India That Is Bharat Pdf

[Victorio Galindo]

TheRepublic of India has two principal official short names, each of which is historically significant, India and Bharat. A third name, Hindustan, is also used commonly when Indians speak among themselves. The usage of "Bhārata", "Hindustān", or "India" depends on the context and language of conversation.

The name "India" is originally derived from the name of the river Sindhu (Indus River) and has been in use in Greek since Herodotus (5th century BCE). The term appeared in Old English by the 9th century and reemerged in Modern English in the 17th century.

"Bhārata" gained popularity in India during the nineteenth century. It is the shortened form of the term "Bhāratavarṣa" which was first used in the first century AD in the Puranas. "Bhāratavarṣa" is derived from the name of the Vedic community of Bharatas who are mentioned in the Rigveda as one of the principal kingdoms of the Aryavarta. It is also variously said to be derived from the name of either Dushyanta's son Bharata or Mahabharata.[1] At first the name Bhāratavarṣa referred only to the western part of the Gangetic Valley,[2][3] but was later more broadly applied to the Indian subcontinent and the region of Greater India. In 1949, it was adopted as an official name for the Republic of India by the Constituent Assembly along with "India".

"Hindustān" is another common name for the Republic of India and is also derived from the name of the river Sindhu. It gained popularity in India in the 11th century and became the common name for the northern Indian subcontinent in Indian languages, though it has been in Persian usage since at least the 3rd century CE while its earlier form "Hindush" was used as early as 6th century BCE. The term 'Hindu' was the Old Persian adaption of "Sindhu" (Indus River). "Hindustan" is still commonly used in the subcontinent to refer to the modern day Republic of India by Hindustani speakers.

The name derives ultimately from Sanskrit Sindhu, which was the name of the Indus River as well as the lower Indus basin (modern Sindh, in Pakistan).[7][8] The Old Persian equivalent of Sndhu was Hindu.[9] Darius I conquered Sindh in about 516 BCE, upon which the Persian equivalent Hinduš was used for the province at the lower Indus basin.[10][11] Scylax of Caryanda who explored the Indus river for the Persian emperor probably took over the Persian name and passed it into Greek.[12] The terms Indos for the Indus river as well as "an Indian" are found in Herodotus's Geography.[13] The loss of the aspirate /h/ was probably due to the dialects of Greek spoken in Asia Minor.[14][15] Herodotus also generalised the term "Indian" from the people of lower Indus basin, to all the people living to the east of Persia, even though he had no knowledge of the geography of the land.[16]

By the time of Alexander, Inda in Koine Greek denoted the region beyond the Indus. Alexander's companions were aware of at least India up to the Ganges delta (Gangaridai).[17][18] Later, Megasthenes included in India the southern peninsula as well.[18]

Latin India is used by Lucian (2nd century CE).[citation needed] India was known in Old English language and was used in King Alfred's translation of Paulus Orosius. In Middle English, the name was, under French influence, replaced by Ynde or Inde, which entered Early Modern English as "Indie". The name "India" then came back to English usage from the 17th century onward, and may be due to the influence of Latin, or Spanish or Portuguese.[citation needed]

Bharat is another name of India, as set down in Article 1 of the Constitution, adopted in 1950, which states in English: "India, that is Bharat,..."[19] Bhārat, which was predominantly used in Hindi, was adopted as a self-ascribed alternative name by some people of the Indian subcontinent and the Republic of India.[20]

The designation Bhārata appears in the official Sanskrit name of the country, Bhārata Gaṇarājya. The name is derived from the ancient Hindu Puranas, which refer to the land that comprises India as Bhāratavarṣa and uses this term to distinguish it from other varṣas or continents.[21] For example, the Vayu Purana says "he who conquers the whole of Bhāratavarṣa is celebrated as a samrāṭa (Vayu Purana 45, 86)."[22]

The Bhagavata Purana mentions (Canto 5, Chapter 4)[24] - "He (Rishabha) begot a hundred sons that were exactly like him... He (Bharata) had the best qualities and it was because of him that this land by the people is called Bhāratavarṣa"

In the Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata (200 BCE to 300 CE), a larger region of North India is encompassed by the term Bharata, but much of the Deccan and South India are still excluded.[26] Some other Puranic passages refer to the same Bhārata people, who are described as the descendants of Dushyanta's son Bharata in the Mahabharata.[27]

