A high-level committee appointed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has proposed the replacement of ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in school textbooks for all classes. Advocates of this change argue that ‘Bharat’ better represents the nation’s identity compared to the colonial term ‘India.’ While some experts and parents support this shift, opinions vary.
Proponents emphasize that ‘Bharat’ has historical and literary roots and is widely used in vernacular languages. However, others argue that the decision should ultimately be left to the people’s choice.
A Class 12 student noted that adapting to ‘Bharat’ in everyday communication might take time, drawing a parallel with the renaming of locations. Historically, the region was known as ‘Jambudvipa’ and evolved into ‘Bharatvarsha’ and ‘Hindustan.’ Experts stress that ‘Bharat’ carries traditional significance without religious connotations.