The use of the term “President of Bharat” by Indian President Droupadi Murmu in a dinner invitation has caused controversy and criticism, as it deviates from the usual “President of India” designation. Murmu is hosting a reception for G20 leaders during their summit on Saturday, and the invitations were sent from her office. India is also referred to as Bharat, Bharata, and Hindustan in Indian languages, and these terms are used interchangeably by the public and official channels.
Historically, high-ranking positions in the country have typically used titles such as President of India, Prime Minister of India, and Chief Justice of India when communicating in English. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has been gradually replacing colonial names in an effort to distance India from its colonial past.
Supporters of the name change argue that the British colonial rulers introduced the name “India” to overshadow the indigenous name “Bharat” and establish a British legacy. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a federal deputy minister, states, “Our country’s name is Bharat, and there should be no doubt about it.” Hindu groups associated with the BJP view the G20 summit as an opportune moment to shed India’s colonial baggage.
However, opposition leaders are critical of the change, with some suggesting that it is an attempt to overshadow their recently formed political alliance called “INDIA.” Mamata Banerjee, a prominent opposition leader, questions the sudden need to change the country’s name and emphasizes that “India” is a well-known name globally. Shashi Tharoor, a member of the opposition Congress party, expresses hope that the government will retain the name “India,” which holds significant brand value developed over centuries.
The alteration to “President of Bharat” arises less than two months after opposition parties formed the “INDIA” alliance to challenge the BJP in the forthcoming national elections. The acronym INDIA represents Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, strategically coined by the opposition to counter the BJP’s nationalist platform. India’s president is a non-partisan executive with primarily ceremonial powers and is traditionally supported and elected by the ruling party.
When approached for comments regarding the issue, an official from the president’s office declined to provide a statement.
(Reporting by Rupam Jain; Editing by YP Rajesh, Alexandra Hudson)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
