NCERT Textbooks Name Change: Bharat instead of India

Hyderabad: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has unanimously approved a proposal to substitute ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in school textbooks, sparking debates on the historical and cultural significance of the name Bharat in defining the nation’s identity.

NCERT Committee recommends replacing India with 'Bharat' in all school textbooks. pic.twitter.com/prFn1s5wGZ

— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2023

The Bharat proposal

The shift comes in response to mounting speculation about the potential official renaming of the country. Recent events have contributed to the fervour, such as the G20 dinner hosted by President Draupadi Murmu, which referred to her as the President of Bharat, igniting a political controversy.

Proponents of the proposal argue that Bharat is deeply ingrained in the country’s history, tracing its origins back thousands of years, with references found in ancient texts like the Vishnu Purana. They contend that the name India gained prominence during periods of foreign invasions by Afghans, Greeks, and Turks, while Bharat remains the authentic, age-old name of the nation.

Educational reforms

Although Article 1(1) of the Indian Constitution already states that ‘India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States,’ the proposal mainly pertains to education. It aims to reaffirm the cultural and historical heritage of the nation by returning to its traditional name.

In addition to the name change, the proposal introduces other key revisions to school textbooks. It advocates for the inclusion of ‘Hindu victories’ as a subject of focus, replacing ‘ancient history’ with ‘classical history,’ and integrating the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into the curriculum for all subjects. These adjustments align with the principles of the National Education Policy 2020.

Opposing voices

The proposal is part of a broader initiative to revamp the educational curriculum. Its implementation is anticipated to take effect in the upcoming academic year, pending approval from the NCERT. Nevertheless, this transformation has not occurred without controversy, with critics raising concerns about potential political motivations and the need to preserve India’s long-celebrated cultural diversity and pluralism.

“Modi has misused his power on institutions like NCERT and has taken a unanimous decision to change the name of India to Bharat in all NCERT textbooks. I think it is because he doesn’t want the students of this country to read about India and shouldn’t be able to divert their attention to the opposition party. Under the governance of Modi and BJP, democracy is getting derailed and every institution is getting influenced by them. I hope the people are watching and will teach him a lesson in the 2024 elections,” said Telangana Congress leader Chamala Kiran Kumar.

An educationist in Hyderabad who oversees a group of schools expressed their reservations: “Classroom discussions will now be on explaining why India shouldn’t be called India. There are better and more purposeful discussions that must happen, and I don’t think schools must become a place for promoting such an agenda.”