why is india changing its name

4 days ago 5
Nature

India is considering changing its name to Bharat, which is an ancient Sanskrit name with deep historical and cultural roots. The move is driven by political and ideological motivations, particularly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which views the name "India" as a symbol of colonialism and slavery linked to British rule. Bharat is already an official name alongside India in the constitution and has been traditionally used in India for centuries. The discussion gained attention when official invitations for a G20 summit dinner referred to the country as Bharat, and some government officials started highlighting Bharat over India. However, no official decision has been announced yet, and changing the name constitutionally would require a parliamentary amendment. Critics see the push as part of a revisionist agenda and a political strategy ahead of upcoming elections. The opposition calls the idea absurd and warns against losing the internationally recognized brand of "India".