NEW DELHI: In the upcoming special session of Parliament, there are discussions regarding a proposal to change the name of India to Bharat. The Narendra Modi-led government is contemplating introducing a resolution during this session, which is scheduled to take place from September 18th to 22nd. Currently, the Indian Constitution refers to the country as "India, that is Bharat...," but there is a growing call to simplify it to just "Bharat."
The demand to amend the Constitution and rename India as Bharat has gained momentum, and there are reports suggesting that the government may present a resolution to enact this change. Prominent figures like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat have expressed their support for this renaming. Bhagwat had previously urged people to use the term "Bharat" instead of "India," emphasizing that the country has been known as Bharat for centuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has echoed similar sentiments. On August 15, 2022, during his speech from the Red Fort, he urged citizens to make five pledges, one of which was to free themselves from any remnants of slavery. This was seen as a symbolic move towards embracing the country's indigenous identity. Notably, the special aircraft used to transport the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister already bears the name "Bharat."
During the recent monsoon session of Parliament, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal called for the removal of 'India' from the Constitution, arguing that it symbolizes colonial slavery. This sentiment found support in fellow BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav, who proposed a constitutional amendment to replace "India" with "Bharat." With the special session of Parliament commencing on September 18, there is speculation that a constitutional amendment bill may be introduced to effect this change.
Although the session's agenda has not yet been disclosed, the possibility of such a bill cannot be dismissed. Advocates for the name change believe that having a single, indigenous name for the country will foster a stronger sense of national pride and reinforce the nation's rich cultural heritage.
In a related development, an official dinner invitation for G20 delegates from the Rashtrapati Bhawan surfaced recently. Instead of the usual 'President of India,' the invite bore the title 'President of Bharat.' Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was among the first to notice this change. Ramesh commented, "So the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhawan sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9th 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.' But now even this 'Union of States' is under assault."
Jairam Ramesh Criticizes Govt for Using 'President of Bharat' on G20 Invitations