The realm of Bharata is known as Bhāratavarṣa in the Mahabharata (the core portion of which is itself known as Bhārata) and later texts. According to the text, the term Bharat is from the king Bharata, who was the son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala and the term varsa means a division of the earth or a continent.[citation needed]

The use of Bharat often has political overtones, appealing to a certain cultural conception of India.[28] CNN reported in 2023 of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi using the Bharat name in connection with a G20 gathering, speculating on a possible replacement of India with Bharat in English language version of constitution as well.[29] This, however, turned out to be a hoax, and no change was brought in the name of the country in English.[30][31]

In middle Persian, probably from the first century CE, the suffix -stān (Persian: ستان) was added, indicative of a country or region, forming the name Hindūstān.[35] Thus, Sindh was referred to as Hindustān in the Naqsh-e-Rustam inscription of Sassanid emperor Shapur I in c. 262 CE.[36][37]

Both the names were current in Persian and Arabic, and from that into northern Indian languages, from the 11th century Islamic conquests: the rulers in the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods called their Indian dominion, centered around Delhi, "Hindustan". In contemporary Persian and Hindi-Urdu, the term Hindustan has recently come to mean the Republic of India. The same is the case with Arabic, where al-Hind is the name for the Republic of India.

"Hindustan", as the term Hindu itself, entered the English language in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the term as used in English referred to the Subcontinent. "Hindustan" was in use simultaneously with "India" during the British era.

"The state of Tianzhu: Also named Shendu, it lies several thousand li southeast of Yuezhi. Its customs are the same as those of Yuezhi, and it is low, damp, and very hot. It borders a large river. The inhabitants ride on elephants in warfare; they are weaker than the Yuezhi. They practise the way of Futu (the Buddha), [and therefore] it has become a custom among them not to kill or attack [others]. From west of the states Yuezhi and Gaofu, and south until the Western Sea, and east until the state of Panqi, all is the territory of Shendu. Shendu has several hundred separate towns, with a governor, and separate states which can be numbered in the tens, each with its own king. Although there are small differences among them, they all come under the general name of Shendu, and at this time all are subject to Yuezhi. Yuezhi have killed their kings and established a general in order to rule over their people. The land produces elephants, rhinoceros, tortoise shell, gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin. It communicates to the west with Da Qin and (so) has the exotica of Da Qin."[47]

Tianzhu was also referred to as Wǔtiānzh (五天竺, literally "Five Indias"), because there were five geographical regions in India known to the Chinese: Central, Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern India. The monk Xuanzang also referred to India as Wǔ Yn or "Five Inds".[44]

Indus Valley Civilisation: Over 5,000 years ago, the Harappan civilisation or the Indus Valley Civilisation thrived along the banks of the Sindhu, boasting meticulously planned cities with drainage systems.

This advanced civilisation engaged in extensive trade, connecting with present-day Afghanistan and Iran. 'India' traces its origin back to the Sindhu river, which the Aryan people referred to as 'Sindhu,' a Sanskrit term. A glimpse of the Indus Valley Civilisation architecture (Photo: Getty Images)

Scylax of Caryanda, an ancient Greek explorer, conducted an exploration of the Indus River on behalf of the Persian emperor during the period between 550 BCE and 450 BCE. It is believed that through this process, the Persian name for the river was subsequently adopted and passed on to the Greek (European) world. Scylax of Caryanda, an ancient Greek explorer, conducted an exploration of the Indus River

The omission of the /h/ sound from the spoken dialects of the Greek language led to the term 'Indos'. Over time, this word evolved into 'India,' and the term 'Indian' was coined for the inhabitants of the lower Indus basin as well.

The birth of 'Hindustan': 'Sindhu' and 'Hindu' influenced the term 'Hindustan,' signifying the land of the Hindus. This name endured the test of time and remains integral to India's identity.ORIGINS OF 'BHARAT'

The legendary Bharata: Often associated with King Bharata, a legendary emperor and the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala, this name is intricately woven into the fabric of the 'Mahabharata,' chronicling the epic war involving his descendants.

Etymological interpretations: The term 'Bharat' can be dissected etymologically in multiple ways. It may stem from 'Bhr,' denoting 'to maintain or bear,' or 'Bha,' signifying 'light.' The popular interpretation associates 'Bharata' with the pursuit of light, defining it as 'the one indulging in light' or 'the shining one.'

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