Recently on a G20 dinner invitation to dignitaries of India and other countries, the President of India, HH Droupadi Murmu sent a letter which had her designated as the “President of Bharat”.
It invoked mixed reactions(mostly positive) from the society such as from notable persons, sportspersons, politicians, diplomats and other public figures.
Also Read: What is Akhand Bharat? History, Maps, Constituents, and News
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The Invitation Letter with Bharat
Dharmendra Pradhan, the minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship ministries, along with several dignitaries, CMs and other ministers, was invited officially to a dinner hosted by the President of India on the occasion of G20 Summit in New Delhi.
The invitation letter used the term “President of Bharat”, a term that has not been used, though officially sanctioned.
The Constitution of India recognizes the country by both names, India and Bharat.
Usage of The Term Bharat for India
Bharat as been the official name for the republic of India since its modern-day formation and adoption of the constitution in 26th January 1950.
Bharat has been the name of the country since several thousands of years and finds mentions in Jain Texts, Rigveda, Vishnu Puran and a lot other historical documents.
However, when the British decided to colonize India, through the East India Company, they chose Greek name for India which comes from “Indike“, a Greek term to denote India.
The Greeks have been interacting with India since thousands of years and the term Indike perhaps comes from the book Indica written by Megasthenes’s(Greek Ambassador from Seleucus Nicator to Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta).
Further, India is called as Bharat, in an overwhelming majority of Indian languages, though with minor variations in spelling and pronunciations.
