Why India Could Be Renamed ‘Bharat’: A History Of The Sanskrit Word And Its Hindu Ties

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi backs changing India’s name. The name change is backed by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. They have argued that the name India was introduced by British colonials and is a “symbol of slavery.” PHOTO BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government replaced the name India with a Sanskrit word on dinner invitations sent to guests earlier this week attending the Group of 20 summit, leaving many wondering whether the country’s name will be changed.

The name change is backed by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. They have argued that the name India was introduced by British colonials and is a “symbol of slavery.”