The recent developments in Indian governance and politics are putting forward some debates that may or may not help ease the life of any citizen other than political gains. The war of narratives, more than the number game, is a constant in any democracy. A French diplomat and political scientist, Alexis de Tocqueville, once said, “Democracy involves a balance between the forces of conflict and consensus”. The fight to become the leader of the majority and mold their thinking or perceptions is an everlasting war in a vibrant democracy like India (that is Bharat).
While previous governments used the word India as the primary name for any official use, the BJP government is now intentionally using the term Bharat. Both uses have something to do with narratives, which they fight for. The Congress tries to represent the secular and minority masses, while the BJP has a clear mission and vision to unite the majority. However, both names have significance in a diverse country like ours. But Bharat reminds us about our glorious past, and India reminds us of our independence from the British. Why this is important, let us explore!
If you noticed in the previous paragraph, I intentionally stayed away from inclining towards any political narrative and did not use the name India or Bharat as we used to use it earlier. Deep inside the hearts of politicians, they have their own biases and missions to grab power.
India is a recent name for our country, with a vibrant debate hiding behind its name and past. India came up with the idea of a new nation in 1947 by aligning various princely states and regions. Bharat is believed to have been more of a cultural phenomenon in recent times than a country.
However, it is evident from scriptural proofs like the Bishnu Puran (400 BCE or much earlier) or from the Ashokan edicts found in current Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Pakistan support the concept of Bharat, or a greater nation of the past, in this subcontinent.
Even if we had a glorious past and a vibrant secular country in the past known as Bharat/Bharatvarsha/Hindusthan/Hindustan/Jambudvpa, the name India also has importance as it helped us create a new nation from a toddler democracy to now the 5th largest economy in the world with one of the most powerful armies.
India had a rich tradition of writing cyclical histories and compiling knowledge and findings which are known as scriptures. So, simply disregarding the past may not be a solution but combining the early past and the recent past with contemporary India is what seems necessary.
So, debates in political spheres are not merely about names; they are about the fight to win the mandate of the people and create a nation that thinks and fights for what they believe is right for its nation. You can call yourself Indian or Bharatiya; the meaning will remain the same. Because a country is not merely a piece of land but the people who make it. In the following OSHO quote, you can replace India with Bharat; the meaning remains intact.
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