In a significant development that may lead to a substantial transformation in the central identity of the Indian Republic, Himanta Biswa Sarma, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Chief Minister of Assam, has suggested that there are indications of an imminent change in the official name of the Indian Republic.

"REPUBLIC OF BHARAT - happy and proud that our civilisation is marching ahead boldly towards AMRIT KAAL," Sarma wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Many interpreted Sarma's post on 'X' as the ruling party's leader confirming reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government plans to introduce a resolution for a potential name change during the upcoming special session of the Indian parliament later this month.

Jairam Ramesh, the leader of India's principal opposition party, Congress, also utilized 'X' to highlight a notable change. He pointed out that an invitation for a state dinner from Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India, was now issued in the name of the 'President of Bharat,' as opposed to the previous 'President of India.'

"So the news is indeed true," Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.

"Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9th in the name of 'President of Bharat' instead of the usual 'President of India'."

"Now, Article 1 in the Constitution can read: 'Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.' But now even this 'Union of States' is under assault," Ramesh added.

According to recent posts on 'X,' Jairam Ramesh, a prominent figure within India's principal opposition party, Congress, has characterized the recent developments as an attack on the 'I.N.D.I.A.' alliance of opposition parties. Established in July 2023, the 'Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance' (I.N.D.I.A.) is a coalition comprising 26 political parties, led by the Indian National Congress. The alliance's primary objective is to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as it seeks a third consecutive term in the upcoming elections scheduled for next year.

Article 1 of the Indian Constitution holds significance in this context. It declares that 'India, that is Bharat,' constitutes a 'Union of States.' This foundational article of India's constitution not only delineates the nation's territorial boundaries but also addresses nomenclature-related aspects.

In response to these developments, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, a former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed his views on 'X.' Tharoor pointed out that there is no constitutional objection to referring to India as 'Bharat,' which is one of the country's two official names. However, he emphasized the importance of retaining the term 'India,' given its immense historical and global recognition. Tharoor asserted that both names should continue to be used, preserving the rich historical heritage associated with 'India.'

The history behind the names 'India' and 'Bharat' holds cultural and historical significance. 'India' derives from the word 'Indus,' named after the Indus (or Sindhu) River, which flows through Tibet, India's Jammu and Kashmir region, and a significant part of Pakistan. The Greeks and Iranians referred to this region as 'Hindos' or 'Indos,' signifying the land to the east of the Indus River. Following colonial conquests by European powers like the Dutch, French, and British, the term 'India' became widely used to denote the subcontinent.

Conversely, 'Bharat' finds its roots in ancient Indian texts, such as the Vishnu Purana, which describes it as the landmass lying to the north of the ocean and to the south of the snow-capped mountains. So far, the terms 'Bharat' and 'India' have been used interchangeably, with 'Bharat' often interpreted as an indigenous translation of the word 'India.' It is noteworthy that Indian passports are issued under the official names 'Bharat Ganrajya' (in Hindi) and 'Republic of India' (in English).

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