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February 7, 2002   VNN7144  Comment on this story

Renaming India To Bharata Petition



USA, Feb 7 (VNN) — Petition to the Government of India to rename India to Bharata...

To the Government of India

The largest political, religious and military entity in South Asia is known internationally by the name of India. This was the name by which the entire region became known to the West. It is therefore consistent that it was the name given to the largest colony of the British Empire, until decolonisation from the middle of the last century. It is perhaps for this reason that one should reconsider the name by which this nation refers to itself. 'India' conjures up images of colonial hangover, with its integral inferiority complex. It in no way suggests a nation asserting itself, a nation on the brink of stepping from the developing to developed world, a potential superpower in the forthcoming millennium. A name change will enhance this newly found self-confidence; announce to the global community a nation reviving its ancient spirit, and remove the inferiority complex from the mind of its citizens.

On becoming a republic in 1950, India chose for itself the Hindi name 'Bharath' for private usage (adapted from one of the ancient kings of folk memory). The world continues to refer to Bharath as India. A name change to ÒBharataÓ the actual Sanskrit name of the ancient king would be in keeping with similar events elsewhere in the post-colonial world (Siam to Thailand, Ceylon to Sri Lanka, Rhodesia to Zimbabwe, Nyasaland to Malawi, Burma to Myanmar). India smacks of colonialism, a name foisted upon its unwilling inhabitants. The change to Bharata, a name by which the Bhartiyas have always known their land will change this, and greatly change the attitude of the global community in a more positive direction. Combined with the revival of Sanskrit as a national language, this will enhance its prestige among the international community. The example of Israel with Hebrew lies before us.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

To sign the petition click here: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?i2B&1


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