RSS national general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has reignited the debate of India vs Bharat over whether the country should be called ‘Bharat’ instead of its anglicised name, ‘India.’ He questioned why institutions like the Reserve Bank of India and even the Constitution still use English when Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the country as the ‘Republic of Bharat’ during the G20 dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan last year. Hosabale argued that Bharat is not just a geographical or constitutional entity but represents a deep philosophical and spiritual heritage. At the launch of the book Vimarsh Bharat Ka, published by Suruchi Prakashan, at the Panchsheel Balak Inter College auditorium, he stressed the importance of embracing Bharat’s identity. The event was organised by Prerna Shodh Sansthan Nyas, an organisation inspired by the RSS.

He stressed that “Desh ka naam Bharat hai, toh Bharat hi Bolo. India toh angrezi naam hai," highlighting contradictions like the Constitution of India and the Reserve Bank of India still using the “colonial" name.

Hosabale encouraged people to reflect on this duality, pointing out that the G20 dinner invitation, hosted by Prime Minister Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan, referred to the country as the "Republic of Bharat." He connected this to an enormous need for a ‘decolonisation of the mind,’ arguing that British rule left a lasting influence on Indian thinking. He highlighted historical examples of cultural suppression, such as the destruction of temples and gurukuls during the Mughal invasions and the dominance of English as a primary language.

“Mughals invaded Bharat, destroyed our temples, gurukuls, ancient culture, dominated us, but it did not make us feel inferior to the extent the British did. British rule made us feel that they were better than us. The idea of ‘Engraziyat’ still persists. That is why the business of English medium schools flourishes here," He urged a move away from colonial-era ways of thinking. In addition, he criticised Left-liberal historical narratives, calling them ‘misleading’ and accusing them of depicting Bharat’s past rulers as oppressors. “They want us to believe that all our kings were oppressors. They made that narrative, which was misleading."

Hosabale referenced VS Naipaul’s critiques of post-colonial societies, stressing the importance of rethinking and reshaping intellectual perspectives. “A new wave must sweep across the nation, one that does not diminish others or demean other nations but reclaims our own identity," he stated. “Bharat will never stand for Dadagiri (one up-manship) or to destroy other countries. Bharat will always stand for global good. But, before that, we have to stay united and lead by example," he further said.

Hosabale’s remarks reflect the RSS’s growing effort to promote ‘Bharat’ instead of India, a movement gaining momentum in political and cultural discussions. News18, a news agency, reported that the government has increasingly used ‘Bharat’ in official documents. This shift is evident in G20 papers, the names of new government programs, and even the revised penal code, where ‘Bharat’ or ‘Bhartiya’ replaces ‘India’ or ‘Indian.’ However, senior officials clarified that these changes would not apply retroactively.