NI Bureau
A photograph of the G20 Summit 2023 dinner invitation is making rounds on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter). What’s noteworthy is that the invitation doesn’t come from the President of India but from the ‘President of Bharat.’ This marks the first instance where ‘Bharat’ has been used instead of ‘India,’ prompting significant questions about a potential change in the nation’s name. Officials confirm that India’s nomenclature has been altered for an official event for the very first time. The picture of the G20 Summit 2023 dinner invitation has been shared by numerous individuals, including journalist Rajdeep Sardesai.
Is India on the Verge of Becoming ‘Bharat’?
The official invitation’s photo has generated considerable debate, with senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh both addressing this development.
Jairam Ramesh commented, “So the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9th 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.”
In response to Jairam Ramesh’s assertion about a possible name change for the country, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also weighed in, stating, “They (BJP) are scared of the word ‘India.’ Article 1 of the Constitution says ‘India, that is Bharat.’ How can this name (India) be removed?”
While the opposition has raised concerns about this move, BJP leaders have welcomed it. Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, was one of the first to react on ‘X,’ saying, “REPUBLIC OF BHARAT – happy and proud that our civilization is boldly marching towards AMRIT KAAL.”
Could the Name Change Proposal Be Discussed During the Special Parliament Session?
Reports suggest that the Special Parliament Session scheduled for September 18 to 21 might be related to the country’s name change. The proposal to rename India as Bharat may be introduced during this special session.
This photo emerged two days after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat suggested replacing the term ‘India’ with ‘Bharat,’ urging everyone to use this name both in speech and writing. The India vs. Bharat debate gained momentum when opposition parties formed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in July, drawing criticism from the ruling party BJP.
Aniket Sardhana
