Reports indicate that the invitations refer to the country as the “Republic of Bharat” instead of the customary ‘Republic of India’
As anticipation builds for an upcoming Parliament session in India, where the agenda remains undisclosed, speculation is rife that a constitutional amendment bill might be on the horizon. Adding to the intrigue, the Indian government recently extended invitations for the forthcoming G20 meeting in New Delhi. However, one particular alteration within these invitations has ignited a significant controversy.
Reports indicate that the invitations refer to the country as the “Republic of Bharat” instead of the customary ‘Republic of India’. Notably, the signature on these invites identifies the head of state as the “President of Bharat,” rather than the “President of India.” This departure from the norm has triggered various reactions from both citizens and politicians, with some supporting the change while others vehemently oppose it. The global event is scheduled for September 9 and 10 in New Delhi, featuring world leaders such as US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shared a photo of the invitation, conspicuously omitting the word ‘India’. This swiftly ignited a heated debate on social media, with widespread speculation that India might soon adopt the name ‘Bharat’.
Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh expressed his concerns on the matter, tweeting, “So the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on September 9 in the name of ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the usual ‘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.”
The timing of this invitation follows the Indian government’s call for a special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22.
Media reports in India suggest that during the five-day special Parliament session, the government may introduce a resolution to officially rename India as Bharat. The secrecy surrounding the session’s agenda has fueled speculation of a potential constitutional amendment to facilitate the name change.
According to NDTV, the term Bharat has already been used to refer to India in a G20 booklet distributed to foreign delegates, titled “Bharat, The Mother Of Democracy.” The booklet showcases India’s G20 presidency and its robust democratic traditions.
It’s worth noting that the Indian Constitution itself employs the term Bharat: “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States,” as stated at the beginning of Article 1.
In 2015, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed the Supreme Court that there was no necessity to rename India as Bharat, as reported by The Indian Express. In response to a public interest litigation on the matter, the Center stated, “There is no change in circumstances to consider any change in Article 1 of the Constitution of India.”
If India indeed undergoes a name change, it will join the ranks of countries, including Turkey, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and the Republic of North Macedonia, that have officially altered their names.
