Dipak Kurmi
(The writer can be reached at dipaknewslive@gmail.com.)
In the timeless words of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, “What significance lies in a name? The fragrance of a rose would remain equally enchanting, regardless of the label it bears”. This sentiment resonates with the ongoing discourse surrounding India’s proposed transition to its ancient moniker, Bharat. Regardless of the nomenclature employed, the essence and identity of the nation endure, steadfast and unchanging.
Within the nation’s borders, the dual identity persists: India on the international stage and ‘Bharat’ whispered across its own tapestry. The question beckons: is the transformation of the official title from India to Bharat an imperative endeavour? Would this shift resonate deeply in the lives of its people, forging a significant transformation? The proposition to embrace ‘Bharat’ as the predominant name begs us to ponder its potential advantages. In a land where tradition and history intertwine, names like Chennai’s lingering attachment to Madras and Mumbai’s enduring echoes of Bombay bear witness to the nuanced dance of nomenclature.
The RSS, the guiding philosophical beacon for the BJP, has ardently championed the term ‘Bharat’ as the nation’s truest identity. Their conviction resonates with a resolute message: “While we may employ ‘India’ on occasion for the sake of linguistic harmony with the English-speaking world, we must relinquish this habit. ‘Bharat’ shall eternally be ‘Bharat,’ an unwavering testament to our national spirit, wherever our footsteps may lead us,” proclaimed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in a recent declaration.
In a diplomatic soirée that captured global attention, President Droupadi Murmu of India extended her hospitality to G20 world leaders. However, it was not just a dinner but a subtle linguistic shift that set tongues wagging. Instead of the customary “President of India,” she introduced herself as the “President of Bharat”. A similar transformation of nomenclature was noted when Prime Minister Narendra Modi ventured to Indonesia, embracing the title of “Prime Minister of Bharat”. These intriguing linguistic choices have sparked fervent speculation, prompting many to speculate whether the wheels of change are turning within the corridors of power. The impending convening of a special Parliament session from September 18 to 22 further fuels these whispers, hinting at the potential introduction of a consequential bill. Should such a measure be enacted, the ripple effects could resonate not only domestically but also reverberate across the global stage.
The year was 1949, a pivotal moment in India’s history, as the framers of its Constitution delved into the profound question of nomenclature. Among the myriad choices that danced through their deliberations were ‘Bharat,’ ‘Hindustan,’ ‘Hind,’ ‘Bharatbhumi,’ and ‘Bharatvarsh.’ In a harmonious culmination of diverse linguistic hues, they ultimately arrived at a consensus, etching into the annals of history that “India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States,” as immortalised in Article 1(1) of the Indian Constitution.
The resonance of “Bharat” carries with it the weight of more than just a name; it symbolises a facet of a broader ideological mosaic. With its origins nestled in the sacred tapestry of Hindu scriptures, this term reaches back to the depths of antiquity, encompassing the vast expanse of the Indian subcontinent. Its lineage can be traced through the pages of the Puranas and the epic Mahabharata, where the illustrious King ‘Bharat’ cast his indelible shadow across the annals of history. While Greek historians and European colonisers often favoured “India” in their lexicon, “Bharat” emerges as a term interwoven with the very fabric of Hindu mythology, carrying a history as rich and ancient as the land itself.
The fluidity of nomenclature, shifting like the tides of history, is a phenomenon not uncommon in the annals of humanity. It’s a tale that weaves through the very fabric of existence, where the names of individuals, thoroughfares, metropolises, and even entire nations have danced to the tune of governance and geopolitics. Consider the likes of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Iran, each undergoing a metamorphosis in nomenclature. Closer to home, the vibrant tapestry of India itself is adorned with cities shedding old identities for new ones, like the transformation of Allahabad to Prayagraj, Bombay to Mumbai, and Madras to Chennai. Akin to this, the political landscape has seen the BJP breathe fresh life into places harkening to the Mughal and colonial epochs. A prime illustration of this transformative spirit is the rechristening of the Mughal Garden at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, now reborn as Amrit Udyan, a testament to the ever-evolving tableau of names and histories.
The art of name-changing, a double-edged sword with its own unique balance of advantages and disadvantages, often carries political implications that ignite speculation and debate. In this intricate dance of nomenclature, there are whispers and conjectures that the shift in nomenclature may have been a strategic manoeuvre intended to exert influence over the emerging opposition entity, INDIA.
In the realm of political discourse, the Opposition posits a compelling argument. They contend that “India” stands as a globally acknowledged emblem of democracy, secularism, and diversity—a name intricately woven into the fabric of its contemporary narrative, a reminder of the arduous journey towards independence from the yoke of British colonialism.
Through the corridors of legislative history, there echo the reverberations of past endeavours, where the winds of change rustled the leaves of nomenclature. Shantaram Naik, a Congress stalwart, etched his name into the annals of Parliament with two private member bills in 2010 and 2012, advocating for the exclusive embrace of “Bharat” as the nation’s official title.
Yogi Adityanath, now Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, stood alongside this proposition during his tenure as an MP, suggesting a shift from “India that is Bharat” to “Bharat that is Hindustan”. However, the judicial scales weighed in as well. In 2015, Chief Justice of India TS Thakur held a resolute stance, declining the proposed alterations when the matter graced the courtroom’s attention. The year 2020 bore witness to a similar judicial dismissal, where the court affirmed that the country’s triumphant synonym is indeed “Bharat,” while “Hindustan” remained its familiar, endearing appellation. The court artfully summarised, “Bharat is where we dream, and Hindustan is where we reside,” encapsulating a poetic essence in the very fabric of the nation’s nomenclature.
The significance of altering a nation’s name extends far beyond the routine renaming of streets and cities. While the Modi government appears eager to expedite this transformation, the journey ahead is by no means a mere formality. The path to a new nomenclature must traverse the labyrinth of parliamentary procedure, commencing with the special session slated from September 18 to 22. Only upon securing the elusive nod of approval from the hallowed chambers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, in the form of a two-thirds majority vote, can this metamorphosis come to fruition.
The trajectory towards approval seems relatively unencumbered, largely due to the prevailing majority held by the NDA. Furthermore, the ascent of the name change onto the global stage hinges on the imprimatur of the United Nations, for the nation is presently recognised as the Republic of India. Encouragingly, murmurs in the media suggest that the international body is poised to grant its concurrence. As we delve into the third phase, the pragmatic facets of this transformation loom large: the meticulous task of updating official documents, currency, and international agreements must be deftly executed. These pivotal manoeuvres set the stage for the subsequent stages of the transition. Notably, within the annals of Hindi records, the term “Bharat Sarkar” has long held sway. And in the event of this monumental name change, Narendra Modi would etch his name in history as the first Prime Minister of Bharat, ushering in a new era.