So, I’ll talk about the Bhagavad Gita’s perspective on this issue from three points: principle, practice, and preference.

Principle:
Some people argue that this is just a huge controversy, and that the name change won’t make any difference. India will still have so many poor people, and it will still be what it is, whether it’s called Bharat or not.

This school of thought does have precedence. Shakespeare famously said, “What’s in a name? A rose will smell just as sweet if called by any other name.” This is true, but not entirely true. Why not?

Because within the philosophy of language, it’s understood that words have both denotations and connotations. Denotations refer to what they point to—certain objects, people, or places. But connotations refer to what they remind us of. So, words are links between the object on one side and the person on the other side.

Yes, a word won’t change the attributes of the object itself, but it can change the experience of the person perceiving the object. If a rose were called something unfamiliar, the experience of the rose for the person may be different, even if the object is the same. Within Vedantic philosophy, particularly Bhakti philosophy, we understand that names are not merely placeholders; they are pointers and reminders. Different names can highlight different attributes of an object. That’s why, for example, in the Bhakti tradition, we have thousands of names for God—such as in the Vishnu Sahasranama—because God has countless attributes, and each name reminds us of different aspects of the Divine.

Practice:
India or Bharat—yes, both names refer to the same place, and both are used in the Indian Constitution: “India, that is Bharat.” But India as a name is historically extrinsic and geographical. It was given by outsiders, derived from the river Indus. The land on the other side of the river came to be called “India.” Over time, the geographical significance of this name has changed, and it no longer marks the boundaries of India as we know it today.

On the other hand, Bharat has many historical and genealogical roots. The name comes from the ancient epic Mahabharata, where Bharat refers to the land ruled by the revered king Bharat. His dynasty is known as the Bharat dynasty, and he is considered a significant figure in Indian history.

But beyond these genealogical markers, the name Bharat holds deep semantic significance. The root “Bharat” means “absorbed in the sun,” or “absorbed in light,” which is a perfect description of India’s spiritual ethos. India has been the land of many great seers who sought the light of ultimate reality, and countless seekers have walked that path. The phrase “from darkness to light” has been the guiding inspiration for millions throughout India’s history.

As India rises on the global stage, this message of moving from darkness to light becomes even more relevant. If India, with its rich spiritual tradition, shares this wisdom with the world, the essence of the name Bharat will be fulfilled—both for India and for the world. This is the real change, and the name change can serve as an important catalyst for that transformation.

Preference:
Ultimately, what a name reminds someone of depends on that person’s consciousness. For millions of Indians, the name Bharat may remind them of their spiritual tradition and national heritage, helping to reshape the historical narrative that has often sidelined or demonized India. Reasserting a cultural identity with dignity can be a positive step, and there should be no obstacle to preferring the name Bharat in this context.

At the same time, if some people prefer the name India, that should be respected as well. There should be no demonization or penalization of that preference. The Vedic tradition teaches that one absolute truth can be known by many names, so the same principle applies to India and Bharat. Both names can lead us to the same truth and vision.

Thankyou.