A high-level committee for social sciences, formed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to revise the school curriculum, has recommended the replacement of “India” with “Bharat” in textbooks for all classes. The panel’s suggestions, which also include introducing “classical history” instead of “ancient history” in the curriculum and incorporating the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into all subjects, have been shared with the education ministry.
EXPLANATION
Committee chairperson C I Isaac explained that the decision to change the name from ‘India’ to ‘Bharat’ was unanimous among the members. Isaac, a historian and Padma Shri awardee, pointed out that “Bharat” is an ancient name with roots in texts like the Vishnu Purana, dating back 7,000 years. He noted that the term “India” came much later with the invasions of Turks, Afghans, and Greeks, while great poets like Kalidasa used the name “Bharat.”
HIGHLIGHTS
The committee also recommended highlighting “Hindu victories” in various battles in textbooks, noting that present textbooks mention failures but often overlook victories over Mughals and sultans.
Isaac, a member of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), highlighted that British colonial historians divided Indian history into three phases—ancient, medieval, and modern—portraying India as a land unaware of scientific knowledge and progress. Consequently, the committee suggested teaching the classical period of Indian history in schools alongside the medieval and modern periods.
This initiative by the NCERT is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The recommendation to replace ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ has drawn criticism from opposition parties, with some viewing it as an attempt to distort the country’s history and divert attention from pressing issues.
SPARKED CONTROVERSY
The move has sparked debates about the use of “India” and “Bharat,” with some considering them interchangeable, while others see it as a political manoeuvre. It remains to be seen whether the education ministry and NCERT will implement this recommendation in the upcoming academic year.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal expressed concern about various suggested changes in the curriculum and stated that these alterations are distorting the history of India. Venugopal emphasized that, for his party, “India and Bharat are equal.”
AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar viewed the move as a response to fear within the ruling party and suggested that Prime Minister Modi’s alliance partners are drifting away. Kakkar argued that, instead of changing names, efforts should be focused on addressing issues such as joblessness, inflation, and corruption.
DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai accused the BJP of engaging in name-change politics to divert attention from its alleged misdeeds and maladministration.
Congress leader Jignesh Mevani criticized the recommendation as disrespectful to the Indian Constitution, which includes the phrase ‘India, that is, Bharat.’ He argued that both words can be used interchangeably.
DMK leader TKS Elangovan questioned how such a change could be proposed without amending the constitution. He suggested that the government’s motivation might be related to the opposition’s alliance named the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
VARIOUS INDIAN NAMES
The term “Bharat” finds its origins in Puranic literature and the epic Mahabharata. In the Puranas, Bharata is described as the land situated between the “sea in the south and the abode of snow in the north.” Additionally, Bharata is also the name of the legendary ancient king who is considered the ancestor of the Rig Vedic tribe of the Bharatas, and by extension, the progenitor of all peoples in the Indian subcontinent.
On the other hand, the name “Hindustan” is believed to have evolved from “Hindu,” which is the Persian cognate form of the Sanskrit term “Sindhu.” This transformation in nomenclature occurred with the Achaemenid Persian conquest of the Indus valley, commencing in the 6th century BCE. The Achaemenids used “Hindu” to denote the lower Indus basin. Eventually, around the first century CE, the suffix “stan” was added to form “Hindustan.” The Greeks, who were informed about “Hind” by the Achaemenids, transliterated it as “Indus.” By the time of Alexander the Great’s invasion of India in the 3rd century BC, “India” had become associated with the region beyond the Indus.
In the early days of the Mughal Empire (16th century), “Hindustan” referred to the entire Indo-Gangetic plain, encompassing the territories ruled by the Mughal emperor across South Asia. However, from the late 18th century onward, British maps began to use the name “India” more frequently, and “Hindustan” gradually lost its association with all of South Asia.
Regarding the adoption of these names in the Indian Constitution, Article 1 of the Constitution of India reads, “India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” This choice was not without debate during the Constituent Assembly’s proceedings.
