The fervor surrounding the prospect of renaming India as ‘Bharat’ has gained momentum as prominent figures from Bollywood and cricket, including Amitabh Bachchan and Virender Sehwag, have expressed their views on the matter.
In a noteworthy move, Bollywood’s iconic figure, Amitabh Bachchan, chose to display his support for the ‘Bharat’ renaming initiative by uttering the patriotic slogan “Bharat mata ki jai” in a post on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. This symbolic gesture coincided with the ongoing debate over the name change, strongly implying his backing for the transformation.
Bachchan’s gesture was met with resounding approval and praise from his legion of fans and well-wishers, further underscoring the significance of this discourse.
In a parallel development, renowned Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag joined the chorus by advocating for the adoption of the name ‘Bharat’ on the jerseys of Team India. In a message posted on the X platform, Sehwag declared, “Team India nahin #TeamBharat. This World Cup as we cheer for Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, Jaddu, may we have Bharat in our hearts and the players wear jerseys that proudly bear ‘Bharat.'”
This message was specifically directed towards Jay Shah, the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Moreover, the political spectrum was not devoid of the ‘Bharat’ fervor. Jairam Ramesh, a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha representing the Indian National Congress, disclosed that Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India, issued an invitation for a G20 dinner scheduled for September 9. Remarkably, this invitation referred to the esteemed position as the ‘President of Bharat,’ a departure from the conventional ‘President of India’ nomenclature.
Ramesh seized this opportunity to voice his concerns regarding the perceived distortion of history and divisive tendencies in the nation, while reiterating the commitment of INDIA parties to the motto ‘BHARAT – Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation, and Trust.’
In response to these sentiments, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar issued a resolute statement, asserting that the country’s name is ‘Bharat’ and will always remain as such. He expressed his disinterest in engaging with those who harbor objections to this nomenclature.
In tandem with these expressions of support, BJP Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Harnath Singh Yadav contended that the entire nation calls for the utilization of the name ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India.’ He reasoned that the term ‘India’ was a colonial construct, whereas ‘Bharat’ embodies the essence of Indian culture. Yadav also advocated for an amendment to the Constitution to formally incorporate the term ‘Bharat.’
As the ‘Bharat’ renaming discourse unfolds, it continues to elicit passionate reactions and shape the narrative surrounding the country’s identity.
