The latest move of the right-wing Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fuelled the speculations that the country’s name is going to be changed officially from India to Bharat.
In dinner invitations sent to guests attending this week’s Group of 20 (G20) summit in New Delhi, the Modi government replaced the name India with Sanskrit word Bharat, triggering speculations that the right-wing ruler is going to officially change the country’s name.
In the invitation sent to G20 attendees, Indian President Droupadi Murmu was referred to as “President of Bharat” instead of “President of India”.
US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the world leaders who will attend the annual G20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday.
Who is Qamar Mohsin Sheikh, Narendra Modi’s Pakistani sister?
Officials of Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) support the change in nomenclature. They argue that the name India was introduced by the British colonials and is a “symbol of slavery”. The British ruled India for about 200 years until the country got independence in 1947.