India, that is Bharat: A short history of the nation’s names, from the Rig Veda to the Constitution of India
India, often referred to as Bharat, is a land of diverse cultures, rich history, and a tapestry of names that have evolved over centuries.
India's name has been a subject of speculation and debate, with calls for an official change from "India" to "Bharat."
However, it's essential to note that Article 1 of the Indian Constitution already recognizes both names, emphasizing, "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States."
Several institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Railways, already incorporate Hindi variants with "Bharatiya" in their names.
This linguistic diversity reflects the nation's unity in diversity.
The roots of "Bharat" trace back to Puranic literature and the epic Mahabharata.
Described as the land between the "sea in the south and the abode of snow in the north," Bharata holds a unique place in India's historical narrative.
Social scientist Catherine Clémentin-Ojha interprets Bharata as a religious and socio-cultural entity rather than a purely political or geographical one.
It refers to the "supraregional and subcontinental territory where the Brahmanical system of society prevails."
Bharata is not just a name but also the moniker of an ancient legendary king.
He is considered the ancestor of the Rig Vedic tribe of the Bharatas, symbolizing the progenitor of all the subcontinent's peoples.
Jawaharlal Nehru, writing in January 1927, highlighted the "fundamental unity of India" rooted in a common faith and culture.
India, for him, was synonymous with Bharata, the sacred land of the Hindus.
The name "Hindustan" finds its origins in the Persian word "Hindu," derived from Sanskrit's "Sindhu" (Indus).
This term gained currency during the Achaemenid Persian conquest of the Indus valley in the 6th century BC.
The Greeks, having learned of "Hind" from the Achaemenids, transliterated it as "Indus."
By the time of Alexander the Great's invasion in the 3rd century BC, "India" was used to describe the region beyond the Indus.
Historian Ian J Barrow noted the shift from "Hindustan" to "India" during the Mughal era.
However, in the 18th century, British maps increasingly favored "India" due to its European associations and adoption by scientific organizations.
The adoption of "India" marked a transition in colonial nomenclature, signifying a shift in perspectives.
It solidified the subcontinent as a single, bounded, and British political territory.
When the Constituent Assembly debates addressed the naming of India in the Constitution, "Hindustan" was discarded, and both "Bharat" and "India" were retained.
This reflected the diverse perspectives and historical significance attached to these names.
India, known as Bharat, is a nation steeped in history and culture, where names are more than mere words—they are a reflection of its multifaceted identity.