Editorial
India is derived from the name of the river Indus, also known as Sindhu in Sanskrit. The Indus River flows through Pakistan, originates in India and has been historically associated with the Indian subcontinent. The name India was first used by the ancient Greeks, who called the land beyond the Indus as India or Indikē. The name was later adopted by the Romans, who used India as the region’s official name under their rule. The name India has been used in English since the 9th century and was reemerged in the 17th century after the British colonization of India.
On the other hand, the name Bharat is derived from the name of an ancient king, Bharata, who is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as the ancestor of the Kuru dynasty. The name Bharat also means “the cherished” or “the beloved” in Sanskrit. The name Bharat has been used to refer to India by some Indian nationalists and politicians, who consider it a more authentic and indigenous name for the country.
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Whether India should be called India or Bharat is a matter of debate and controversy among some sections of Indian society. Some argue that the name India is a colonial legacy and does not reflect the diversity and identity of the Indian people. They propose that the name Bharat should be used instead, as it represents India’s ancient and cultural heritage. Others contend that the name India is a well-established and internationally recognized name that has been used for centuries by various civilizations and cultures. They assert that changing the name would cause confusion and inconvenience for both domestic and foreign affairs. They further contend that the name has goodwill for hundreds of years, and changing the name of India will compromise it.
However, in this whole scenario, Pakistan also has a claim. The Indus, with its civilization, is present in Pakistan. Although the Indus originates in China and comes into Pakistan through the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it becomes a complete river in the parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Then, more importantly, the Indus is known more as a civilization; it keeps in the parts of Pakistan. Therefore, Indus represents present Pakistan historically, culturally, and geographically. Accordingly, India is using the name of the Indus River, which is actually a part of Pakistan. Accordingly, Pakistan should protest against India for abandoning the name of India. Indus civilization has a historical goodwill of 5000 years, and Pakistan should not allow India to use or for her cultural advantage. Instead, Pakistan is Indus land and it must use it for its cultural identity and civilization.
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