Key Points
- The Indian government has used another name for India, Bharat, in official invites.
- Bharat is a sanskrit word that is recognised in India's Constitution as a second name for the country.
- Officials from Narendra Modi's government used the name on invites for a G20 dinner.
The word Bharat originates from Sanskrit and is found in ancient Hindu texts.
It is also recognised in India's constitution as another name for the country, along with other pre-colonial names such as Bharata and Hindustan.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu used the name on invites for a G20 dinner ahead of the summit of leaders coming to India on 9 and 10 September, sparking debate about colonialism among Indians.
Murmu is referred to as President of Bharat on the invites, which have been widely shared on social media.
India officially gained independence from Britain in 1947, when what was called the Mughal Empire was split into India and Pakistan.
Partition ended more than 200 years of British rule that had major cultural and economic impacts still being felt in India.
India's president Droupadi Murmu was described as the President of Bharat on official government invites. Source: AAP / Manish Swarup/AP
Over the years though, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government has been changing colonial names to, what it says, help India move past a mentality of slavery.
A copy of the dinner invite sent by the Indian president to the G20 delegates. Source: Twitter / X/@ShashiTharoor
"Our country's name is Bharat and there should be no doubt about it," said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a federal deputy minister.
Naveen Nankani is the Sydney Sindhi Association president, representing people from the Sindh province, which is now part of Pakistan but home to many people who identify as Indian.
He says Indians in Australia will typically refer to the country as India but it depends on the context.
"(India) is thought of more as an English name, that was given by the British, and Bharat is more of an Indian name, a Hindi name that people refer to," he said.
"When you speak in English you refer to India, and that is commonly used around the world, whereas Bharat is mainly used in India, especially when people are speaking Hindi or Sanskrit.
"I would say maybe because it's a Hindi name, it creates a bit more connection."
He said many Indians change their name when they arrive to live in Australia because it's difficult to communicate and connect with locals, and it may be for some they change their country's name in the same way.
He pointed out that the perspective of Hindi speakers is just one of many.
"There are hundreds of different dialects that Indian people speak. (In Australia) Language, culture and food are the main way that people keep connected with their country."
Earlier in September, Mohan Bhagwat, leader of Hindu nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said in a speech that the country should use the word Bharat instead of India.
"At times we use India so those who speak English will understand. But we must stop using this. The name of the country Bharat will remain Bharat wherever you go in the world," Bhagwat said.
But opposition politicians have said it would be foolish for the government to completely dispense with the name India, which has brand value built up over centuries, Indian newspaper The Economic Times reports.
- With additional reporting from Reuters
