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Police Stand on Road Outside ‘Bharat Mandapam’ in New Delhi, India – Possible Name Change Speculation Arises

New Delhi, September 6, 2023 – Recently, invitations to a dinner on the sidelines of the G20 summit, sent by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, have caused speculation about a potential change in India’s name. The invitations, written in English, referred to Murmu as the President of Bharat, which has raised eyebrows due to the conventional practice of using the name India in English and Bharat in Hindi.

The controversy revolves around the ideological inclination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government and its emphasis on promoting the use of Hindi. This choice of language in the invitations has led critics to suggest that the government might be pushing for an official name change. Over the years, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has been known for changing colonial names of towns and cities with the aim of moving India towards a post-colonial era.

The official name of the country is India in English, while in Indian languages, it is also referred to as Bharat, Bharata, and Hindustan. The constitution refers to the country as “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States” in the English version, while the Hindi version replaces India with Bharat everywhere except in the part defining the name, which states, “Bharat, that is India, shall be a Union of States.”

Changing the country’s name to Bharat exclusively would require a constitutional amendment, necessitating a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of parliament. While there is no official confirmation about any plans to change the name, the timing of the controversy is notable. The incident occurred shortly after the government announced a surprise five-day special session of parliament, fueling speculation that a name change could be discussed and potentially passed during the session.

Although there is no immediate response from government spokespersons regarding this matter, members of the ruling BJP and the ideological parent organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, have long advocated for using Bharat as the primary name for the country.

It is essential to understand the historical context of both names. While some proponents of Bharat argue that “India” was a name assigned by British colonizers, historians state that the name predates colonial rule by centuries. The term India originated from the river Indus, known as Sindhu in Sanskrit. Travelers from far-flung places like Greece already identified the region southeast of the Indus River as India even before Alexander the Great’s campaign in the 3rd century BCE. On the other hand, the name Bharat can be traced back even further and finds mention in ancient Indian scriptures, although experts suggest it was used more as a term of socio-cultural identity rather than a specific geographical reference.

In this context, the AI legalese decoder can play a crucial role in the situation. This artificial intelligence tool can analyze legal documents, including the Indian constitution, and provide accurate interpretations and insights. It can help policymakers, legal experts, and the general public fully comprehend the language and implications of any proposed constitutional amendments related to changing India’s name. Moreover, the AI legalese decoder can detect any potential ambiguities or conflicts within the draft amendment, enabling stakeholders to refine the proposals effectively before presenting them in parliament.

By leveraging AI technology, the government can ensure transparency and informed decision-making in matters as significant as changing the country’s name. The AI legalese decoder would contribute to a more inclusive and participatory process, enhancing public trust and legitimacy in the government’s actions.

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