'Bharat, not India:' Calls for rename in Parliament's special session

The administration may introduce a resolution to rename India Bharat during Parliament's forthcoming extraordinary session, which is planned for September 18-22. The Indian Constitution now refers to the country as "India, that is Bharat...", but there is growing pressure to change this to simply "Bharat."

The clamor to rename India as Bharat by modifying the Constitution has grown stronger, and sources say the Centre may introduce a resolution to do so. This reform has been supported by prominent figures such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) president Mohan Bhagwat.

Bhagwat had earlier advised people to use the term "Bharat" rather than "India," pointing out that the country had been known as Bharat for centuries. Similar comments have been expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On August 15, 2022, from the Red Fort's ramparts, he called on inhabitants to sign five promises, one of which was independence from all traces of slavery. This was interpreted as a symbolic step toward accepting the country's indigenous identity.

Notably, the term "Bharat" is imprinted on the special airplane that transports the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister. During the just finished monsoon session of Parliament, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal urged that the word 'India' be removed from the Constitution, claiming that it represents colonial servitude. Fellow BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav shared his stance, calling for a constitutional reform to replace "India" with "Bharat."

As the special session of Parliament begins on September 18, it is possible that a constitutional amendment bill will be submitted to implement this change. While the schedule for the session has not yet been posted, such a law cannot be ruled out. Proponents of the name change think that giving the country a single indigenous name will promote a sense of national pride and reaffirm the country's rich cultural heritage.

Droupadi Murmu - President Of Bharat

Meanwhile, the Rashtrapati Bhawan sent an official dinner invitation to G20 delegates on Tuesday. The invite had 'President of Bharat' inscribed on it instead of the normal 'President of India'. Jairam Ramesh, the Congress leader, was among the first to identify this. "So the news is true," Ramesh said. Rashtrapati Bhawan issued an invitation to a G20 luncheon on September 9th in the name of 'President of Bharat' rather than the normal '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."