP’s apparent focus on ‘India versus Bharat.’ Gogoi suggested that the BJP’s position might be a response to the growing popularity of the INDIA alliance, hinting at newfound tensions within the BJP.

Gogoi added that the BJP appears to be deflecting attention from pressing issues such as inflation, unemployment, investigations into conglomerates like Adani, and geopolitical matters involving China, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Manipur. He stressed that the Congress party is dedicated to working for the betterment of both India and Bharat, while the BJP seems to be positioning itself as advocating for ‘India versus Bharat.’