New Delhi (AP) – In India, the invitation to an official G20 dinner sparked controversy and fueled speculation about the country’s name change.
In the English-language invitation, the host, President Draupadi Murmu, was not referred to as “President of India” but as “President of Bharat”, according to local media. “Bharat” is an ancient Sanskrit word for “India”, which is used as a synonym in the country, for example in the constitution.
Radical Hindus: “India” is a symbol of slavery
Some radical Hindus in the country are troubled by the country’s name “India”. They argue that it was introduced by British colonialists and is therefore a symbol of slavery. Recently, the head of the Hindu nationalist organization RSS, which is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP party, demanded that the country’s name be changed from “India” to “Bharat”.
Several ruling party officials welcomed the use of the word in the G20 invitation. Heads of state and government of the world’s top economic powerhouses will meet next Saturday in the capital New Delhi for the two-day G20 summit.
Opposition: India has become a brand
The current government of India is trying to distance itself from its colonial past and rely on national prestige. But opposition politicians have questioned its use. The Indian name is recognized internationally and has become a brand, he said.
Several opposition parties recently formed a coalition called INDIA (short for Indian National Inclusive Development Alliance) to position themselves against the ruling party. Modi has been Prime Minister of India since 2014. A new parliament will be elected in the spring of 2024. Modi is expected to seek re-election.
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