The reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “Prime Minister of Bharat” during his visit to Indonesia for the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits has ignited a debate over a potential change in the country’s name. This comes shortly after a G20 dinner invitation addressed to the “President of Bharat” triggered controversy, with opposition parties alleging that the government intends to replace “India” with “Bharat” as the country’s official name.
Senior BJP leaders and ministers have expressed support for the use of “President of Bharat,” with Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar questioning the objections, asserting that the country is officially known as both “India” and “Bharat” and hence the reference to “Prime Minister of Bharat” is nothing wrong.
The ongoing debate has fueled speculation that the issue of changing the country’s name could be raised during the upcoming five-day special session of Parliament, scheduled to commence on September 18.
Opposition leaders, including Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, who initially highlighted the development, have accused the government of undermining the constitutional idea of the country as a “Union of States,” as stated in Article 1 of the Constitution, which recognizes the nation as “India, that is Bharat.”
Jairam Ramesh commented, “So the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhavan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on 9 September in the name of ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the usual ‘President of India.’ Now, Article 1 in the Constitution can read: Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.”
The controversy arose just days after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat advocated for the use of “Bharat” instead of “India.” Bhagwat, addressing an event in Guwahati on September 1, emphasized that the name “Bharat” has an ancient lineage and should be preserved. He stated, “The name of our country has been Bharat for ages. Whatever may be the language, the name remains the same.”
The debate over the country’s name change reflects broader discussions about national identity and nomenclature. While “India” is the common English reference, “Bharat” is deeply rooted in India’s historical and cultural heritage. The issue remains a topic of public discourse, with varying perspectives on how to address the country officially.
