India's Astonishing Name Change Buzz: Unveiling the Real Story Beyond Its Colonial Past

Akanksha Singh, a writer based in Mumbai, has had her work featured in various publications including the BBC, The Independent, and South China Morning Post. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely her own. More opinion pieces can be found on CNN.

Throughout the years, India has undergone significant changes in the names of its towns and cities. In 2001, the port city and former capital, Calcutta, was officially renamed Kolkata. Similarly, in 1996, the financial capital Bombay was given the new name Mumbai. That same year, Madras was also rechristened as Chennai. In addition to these, numerous roads, railway stations, and markets have undergone name changes. The underlying rationale, as reiterated to Indians, has been to allow the nation to completely sever ties with its colonial past.

Akanksha Singh

Courtesy of Akanksha Singh

Now, the most dramatic rebranding of all may be in the offing.

India recently held the G20 summit, where leaders of the wealthiest nations gathered. During this event, Indian President Droupadi Murmu's dinner invitation referred to her as the "President of Bharat," which sparked speculation among politicians and journalists about a possible official name change for the country.

As the G20 sessions commenced, suspicions grew stronger. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nameplate at his seat read "Bharat" instead of "India," further fueling speculation. Additionally, Indian officials wore badges with the words "Bharat Official."

Media reports suggest that the Modi government may introduce a resolution in a special session of India's parliament this week, seeking to officially change the country's name to Bharat. However, there is currently no official agenda announced for this. In addition, Prime Minister Modi has proposed a new name, Samvidhan Sadan, for the old parliament building.

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Many people who follow events in India are questioning the need for a name change. Bharat, the Hindi word for "India", is already one of the country's official names. Article 1 of the nation's constitution states that "India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states."

It is quite clear to me that this proposed rebranding has nothing to do with removing reminders of a disliked colonial history. The Modi government's main objective, which they prioritized, is to eliminate any aspect of Indian history that doesn't align with their right-wing Hindu ideology.

The main objective of Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is to transform India into a "Hindu rashtra (nation)." Changing the name to "Bharat" would primarily emphasize Hindu nationalism and reinforce Indias Hindu identity. The focus is no longer solely on eradicating the remnants of British rule, if it ever was. Since assuming power in 2014, Modi has made life increasingly challenging for Indias 200 million Muslims, the largest minority group in the country, accounting for approximately 14% of the population. They encounter discrimination in employment and education and are increasingly victims of communal violence.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the first session of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 9, 2023.

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Since being reelected in 2019, conditions for Muslims in India have deteriorated, with the government implementing policies that are criticized for depriving Muslims of their rights and aiming to marginalize them. In addition to this troubling situation, the name changes initiated by the Modi government may appear relatively insignificant, but they further insult an already vulnerable community. In recent years, BJP-led governments have renamed several towns and cities that were originally named after the Muslim empires that once ruled the Indian subcontinent.

In 2018, Allahabad, a northern city founded by Mughal emperor Akbar, was officially renamed Prayagraj. Likewise, the historic railway exchange Mughalsarai Junction underwent a name change and became Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction. This change, which eliminated the name Mughalsarai, was in tribute to a 20th century Hindu nationalist leader. The list of such name changes continues to grow.

Curiously, Prime Minister Modi made the decision to announce this name change during the G20 summit. Prior to the event, officials had been referring to the host country as "India." The purpose behind this move could have been to test the reception of the new name on a global stage and gauge the international reaction. It may have also served as a means to detect any potential public disapproval within India.

There has been significant opposition to changing India's name. During a recent European tour, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the idea as "absurd." Even if Modi suggests renaming the country as Bharat, experts argue that a constitutional amendment and two-thirds support from both houses of parliament would be necessary, which may be challenging as the opposition is unlikely to support it. However, there is a ongoing debate, with some individuals believing that changing India's name would not require a constitutional amendment.

If the measure were to be successful, there would inevitably be a price to be paid, as is often the case with such significant and symbolic modifications. According to certain sources, this specific alteration of name could potentially incur expenses reaching tens of millions of dollars. The necessitated re-inscribing of landmarks, redrawing of maps, and reprinting of books would ensue.

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A woman is seen walking next to a G20 logo model in anticipation of the upcoming G20 Summit in New Delhi, India. The summit, scheduled to take place from September 9-10, 2023, will be hosted by India.

The use of India's Sanskrit name in a G20 invitation is causing controversy, and there are concerns about the implementation and extent of this name change. What will happen to the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) - will it be transformed into the RBB? Will the country's Indian Institutes of Technology become BITs? Has any proper consideration been given to these matters?

In the world's fifth largest economy, with the largest population, a substantial amount of capital is being spent. However, the per capita income is only a quarter of that of China. With these funds, what other ways can Modi utilize to improve the lives of the people of India? Furthermore, what other areas should he prioritize and focus on? To begin, India is currently dealing with widespread ethnic violence. Surprisingly, Modi has not addressed the concerning escalation of violence in Manipur, a northeastern state, where a disturbing sexual assault, captured on video, continues to deeply affect the nation.

Here are a few matters I would address while in Modi's position: A number of activists, poets, lawyers, journalists, academics, and musicians remain incarcerated under an oppressive "anti-terror" law that the government wields without any accountability or specified duration. It is my belief that the largest democracy in the world should strive to uphold its reputation by either granting freedom or, at the very minimum, ensuring fair trials for these imprisoned activists.

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I may explore options to tackle the extremely high levels of unemployment in the country. Additionally, it would be advisable for the government to address the challenges faced by women, religious minorities, and caste-based minorities, who continue to experience insecurity, while the country's human rights situation continues to deteriorate.

There are indications of hope as the actions of New Delhi against the Muslim minority have been denounced by the United Nations and humanitarian organizations. However, criticism from the BJP suggests a somewhat contradictory stance, as they claim to "respect all religions."

The Supreme Court's rejection of a petition earlier this year to rename numerous historical sites amidst the frenzy to rename towns and villages in India is a positive development. The court ruling emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional secularism, stating that focusing on the past only burdens the present.

Very much so. And its a message Modi and his political companions should heed.