Our constitution starts with "India, that is Bharat". India was the name the
Greeks used to describe us while Bharat or Bharatvarsha was the name used by the
natives. The name India is derived from the river Sindhu which flows in the
northwest of the country during the late 4th century BC the name was given. The
Greeks used to call us Indoi meaning the people of the Indus and from time to
time they call us by different names Ind, Indus, Indica, etc.
The people of our
neighboring countries called us by different names in Tibet they called us by
the name of Gyagar and Phagyul, at the same time the people of China kept
calling us by the names Tianju, Xuandu, and Yendu at different times. Apart from
this, it also got the name Aryavarta because of the Aryans. However, the name
that was most commonly used, especially by the people living here, was India.
The name Bharat name is derived from the Chakravarti Samrat Bharata who was a
great king of the kingdom Hastinapur ancestor of 'Kaurava' and 'Pandavas' and
son of Maharaja Dushyanta and Maharani Shakuntala. Bharata was a great king he
went on to conquer the whole of India and eventually became an emperor. If one
reads the epic Mahabharata, he finds that the land has been also mentioned as
Bharata varsha.
This huge empire built by King Bharata included not just India of modern times
but also other countries like Afghanistan (starting with the Hindu Kush),
Pakistan, Tibet, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, Laos,
Cambodia, Philippines, and Indonesia many more.
This can be cross-checked as Hindu scripture/ temple/ tradition/ ideology and
influence can be seen, in some of the above-mentioned countries, even today.
Maybe that's what Chanakya's coined term "Akhand Bharat", referred to. Land with
natural borders.
Bharat Is Not Just A Name
Cersity. The people of Bharat are not just common citizens. They are dedicated
and motivated towards his work and it is not common to estimate the extent of
his knowledge. Each and every time in the history of Bharat many great kings
fight for our nation to be protected by a person who never wants to see to grow
or develop.
When the Britishers came to Bharat for their treading day by day he
overlapped the huge part of Bharat and started to rule all over, but many kings
gave up their lives to protect our motherland, they never lost their hope and
willpower. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a great warrior and king, who fought
against the rules and torture, he fought many wars and won for our people for
our mother-like nation Bharat.
If we talking about presence we see many
countries gazing at our nation but they are strange about our power and our
potential, what we can do, and where we are at that time. Bharat is the
birthplace of knowledge and institutions (Gurukul), where many outsiders come to
gain knowledge. A Chinese traveler's name was Faxien, also spelled as Fa-Hien
the first traveler to visit Bharat in the early fifth century (405-645 A.D.).
The purpose of his visit was to look for texts sacred to Buddhism. Fa-Hen
visited the Malwa empire and praised its climate. He described that both
internal and external trade of Bharat was in a progressive stage and Sea Voyages
were also carried out by Indians.
Political View
The historical and ideological names "Bharat" and "India" have played a
significant role in shaping the identity of the Indian subcontinent. Derived
from foreign terms such as "Hindu" and "India", these names carried different
connotations during different historical periods, including Afghan and Mughal
rule and European colonialism.
Indian renaissance and nationalist movements sought to reclaim a distinct
identity, with proponents favoring the term "Bharat" over "India". The division
further fueled the debate over nomenclature, reflecting religious and political
divisions.
The adoption of the Constitution in both English and Hindi reinforced the
bilingual nature of India's official documents, with Article 1(1) emphasizing
"India" as the primary title in English and "Bharat" in Hindi. This bilingual
approach is illustrated in official publications like "Gazette of India" and "Bharat
ka Rajpatra".
Drawing parallels with other countries that have changed their names, such as
Thailand, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bangladesh and T'rkiye,
illustrates the transformative power of nomenclature in promoting identity,
unity and cultural values.
In the current scenario, India consistently uses 'India' in international
forums, thus demonstrating a practical and standardized approach to global
diplomacy. The dual language strategy, seen in official documents and diplomatic
contexts, reflects India's commitment to multilingualism and its diverse
linguistic heritage.
The recent use of the term "President of Bharat" in the invitation to the G-20
summit has sparked political debate, suggesting a subtle and evolving
relationship between historical, constitutional and international nomenclature.
The coexistence of terms like "Jai Hind" and "Jai Bharat" in modern usage
reflects the recognition of India's diverse historical and cultural threads and
emphasizes unity in diversity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, India is a land of beauty, joy, culture, and potential. The
history of Bharat is rich and diverse cultural heritage, and rapid economic
growth makes it a force to be reckoned with on the global stage. However, it is
important to note that India's journey towards progress is ongoing and requires
collective efforts from all stakeholders. Only by embracing unity, development,
and inclusivity can India unleash its true potential and fulfill the aspirations
of its billion-plus citizens.
The growth rate of literacy day by day of Bharat
is increasing which helps most of our country for fast development and early to
make one day a fully developed country. As we know all over the world many
scientists or discovered a country is not just a country it is a world teacher (
Vishwa Guru). That's why how much? Bharat is important.
Bibliography
To successfully complete my topic which is on 'India that is Bharat'. I have
taken help from the following sources:
- I used some information from the Wikipedia website to understand what my topic is on or what my topic says.
- I used some news websites also as a source of collecting information like the India Today page, Aaj Tak, ABP News, etc. which helped me to understand.
- I collect some information from my elders or moral supporters who give me ideas to find out my problems and understand my topic.
- I read some ancient mythological books to understand the hidden mystery of the name of our country Bharat, books like Mahabharat.
Please Drop Your Comments