New Delhi CNN – A debate has sparked in India over the country’s name and its colonial legacy as it prepares to host the G20 summit. Dinner invites for the event were issued using the Sanskrit name “Bharat” instead of “India,” resulting in political controversy. Both names are officially used in India, a country with over 20 official languages. However, the use of “Bharat” on the invites marks a notable change in the country’s international naming convention under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Supporters of using “Bharat” argue that the name “India” is a remnant of the colonial era and prefer the term that symbolizes Indian culture. Opposition leaders have raised concerns over completely dispensing with the name “India,” which has significant brand value built up over centuries. The debate over the country’s name reflects wider efforts by the Modi government to distance itself from its colonial past, including renaming roads and buildings. The use of “Bharat” on the G20 invites has been seen by some as a response to the formation of the INDIA alliance, an opposition alliance aiming to unseat Modi in the next general election. India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar defended the use of “Bharat” and stated that it is reflected in the country’s constitution.
‘Bharat’: Why a G20 invite calling India by its Sanskrit name is ruffling some feathers
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