Bharat is original name, frustrated people creating row, says Pradhan

The media reports drew sharp reactions from Opposition parties who called it an attempt to distort history.

As reported by The Indian Express, the focus group on social sciences had indeed suggested India be renamed as Bharat in social science textbooks, although the final NCF document released by the Education Ministry on August 23 made no mention of the proposal.

Saying that a debate over Bharat or India has been “going on for a few days”, Pradhan said: “What is the difference, there is no difference. This is one issue to understand… Bharat is the name of this country. During the colonial period, people who read English literature gave it the name India. And we in our Constitution have given significance to Bharat and India.”

The Union minister was addressing the western zone vice chancellors’ conference on implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 at Kevadiya in Gujarat’s Narmada district.

In September, as India hosted the G20 Summit, the India-Bharat row came to the fore as President Droupadi Murmu’s dinner invites to delegates referred to her as ‘President of Bharat’ instead of ‘President of India’.

Pradhan said: “Bharat ek bhartiya naam hai, mool naam hai, sabhyata ka parichaya hai… lekin aaj hamari bhaudhik jagat me kuch kunthit logon ke mann me… kuch chhote varg ke mann me… ye isko vivad banana ki ek spardha lagi hai. (Bharat is an Indian name, it is the original name, the introduction of civilisation… but today in our world, there is a competition among a few frustrated people, a small section of people, to create a dispute).”

In his address, Pradhan also spoke about the Government priority areas for development, which he said included Indian languages. “Our languages have never been a hindrance in the development of civilisation. All Indian languages are national languages… Skilling is another priority area. If we convert the social traditions of Gujarat and the Maharashtra models of job creation into academics, these will become best practices,” he said.

Flagging funding as a challenge in higher education, the Union Minister said a new model was being developed. He said it was the Government’s responsibility to fund the education of those who cannot afford it.

“Keeping the rights of the deprived sections safe, we have to teach one section of society in government schools. Those who can afford, let them spend from their own pockets. But we have to take care of a section of society that cannot afford it,” he said.